Re: Snape and Harry’s Sadism (was: Lack of re-examination)

[mesmer44]

No: HPFGUIDX 186646


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Zara" <zgirnius at ...> wrote:
>
> > Steve replies:
> > "she has her opinion on the matter and we are free to have our own? She's the author for goodness sake.  She has a lot more than just an opinion on the matter, as she created the character of Snape and wrote thousands of words and several dozen scenes him in them. 
> 
> Zara:
> All of which, I have read 10+ times. How, then, does it matter which of us created him?
> 
> > Steve:
> > Yes, with all due respect to any fan or reader, you do have the right to personally dislike how an author wrote or views their literary characters to be sure. 
> 
> Zara:
> It has nothing to do with like or dislike. Carol, who expressed the opinion, appears to be, actually, someone who very much likes the character of Snape, based, from what I can tell, exclusively on how Rowling depicted him in her 7 Harry Potter novels. Carol did not state she dislikes what a sadist Snape was shown to be, she expresses puzzlement at the idea Snape is a sadist.
>
Steve again:

Carol didn't express the opinion, Eggplant did and just quoted something Carol said in the first paragraph of the post.  I responded to Eggplant's post. Carol's feelings about Snape had nothing to do w/ my reply to Eggplant.  Sorry if you were confused, I did mention Eggplant's continuation in my reply, but perhaps could have made it clearer.

Zara continues:
 
> If you, or Rowling, think Snape is without any doubt a sadist, you are free to point out where this is conclusively demonstrated in the text Rowling wrote. I am sure Carol would be amenable to such an argument.
> 
>Steve again:

Actually, I hadn't given much thought as to whether or not Snape was a sadist until reading that JKR thought so. When I read she thought so than I simply accepted that because I believe her word on the matter to have far more credibility than a mere fan or reader.

   
> > Steve earlier:
>  But do you have an equal right with the author to interpret the nature of a character created by that author?  
> 
> Zara:
> Absolutely!
> 
> > Steve earlier:
> I don't think so, and most authors I've talked to sure don't think so. Authors love their readers to have all kinds of reactions to their work, to be sure.  But when a reader equates their opinions of what a character is like as equal to or superior to the literary intention and perception of the author, then I have to side w/ the author. 
> 
> Zara:
> Actually, the fact that the author created the character, yadda yadda, in my opinion makes it more difficult for them to have accurate opinions on the matter.
> 
>SNIP>

Steve again:

Huh? An author is the one person who has the most accurate opinions on the matter.  If you wrote a fanfic story and JKR came online to discuss it and said she knew far better than you did about the motivations of one of your character, how would you feel? Would you say she had a better idea of what you were thinking of while writing your story, why you wrote this or that a certain way?
IF JKR came online to discuss Tigana with you and me, then all three of our opinions would be equally valid.  If Guy Gavriel Kay joined in on the discussion and said he wrote a certain character a certain way for a certain reason, then I'd accept that as truth and whatever you and JKR were saying as opinion.  But if you have so little respect for authors that you consider your own personal opinions on their published material as superior to what they say, then I'm sorry, I just can't understand that way of thinking. 

Steve, who owes a great debt of gratitude to JKR for what she has created and while knowing she isn't a perfect writer, doesn't feel his opinion is close to being equal to hers w/ regard to the Harry Potter universe.