Hero Status Redeemed was Dateline Redemption

[pair_0_docks]

No: HPFGUIDX 173777

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "dumbledore11214"
<dumbledore11214 at ...> wrote:
>
> > So does author's intent counts now or is it still irrelevant? I am
> > asking this question in general, not just to you.
> >
> > My view of Snape does not change – I see spiteful, bully and not a
> > hero,
> >
> > At least we know what she meant to say in the first place before
> > she changed it, LOL.
> >
>
> pair_0_docks:

I think my authorial intent was originally misinterpreted ;)

I only entitled the message "Dateline Redemption" as a play on the
fact that Rowling's statement about Snape being a hero has changed.
That was really the only point I was making there.

As for questioning the importance of authorial intentionality I
found the comments posted regarding that issue to be interesting and
informative. Also I agree with them to the extent that sometimes an
author might not be able to step back and appreciate a greater depth
to the character or perhaps other connections that a person brings to
them due to her past experiences that can limit one's view of who the
character might be (just like certain people we might meet in life).

(Side note: I have thoroughly enjoyed reading justcarol67's views
into Snape's character as well. Very insightful IMO.)

I mentioned it initially just to raise the issue and wondered what
other people thought in general.  Some critics apparently still think
it is irrelevant, I'm not sure for myself so I did not comment and
just asked the question.

However, I do think that I struggled with Rowling's comment because
yes I disagreed with the characterization that Snape could NOT be a
hero...yes he's still mean and cruel I am not trying to whitewash him
(not just because of my own views on the character) but also in
viewing her as a writer I couldn't comprehend how she could say that
about a character that she created in such a way to embody these
values that are generally viewed/interpreted as heroic. IMO it would
only serve to limit the interpretations that people can make and be
somewhat problematic with other things the character did.

Again, it seems that some of the comments here are trying to fit
Snape into one category or another (death eater vs good
person)...that is not my intention. He is both; he's a very
complicated character. This is obvious from the strong opinions being
expressed on either side about him.

> Lupinlore:
> > Hmmm.  I can't speak for Alla but I would say that the problem
> with
> > many of the arguments about Snape as a hero is that they try to
> say
> > that somehow his brave acts completely redeem him from his abuse
> of
> > Harry.

pair_0_docks: I think that whether Snape is redeemed (in your eyes or
the author's eyes or in other character's eyes in the story) is a
totally different from the question of whether he is a kind of hero.

Lupinlore:
<SNIP> He never had any feeling for Harry as a person, which
> > is what could have granted him true redemption.
> > Thus Snape is, as JKR puts it, a hero to an extent, in that he
> does very brave things for the good side.  But he is not a hero in
the sense of being fully redeemed.

pair_0_docks: Does the concept of hero require redemption?

Lupinlore:
<SNIP>
> Dumbledore asks him "Have you come to care for the boy after all,
> Severus?"  In that moment the door is open for Snape's full
>redemption.

pair_0_docks: Funny, I interpreted Snape's response to DD as being
somewhat snarky Snape again. He does not answer yes or no...he just
conjures up his doe Patronus thereby avoiding the question. Also, his
earlier reaction to hearing Harry must die and emotion expressed
there seems to suggest some amount of caring, but I also can see an
argument for arriving at the opposite conclusion.

Snape also goes well beyond what is needed to help Harry when he
gives him all of his memories that allow Harry and the reader to come
to understand Snape's motivations better, and not all of it is
positive.  The only thing he really needed to tell Harry was that he
was in fact a horcrux so Harry has this information as DD asked Snape
to do for Harry.

> Alla:
> of course I know that mythology defines heroes as people with
immense bravery and self sacrifice, so theoretically Snape certainly
should be called a hero.
>
> Maybe that does make sense that JKR calls him a hero to the extent,
> I do not know.
>
> But I would not call him a hero, no. Because yeah, to me hero is a
> good person, NOT perfect person, no, but person who tries to do
good
> for the sake of doing good.

pair_0_docks: If your point is that Snape's hero status is very
different from Harry's, then we are in total agreement there. Harry
meets the classic understanding of hero while Snape more accurately
fits into the anti-hero category.


pair_0_docks