Connections Interview re: Snape (1999)

[dungrollin]

No: HPFGUIDX 171652

> Jen: 
> I'll be very disappointed if we don't get an illuminating 
> backstory for Snape like we did for Sirius.  

Dungrollin:
Hey, she said we won't need prequels about the marauders and Snape 
because we'll get all the juice in book 7. 
::takes moment to breathe deeply and calm down:: 

> Jen:  Insightful paragraph here, Dung.  There are times the Snape 
> character makes me boil, especially when he appears to be using his 
> position as an adult and authority figure (with Dumbledore's 
> permission by omission if nothing else) over those in lesser 
> positions by age, circumstance or power. It feels like injustice to 
> me and not something others should have to tolerate.  

Dungrollin:
I have to admit that I don't engage at such an emotional level with 
the books; I think the only time I got annoyed with a character was 
with Harry in the Occlumency lessons because I read Snape as having 
made a massive effort (not entirely successful, granted, but a 
massive effort all the same) and Harry didn't even notice, let alone 
make any kind of effort in return. I can dispassionately see that 
Snape's nasty and cruel and emotionally retarded, but I would react 
to someone like him so differently to the way that Harry reacts that 
I find it difficult to take his nastiness personally, all I feel is 
pity. (Mingled with admiration for his way with words...)

Jen:
However, 
> there's always the truism we can't escape ourselves!  Snape is no 
> different; he has to live inside his mind with all those thoughts 
of 
> the past and feelings of anger, hatred and whatever else sours 
inside 
> him.  Sometimes a tormented mind IS the worst punishment.  

Dungrollin:
Absolutely; you don't need to be locked up in a fortress if you're 
trapped inside your own head. 

> Jen:  
> You know, I did think of a plot purpose if JKR was surprised 
someone 
> thought Snape could fall in love:  If his ability to love is 
damaged, 
> he's not protected from Voldemort should his Occlumency fail.  I'm 
> pretty sure that fits in with the idea Dumbledore expressed, that 
the 
> ability to love is the "only protection that can possibly work 
> against the lure of power like Voldemort's!"  It doesn't protect a 
> person from pain or death, but the ability to love is one power 
> Voldemort can't penetrate.  

Dungrollin:
Hmm... I'm not sure that Occlumency is a protection against 
temptation in the same way as love is for Harry. Snape's Occlumency 
(assuming he's DDM) is protecting him from discovery and death, he's 
already succumbed to the temptation of the Death Eaters and Dark 
Arts, so presumably his ability to love (at the time he joined the 
DEs) was already damaged.

Here's a question: Draco loves his parents, but that didn't protect 
him from Voldemort; why not? I think I have an answer of sorts, but 
I'm not sure it's worth organising my thoughts on it unless other 
people are interested too.


> Jen:  
> One weakness for me with the series is not getting the 
> full picture of just how fearsome LV is meant to be, how evil and 
> manipulative he is that he's capable of forcing people to give up 
> everything to follow him.  

Dungrollin:
To a certain extent that must be because we are seeing through 
Harry's eyes, and if he is protected from making the mistakes which 
lead people to follow Voldemort, it's natural that he can't 
understand those kinds of mistakes or temptations, and doesn't even 
wonder what motivates people to join Voldemort. And given the setup 
of the books, that they're mysteries, often with who-is-the-secret-
villain? plots, so Harry's not a witness to how people fall for 
Voldemort.

Where Harry differs from DD is that he doesn't *try* to understand, 
and only begins to when he's *forced* to, quite literally immobilised 
and unable to close his eyes to what Draco says and does (or doesn't 
do) on the tower, which gives him a little insight into his 
motivations, fears etc, and results in Harry starting to empathise. 

But Harry will never seek out such information, he's very willing to 
chalk people up as bad'uns without questioning how they got that way 
(as, of course, is Snape – he doesn't give second chances even though 
he's benefited from DD's). I hope we will see this turned around in 
the last book. 

Jen:
> Re: young Snape, I'm re-reading HBP and can identify with the HBP.  
I felt sympathy for the boy in the Pensieve scene.  I don't believe 
> Snape was always the person Harry knows as an adult.  But I'm not 
> sure how much of the other person is left or if Harry will find out 
> if Snape dies.

Dungrollin:
We *must* have answers. She promised! So Snape can't die! Hooray!