good and bad Slytherins/Disappointment and Responsibility

[Judy]

No: HPFGUIDX 175400

Alla:
> **I** was not saying any of those things, actually :) I was 
> paraphrasing the argument which I saw several times to respond to 
> last part of yours - that you did not see anybody trying to justify 
> Snape's calling Lily a mudblood.

Ah, OK, I see what you are saying now.  I'm sorry that I 
misunderstood.

I still see "justified" and "forgivable mistake" as two different 
things, though. 


Alla again:
> Let me stress it again, I have **no problem** whatsoever with
> anybody justifying any action of Snape or any other character.
> But do I think that Snape's actions gets justified much more than 
> any other character  **in general** ? Yes, I do. 

Actually, here I agree with you 100%.  Snape's actions DO get 
justified more than those of any other character in the HP books.  
Why is that?  Well, at least part of the reason is that he is a 
deeply ambiguous character whose behavior is open to many 
interpretations.  People feel strongly about him, both for and 
against. The fact that some posters criticize him leads other posters 
to defend him, and conversely, the fact that some posters praise 
Snape leads other posters to attack him.

So, I guess the real question is "Are Snape's fans *justified* in 
offering justifications for Snape's behavior?" I don't think we can 
resolve that question.

-- Judy