Snape a hero?

potioncat willsonkmom at potioncat.yahoo.invalid
Fri Jul 27 11:47:37 UTC 2007


> > Kneasy:
> > >>> No, I don't think so, he doesn't qualify.
> > 
> > If someone acts as a double agent for 16 years,
> > reporting from the heart of the enemy camp, living
> > a double life, keeping up a front in his public life,
> > finally dying at the hands of the enemy just before
> > victory is achieved, but none-the-less surviving
> > long enough to pass important information to the
> > leader of the struggle, he'd normally be hailed as
> > a hero with no hesitation.
> > 
> > If, that is, he did it from a sense of moral or ethical 
> > conviction.

Kathy (Potioncat)
And how would you determine that? If JKR had kept Snape's motives 
under wraps, would he be a hero? 
 
> > Kneasy:
> > Shame, really. I had hoped that Jo would have come up
> > with a more gutsy motivation for him. 16 years mooning
> > over some dead slapper? Nope, that's not how I've been
> > reading Sevvy. A definitive un-romantic IMO.

Kathy:
Yeah, I was caught off guard. I was expecting Florence and Sevvie Jr. 
or a bit more to his motive. 

> > Kneasy:
> > Yes, he was probably being brave, but I doubt that ever
> > crossed his mind. But pride rules. Once he'd given his
> > word he'd do his damndest to play his part to the hilt
> > in an attempt to stab in the back those whose actions
> > had reduced him to such a pitiful pass, if only to show
> > that he was cleverer than they.

Kathy: 
When did keeping your word fall off the good list?


> > Kneasy:
> > And he pretty well succeeded.
> > But he was still a miserable old git - and probably proud
> > of that too. <<<

Kathy:
Oh, yeah---far more than I realized, and I thought I was being 
realistic.

 
> Now Ginger:> 
> A hero who acts out of duty or sense of right and wrong is a great 
> hero indeed, but a hero who acts out of love is no less a hero.  We 
> consider the boy's fallen parents to be heros, even though we know 
> they were motivated by the love for their son.  Why is the one who 
> acts out of love for the boy's mother any different?

Kathy:
Oh good, we're a gathering of 2. 

Well, what is a hero? Are all the soldiers on "our" side heroes, or 
only ones who go above and beyond? Are James and Lily really heroes? 
What did they do that was above and beyond? I mean, if we're going to 
say that all the Order members were heroes, then Snape gets back on 
the list. Is every parent who defends their child a hero, or are the 
ones who don't cowards?

 
> Ginger, who considers Snape to be even more of a hero since he left 
> the comfort of the side that was winning at that time.

Kathy:
I'm still working out just who JKR's Snape is and what she thinks 
about him. She more she says, the more confused I am. But how can 
someone risk all he's risked and not be a hero?

And, what does it mean that the Chief Auror (or whatever his title 
is) named his son after the git if he doesn't consider Snape a hero? 
I'm sure Harry doesn't recall Snape with any fondness.

Kathy (Potioncat) who almost tossed her cookies when Lily called him 
Sev.







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