Comments | hp_essays: Snape may be bad, but he isn't evil...

animus_wyrmis in hp_essays

Snape may be bad, but he isn't evil...

Jul 15, 2007 21:12

(Note-page numbers are from the US hardbound editions.)

Severus Snape: the most controversial character in the entire series. Death Eater, Order member, spy, traitor, potions master, Dark Arts expert, highly skilled Occlumens…there doesn’t seem to be anything he can’t do, except for getting over his schoolboy grudges. Somehow, he earned ( Read more... )

characters:severus snape, other topics:theories

Comments 39

valis2 July 16 2007, 03:58:36 UTC

An absolutely terrific essay. I really am intrigued by this extremely cogent, well-written take on Snape's loyalty. Absolutely top-notch!

animus_wyrmis July 16 2007, 17:38:33 UTC

Thanks! ^_^

godrevypoint July 16 2007, 04:04:18 UTC

Excellent essay. I already believed Snape was good, but it's easy to see how those who believed Snape was bad could switch sides. Extremely well though-out and there is a lot of substantial backing. It was a great read!

As for how much say JKR has in the movie scripts, I believe, most of the time, she gives WB a lot of freedom. Occasionally she will give subtle hints as to what they should do (for example, when Cuaron wanted to add a graveyard on the Hogwarts grounds, JKR strongly advised not to, as it would be important in a future book). If there's something she thinks really needs to be in a script, or taken out of a script, she lets the scriptwriters know. However, since she sold the rights to WB, she technically doesn't have a lot of say.

animus_wyrmis July 16 2007, 17:42:28 UTC

I'm glad you liked it!

Hm...I guess I'm hoping the script writers screwed up in a couple places...they missed so much!

poisonivy2425 July 16 2007, 04:28:33 UTC

I found this essay through hogwarts_today and I have to say I am REALLY glad I did because you've said everything I always wanted to hear and in perfect detail. Thank you very much for writing this amazing essay.

After reading this, my complete faith in Severus has been restored (not that it was ever really diminished, but you have definitely helped solidified it).

If there's a chance he actually turns out to be "evil" in the end, I will be in a complete state of shock.

animus_wyrmis July 16 2007, 17:46:40 UTC

^_^

I don't think there's any way he *can* be evil...if that's what happens, I'll be just as shocked as you...

catsintheattic July 16 2007, 09:22:43 UTC

Brilliant essay! Thank you so much for your thorough research and for wording this in a way that made such an interesting and joyful as well as convincing read.

animus_wyrmis July 16 2007, 17:47:52 UTC

Thanks! :)

I also want to know how much input JKR has into the movies elphaba_of_oz July 16 2007, 13:25:01 UTC

I think the Snape's Worst Memory scene in the movie TOTALLY missed the point. That memory is not Snape's worst because he was tormented by the marauders. The likelihood that he would be tormented by the marauders on any given Tuesday was about 83%.

That memory was horrible to him because of Lily Evans-Potter. Snape was rescued from the bullies by a girl, but not just any girl. I believe we will discover in Book 7 that Lily Evans was Snape's high school crush. They did potions homework together. I suspect he muttered her name into his pillow at night.

Snape's worst memory was an instance in which young Master Snape was immasculated by the bullies with the help of the girl he desired. What could be worse than that?

The OOTP movie just showed the himuliation, not the immasculation. I want to know whether the director ran that by JKR, or whether he just screwed up on his own.

Re: I also want to know how much input JKR has into the movies orodwen July 16 2007, 17:45:13 UTC

just a FYI: snape's worse memory was shot with lily in the scene but an hour's worth of film ended up on the cutting room floor. an hour's worth!

Re: I also want to know how much input JKR has into the movies animus_wyrmis July 16 2007, 17:52:35 UTC

...I would have sat through another hour!

I wonder why they decided to cut that particular scene...

Re: I also want to know how much input JKR has into the movies animus_wyrmis July 16 2007, 17:51:43 UTC

I agree completely. Lily should have been in that scene. And the way it was shown (with Harry breaking into Snape's mind or whatever, seeing the memory, and then being told to leave) bothered me too--in the book it's an actual invasion of privacy (going into the Pensieve) instead of Harry managing the spell...

::sighs:: Besides, I was looking forward to seeing a teenage Lily...