Why did Snape call Lily a 'Mudblood'?

[John Paul Smith]

No: HPFGUIDX 177621

> > > Jen:
> > > I've got a question for a slow day: why *did* Snape call Lily a
> > Mudblood?  Also, I'm curious how others read Snape's Worst Memory
> > given his new memories in DH.  Did the resolution work for you?
I'm
> > on the fence about this part.
> <SNIP>


This is indeed an interesting aspect of Snape's character, his hidden
xenophobia, for lack of a better term.  I have thought alot about
Snape, as anyone that has read my posts know. I think that there a
few aspects of Snape to keep in mind:

I think Snape comes from a breeding similar to Draco's, which is
rooted in this xenophobic "racist" attitude.  It may be that JKR
wants us to remember that racism is taught not bred.  So he is
obviously drawn to Lily, but he can't escape who he is and where he
is from.  Not at such an early age.

When you look at the way that Snape addresses Lily and how he reacts
around her.  To me one very important distinction should be made.
Snape did not "love" Lily. He "coveted" her.  In the same way that
Judas coveted Jesus, which I think maybe a huge basis for the
character (Snape=Judas), I don't know, b/c I still can't get a
definitive archetype for the character.  Anwyays, Snape covets Lily.
He, I think, is the in love with the idea of being in love with her.
Not truly having feelings for her.  The Dali Llama says "True love
exists when your love for one another overpowers your need for each
other" and I don't think Snape ever makes that leap.  Why else would
he still have her Patronus?  (please no need for script analysis of
that line)  So Snape coveting Lily is why he was able to demean her
in such a big way.  He never had true emotions of "love" for her.

JP