Snape...
I've seen many essays and theories, of late, on why JKR chose to say some choice words on Severus Snape.
As far as I can see, the most important thing to remember about it is that JKR has her own mental picture of who and what Severus Snape is. She may believe that she adequately portrayed this view of Snape in her work, regardless of whether or not I, or anyone else, would agree with that. And I have seen people who do see Snape in the way which JKR apparently would prefer.
That she gave her heroes worse traits than she gave Snape seems to be something she doesn't see. She has the attitude that these activities are harmless pranks while Snape's curt tongue and abrasive personality make him more vile than her heroes. Once again, I disagree, but that is my opinion based on what I see in the books.
I do not see Snape as OOC in DH. He, as always, did what he had to do, took the risks unflinchingly, and sacrificed in the name of Harry Potter surviving. In the mean time, once again in character, he did what he could to protect the school, including the Gryffindors who had always been a thorn in his side. JKR doesn't see this as heroic, because of her own, internalized opinion of the character. However, it doesn't matter how she sees the character of Severus Snape. What matters is what she put on the page. What she put on the page was a tragic figure who struggled and overcame and sacrificed, whose love was deep and pure, and who enabled the defeat of the villain. That is the legacy of the character of Severus Snape, in spite of JKR's wish to demean and belittle the very character that she made. And I'm fine with that.
As far as I can see, the most important thing to remember about it is that JKR has her own mental picture of who and what Severus Snape is. She may believe that she adequately portrayed this view of Snape in her work, regardless of whether or not I, or anyone else, would agree with that. And I have seen people who do see Snape in the way which JKR apparently would prefer.
That she gave her heroes worse traits than she gave Snape seems to be something she doesn't see. She has the attitude that these activities are harmless pranks while Snape's curt tongue and abrasive personality make him more vile than her heroes. Once again, I disagree, but that is my opinion based on what I see in the books.
I do not see Snape as OOC in DH. He, as always, did what he had to do, took the risks unflinchingly, and sacrificed in the name of Harry Potter surviving. In the mean time, once again in character, he did what he could to protect the school, including the Gryffindors who had always been a thorn in his side. JKR doesn't see this as heroic, because of her own, internalized opinion of the character. However, it doesn't matter how she sees the character of Severus Snape. What matters is what she put on the page. What she put on the page was a tragic figure who struggled and overcame and sacrificed, whose love was deep and pure, and who enabled the defeat of the villain. That is the legacy of the character of Severus Snape, in spite of JKR's wish to demean and belittle the very character that she made. And I'm fine with that.