Reading Snape as an Example of the Pop-Culture Character Type of the Lonely Nerd

[jncar]

First, I must give credit where credit is due. The idea for this essay was sparked by this discussion at bohemianspirit's journal. Here, the discussion centers on comparing Snape to being an outcast/nerd in Real Life. I've taken the same root idea, but abandoned Real Life altogether to focus on where Snape fits into the spectrum of pop-cultural depictions of

Comments

[heidi8]

This is really interesting! I just read an interview with Henry Jenkins, so meta-fandomy things are on my mind right now and your study on Snape really incorporates some of my thoughts on reading what the reporter focused on in the Jenkins profile... (and btw, have you considered submitting it to fictionalley's essay archive?)

[jncar]

Thanks! I might do that--I already have a fictionalley account.

[cs_luis]

I loved this! :-D Totally agree on all counts, and bonus points for all the Napoleon references.

[jncar]

Sorry--that first reply was supposed to be for someone else! But thanks. Napoleon references are always good fun, aren't they?

[pstscrpt]

I don't really think there's a firm distiction between lonely and bitter, although I suppose arguing for the lonely side makes it worth an essay. I think the bitter side goes without saying, and that Snape's unhappiness and unpleasantness feed off each other.

Voldemorte may be something of a nerd, but Tom Riddle never was. He never had the slightest trouble getting people to think of him exactly what he wanted them to.

[jncar]

I think that pre-Hogwarts Tom Riddle was most certainly a nerd, but once he entered Hogwarts he did indeed seem to find a niche where he could be popular, so you make a good point.

[pegkerr]

I think you mean bohemianspirit.

[jncar]

Thanks. I'll fix it.

[pegkerr]

Great essay. Good work. Thanks!

[slythwolf]

At that point in the narrative it is only necessary that he communicate to Harry that part of Voldemort’s soul resides within him. Instead, Snape pours out memories of key moments throughout his life. Why? Because even as he is dying, Snape still longs for understanding, acceptance, and even love. He hopes that by sharing his story with Harry, that Harry-and through Harry, the world-will finally grant him respect and understanding. In a sad irony Snape achieves the wide public respect and admiration that he always wanted only after his death.

I have to disagree with this passage from beginning to end. Firstly Severus has to show Harry those memories to get Harry to trust him--why would Harry believe someone he thinks is evil, especially if that someone is telling him he has to die? He would think it was part of Voldemort's plot. And secondly he doesn't achieve wide public respect and admiration. The only person who seems to respect and admire him is Harry, and that only nineteen years later.

[jncar]

I see your point--Harry did need to see something to convince him of Snape's trustworthiness. However, I think the whole narrative of his friendship with Lily was completely unnecessary. He merely needed to show himself healing Dumbledore, agreeing to kill him, and sending the Patronus to lead Harry to the sword. That would have been sufficient to earn Harry's trust. The rest of the memories were nothing but a desire for Snape to explain himself.

The only person who seems to respect and admire him is Harry, and that only nineteen years later.The denouement is so short and the epilogue so devoid of in-depth detail that I think it highly likely that Snape has achieved wide-spread respect and fame postmortem. The fact that Albus Severus doesn't know much about the man for whom he is named is no surprise--it wouldn't exactly be a comfortable daily conversational topic in the Potter household, and Harry never cared much for studying history so he likely would not have had books on recent wizarding history lying around the house. The kid

[slythwolf]

I base nothing on little Albus Severus. I don't think Severus had achieved widespread recognition because of the fact that JKR has said Harry had to fight to get him a headmaster's portrait at Hogwarts. I think if everybody acknowledged he was a hero it would have been easy.

[jncar]

Okay. I just went back to the chat transcript to read that particular reply, and the exact wording is: "I like to think that Harry would be instrumental in ensuring that Snape’s portrait would appear there in due course."

Maybe it's just my way of reading it, but to me that answer doesn't imply that Harry had to fight for it--merely that he was the prime instigator of the action. There wasn't necessarily any strong objections or opposition. And if Harry instigated the commission of that portrait, I think its likely that he also gave interviews, etc. lauding the heroism of Snape which would have been widely distributed.

But its all a matter of personal opinion and how we choose to read Rowlings's statement, so if you don't read it the same as me I understand.