[HPforGrownups] Re: Of Sorting and Snape

Irene Mikhlin irene_mikhlin at btopenworld.com
Mon Aug 13 08:38:41 UTC 2007


No: HPFGUIDX 175236

Judy wrote:



Who does Snape have? Dumbledore insults him, Lily slams the door in 
his face. Who does that leave Snape as a friend? Lucius Malfoy? What 
sort of friend would Lucius be?  (And Snape is actually opposing 
Lucius for most of his adult life.) 

Snape is tragic and alone in a way that none of these other 
characters are; he is tormented in a way no one else in the books 
is.  I think that's a main reason why so many fans love him. 

Irene:

I'm completely with you about finding Snape's fate tragic and loving his character. I'd like to comment about Lucius as a friend. Actually, I think Lucius could have been a very good friend to Snape. Maybe a main reason why Snape found Slytherin way of life so attractive (can't see him being that eager to be friends with Crabbe and Goyle seniors). Lucius is at least 4 years older, rich, cool and popular in his House at least. If he had taken poor misfit under his wing, in boarding school environment this is of enormous importance. Certainly Snape's gratitude lasted for years, stretching to him being sympathetic to Narcissa's plight and favouring Draco. Oh, and Draco seems terribly familiar with Snape from year 1 - did Snape visit regularly at Malfoy Manor? Maybe even while he was still at school. Were Lucius's parents still alive back then? If they were as caring of each other and their son as Lucius and Narcissa seem to be, Snape probably felt as a
 freezing man invited to sit by the fire, emotionally speaking.

I'm thinking "Brideshead Revisited", in short. :-)

Irene




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