Heroes again WAS: Re: The two good Slytherins

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 176367

> Bart:
> Isaac Asimov once postulated that if you brought William 
Shakespeare into the present, and put him into a college class on the 
works of Shakespeare, he would most likely flunk. 
> 
> A few days ago, I wrote a piece on heroism, and how many in modern 
society mistake the hero as one who is without flaws, causing them to 
try to explain away the flaws they find in their heroes. Here is 
Professor Snape, a HIGHLY flawed man, yet he sacrifices everything, 
including giving up his own life trying to help someone he deeply 
resented, in an attempt to make up for a great evil he had done (the 
famous 12 Labors of Hercules was also pennance for evil HE had done). 
I wonder if JKR considers Harry's Crucio to be justified. 
> 
> When RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK came out, I groaned over the number of 
critics who referred to Indiana Jones as an "anti-hero". I guess they 
defined an anti-hero as a hero who needed a shave. 
> 
> So, my question is, why would one say that Snape was NOT a hero?
<SNIP>


Alla:

Look, it all depends to me as to whether intentions, general 
personality of the person matters to you, whether hero is somebody to 
you who you would call a good person, or just a person who does 
heroic deeds, you know?

Did Snape do heroic deeds? Um, several and HUGE ones if you ask me, 
types Alla.

Is he a hero? Well, I do not know. Overall, I would still say NO, IF 
under Hero you mean overall a good person and Snape is not my 
definition of such.

If you mean somebody who does heroic deeds and motivation does not 
matter, then sure he is a hero.

But I see nothing strange if JKR does not think of him as such.

Look, is Han Solo a hero to you? Because love him as I am, to me till 
he comes back to help Luke simply because he came to like him, he is 
no hero at all.

Is Achilles a hero to you? Because love him as I am and despite all 
heroic deeds he did, he is no hero to me whatsoever. Why? because 
heroes to me do not humiliate the bodies of the enemies. 

Give me Hector any time. Hector, who went to war to defend his city. 
Yes, I know that Hector's brother idiocy contributed to war big time, 
or even started it, although I guess we should blame gods more, but 
give 
me Hector any time. He IS certainly a hero to me. Not perfect either 
mind you, but hero nevertheless.

I see at least by comparison more nobility in his motivations than I 
ever see in Achilles.

So, to go back to Snape. He may have sacrificed all indeed to defend 
Voldemort and I respect that, BUT since he did not find in his heart 
a kindness to spare for a boy whose life he made as is, I cannot 
really think of him as hero.

And I do not mean that my definition  of Hero includes that he has to 
be nice to every child, actually.

But yes, I do think that Snape owed Harry some kindness, he truly 
did. I think he owed the boy to overcome the hatred of his father and 
truly see his mother in Harry, if for nothing else, but to ease his 
burden.

That in my eyes would have been truly heroic.

JMO,

Alla