Victory for TEWWW EWWW?? Snape the hero

[nrenka]

No: HPFGUIDX 173218

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "leslie41" <leslie41 at ...> wrote:

> Leslie41:
> That's an interesting point.  The essay I linked to yesterday by 
> Orson Scott Card is fascinating because it posits that Rowling 
> herself didn't know much about Snape, or certainly about his role in 
> the end, when she began the book.  I'll link it again here, because 
> it's the very best piece of writing I've ever read about Snape's 
> character, bar none.  Not unsurprising, considering who wrote it.  
> 
> http://www.intergalacticmedicineshow.com/cgi-bin/mag.cgi?
> do=issue&vol=i5&article=_card-essay

I've seen it many times before, and I don't agree with a lot of the
subtle tone markers in his take on things, particularly the use of
'justification' for various of Snape's actions.  So I will respond
that I found this stringing out of canon not 100% what I would say,
but extremely useful:

http://maeglinyedi.livejournal.com/300639.html



> Leslie41:

<snip>

> But may I ask, *Lupinlore*, when can we be expecting your latest 
> evaluation of Lupin's character?

<snip>

> And so long as you elevate Lupin, and post criticism of Snape under 
> that name, I am unfortunately forced to conclude that you have 
> failed to systematically analyze and accept what an weak, cowardly 
> failure his deeds often prove him to be.  Not always.  He dies well.  
> But often. And I will take any criticism of Snape that you have to 
> make in that vein.

If I had a dollar for every time I'd seen this argument onlist...

No, seriously, for shame.  Pulling out the "tu quoque!" to attack a
listie's ideas about one character seems to me to be a serious failure
of argument, as if we necessarily had to address all characters when
we were speaking about one.  This slides on the fine edge of going
after a poster rather than engaging with the ideas.

-Nora tries to keep a certain idealism about listening to ideas
regardless of who they come from