Why did Snape call Lily a 'Mudblood'?

[littleleahstill]

No: HPFGUIDX 177633

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "John Paul Smith" 
<johnsmithatx at ...> wrote:
> 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. > JP

Leah:

Just a couple of points to add to Carol's excellent response.

Firstly, if Snape had only coveted Lily, he had plenty of 
opportunities as a potions genius and researcher in the Dark Arts to 
have her.  Rowling shows us in Merope and Riddle snr that it is 
quite possible to use a love potion to bring about marriage and for 
the illusion to last as long as the potion is adminstered.  We also 
get a hint that Mulciber, who we learn elsewhere in the books is an 
Imperious specialis,t doing something nasty to Lily's friend, Mary, 
with a definite sexual implication present.  There is no canonical 
hint of Snape even dreaming of doing anything similar with or to 
Lily. 

Snape couldn't develop the love for Lily you describe, any more than 
James could have done had he survived GH, because Lily died young.  
But I think there is a positive side to the 'being in love with 
love' idea.  I see Lily becoming something of a Beatrix to Snape's 
Dante, she is the inspiration for his growth into someone who 
watches die only those he can not save,

Leah