Werewolves and RL equivalents

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 170486

> wynnleaf
> I think most readers, at least on first reading, are prone to follow
> Harry's assumptions.  Further, especially on the first read, it's
> easy to feel as though Snape must know all of the same information 
> that the reader and Harry knows and forget, or lose track of the 
> fact that Snape didn't hear all of the explanations.  Further, the
> reader tends to follow Harry's assessment of the circumstances, 
> including Harry's assessment of what Snape is doing, why he's doing
> it, etc.  Harry doesn't see the scene from Snape's point of view,
> and without taking ourselves out of Harry's pov, and seeing it more 
>objectively, neither does the reader. 

Jen: I was only pointing out that reading the scene from Snape's view 
also offers an incomplete reading.  You and Carol are making a point 
that might not be obvious to the general public but it's not new to 
me after reading countless posts on the Shack scene from Snape's 
angle.  Understanding where Snape is coming from in that scene and 
betting JKR is going to overthrow some basic premises of the story 
are two totally different points. 

wynleaf:
> Is the intent to set us up once more to see Snape in the worst 
> light?  Of course.  JKR does it repeatedly throughout the books. 
> That's why Snape will be one of her biggest "twists" because she's
> set it up throughout the series, rather than just in one book. 

Jen:  Sure, whether Snape is loyal is a huge part of the book that 
JKR's been building up from the beginning.  Basic tenets of his 
characterization being overturned?  That's more than a twist, that's 
rescinding carefully laid character development which helps explain 
Snape's motives for joining the DEs, returning to Dumbledore's side 
and the actions he takes in the current story.  Readers are 
fascinated by JKR's twists but the real beauty of her story in my 
opinion is how carefully she builds these characters, *especially* 
the adults, to come across as both deeply flawed and remarkably 
sympathetic.  I expect no less in the end from the Snape character.  
Then it becomes a matter of whether a reader identifies with the 
remarkably sympathetic side or the deeply flawed!

Jen