CHAPTER DISCUSSION PS/SS 10, THE HALLOWEEN

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 188371

 
> Alla:

> I am talking about having a plan to secure **oneself** life and liberty first and then, maybe rushing to save a friend if that friend is not dead yet that is. Because seriously the most I can grant Slytherins is that they will do that, they will have a plan to save oneselves and THEN go to save a friend, maybe.  

Pippin:
But when do we see any Slytherin  do that? 

Alla:
 And yes, I know there is Snape, but as I argued in the past, to me book seven is screaming that author does not consider Snape a typical Slytherin.  IMO of course.

Pippin:
I know your theory :) But what I want to ask is this, do you think that the books encourage this kind of thinking about real people? In the absence of more specific information, is it okay to rely on "typical" negative stereotypes as long as you think they are generally true and you recognize that there are exceptions?

It seems to me that people in the books who try to do this find it doesn't work for them. Either they make themselves look like hypocrites, or they find that the stereotype gets in the way of other people recognizing  exceptions. Snape can't be sure Voldemort is going to put his hatred of Muggleborns aside for Lily, and Dumbledore can't get Harry to see past the stereotype and consider that there might be some good in Snape. Slughorn sees Lily and Hermione as exceptions, but can't get other Slytherins to see them that way. 

Pippin