Why did Snape call Lily a 'Mudblood'?

[John Paul Smith]

No: HPFGUIDX 177653

Carol wrote:

> I wish I had time to answer this post more fully. Let me just say 
that I disagree with it completely.



Carol:

I am willing to concede to several of the points you make as there 
are some things that I hadn't taken into consideration.  I am going 
to go back and re-read that chapter to see if my mind changes.  But 
before I do...

But let us think about this.  Granted Draco and Snape came from 
imperially different backgrounds, where then, would you think he 
(Snape) would get his outlooks from?  His father had left, yes?  So 
that only left his mother to teach him.  If somehow he came to these 
thoughts about mudbloods, etc, on his own, well I just don't buy 
that; and that specifically was what I referring to when I was making 
the parallel between the two characters.  However it's all 
speculation considering that we know so very little about Snape's 
family.

I am going to still have to disagree with you on Snape's affections 
for Lily.  In the long run, I just don't buy this idea of true love 
for his character.  This is not to say that his emotions and 
affections weren't real, I especially think they were to him, you 
know?  Here are some questions to ponder at work today (there are no 
right or wrong answers here, btw):

1) If Snape had this true love for Lily, would he have been able to 
do things he does in the book, during their teenage years and 
otherwise?

2)  What was it about Snape that kept Lily at bay?  If he truly loved 
her, and they were close like they seem to be, what would be turning 
her off about him?  Is it his evil side popping out?  

3) That brings us to an interesting question: Can evil people love?  
Its been said that Herman Goering was a devoted father and family man.

4) So assuming he did have this love for her, where were the turning 
points for him?  When did he admit it to himself?  When did things 
change?  Was it after she died?  

It's these kinds of questions and discussions that, I think, make 
Snape such a compelling character.  In my mind, he is one of the most 
original and compelling characters written in the last 15 years or so 
and I predict that we will see Snape-like characters popping up in 
literature in a few years or so; fyi that's the reason why I am on 
the listserve to see what other's think about this.

I have also been wondering if there is a parallel that can be drawn 
between Lily and Hermione.  If there is, then that makes Snape's 
reactions to her very compelling.   

See what happens Carol?!  I was supposed to be studying and all of a 
sudden someone starts discussing ol' Sevy and I can't help myself!!!!!

JP