Ok, now, as a blatant Snape apologist, I have to say that his behavior here really did throw me - though actually less than his ranting spittle-throwing tirade at the end of the book.
Still, I have to concede that he has just as much reason to be a big baby...or, at least as much reason as Harry does, except Harry gets away with it. When Harry goes into capslocky-justification mode and does inane crap, he is lauded for it. Poor Snape is stuck trying, but he gets jack shit.
I mean, the very fact that Snape was lured in by an inane and juvenile prank does not speak too well for his cognition (for who would listen to his worst enemies about a rendezvous?) and yet, I feel a bit sorry for his plight. They did try to kill him, and what happens? They become Dumbledore's favorites, get away with illegal activity, and Lupin gets his own little house for good. While Snape is told to shut up and suck it up.
Yeah, he wants revenge. That's a better motive than protecting Harry, anyway. Really, if Snape were a hero, he'd ley Harry do
( ... )
I also despised Buffy the character but liked Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I don't have that level of pure hatred for Harry, but I find him uninteresting. Still, I find Rowling's little fictitious universe interesting, and I derive enjoyment from the stories. Rather sillier to me is for someone to dictate that one can/cannot enjoy something based upon one's feelings about the protagonist.
See, you are approaching this in a logical fashion and Snape's problem - and what makes him an interesting character - is that he is completely irrational about Harry and his father.
This is actually a take on the guy I can accept--that he's indefensibly a git and that makes him interesting. I suppose this applies to my appreciation of Anakin Skywalker--I think half the stuff he does is wrong or stupid, but at least he's wrong and/or stupid in a way that fascinates me.
My guess is it's because he's been a double agent for that long and everyone still treats him like crap.Well, that's kind of the point of being a double agent, isn't it? He's supposed to make it look like he's a nasty Death Eater spy right up until his mission is complete, which won't be until somewhere in Book 7. So it's not as if there's some point halfway in where the good guys figure out Snape's a double agent and stop giving him crap--if they could do that he wouldn't be doing his job right
( ... )
I'm not saying Snape shouldn't be angsty about that, because even though he surely foresaw these consequences it would still suck to live with them. But I do find it odd that some Snape fans resent the other characters for failing to uncover what Snape is deliberately trying to conceal from them.
Well, up until book 6 (yes, I can see why after that people would be undecided), everyone in the Order knew what Snape was doing was supposedly for the side of good. Harry knew that as well. Now, it doesn't excuse Snape's behavior towards Harry in the classroom, but surely that is enough reason to hate him instead of thinking that he is behind every single evil plan that was ever invented?
That doesn't make sense to me--the "everything" Harry gets away with doesn't include joining the forces of evil (or at least the appearance of same), so how can you compare that to Snape's reckless youth? Snape's clearly got more to live down than Harry does, given the story's internal logic that helping Voldemort rule the universe or whatever is
( ... )
Well, up until book 6 (yes, I can see why after that people would be undecided), everyone in the Order knew what Snape was doing was supposedly for the side of good. Harry knew that as well.
They've been told he left the Death Eaters and he's really truly no kidding back with the angels, correct? That doesn't mean they believe it. People are so scared of Voldemort they won't even say his name, so it's not a considerable stretch that they would be suspicious of someone claiming to have left his employ. I mean, put yourself in Harry's shoes:
BIG AL D-DORE: What up, Harry, this is Professor Snape. Seems he used to work for the guy who killed your parents but he swears he's cool now, so I'm letting him earn his redemption.
LEGENDARY SUPER DUMBASS: Well, I don't know...say, what are you doing with that there?
SNAPE: Never you mind, Potter. You should shut the hell up. Ten gajillion demerits for Griffinwhatever. Also your mom was a total bitch. But I'm not evil
( ... )
Hehehe, yes, but your premise relies upon the fact that a) Harry isn't supposed to be in the know, despite being the one person whom the good guys are really relying upon in the war against Voldemort, and b) that Harry is, indeed, a super dumbass
( ... )
Hehehe, yes, but your premise relies upon the fact that a) Harry isn't supposed to be in the know, despite being the one person whom the good guys are really relying upon in the war against Voldemort, and b) that Harry is, indeed, a super dumbass.
On point a) he's obviously not in the know and somebody else (probably Dumbledore) is to blame for that. Whether this is a good idea or not remains to be seen. On the possibility that b) might not be true, I think the evidence is staggering.
And I don't think Rowling actually *wants* the readers to think that Harry is a super dumbass, even if he is.OK, that's certainly a good point. We're supposed to think Harry is of at least average intelligence and doing as well as the reader could under the circumstances. But I also think we're supposed to think that Harry's judgement is justifiably clouded by his emotions, and that Snape being a mean teacher is really supposed to make it impossible for him to figure out that Snape may be on his side. But as I've noted, the book is written for
( ... )
Well, if Harry's judgment is supposed to be clouded by his irrational crap-thinking, then isn't Snape allowed the same excuse? I mean, Snape is a total moron when it comes to anything that has to do with Sirius Black or James Potter - he just gets testy and whiny and goes into the same idiotic capslock mode Harry does
( ... )
Still, I have to concede that he has just as much reason to be a big baby...or, at least as much reason as Harry does, except Harry gets away with it. When Harry goes into capslocky-justification mode and does inane crap, he is lauded for it. Poor Snape is stuck trying, but he gets jack shit.
I mean, the very fact that Snape was lured in by an inane and juvenile prank does not speak too well for his cognition (for who would listen to his worst enemies about a rendezvous?) and yet, I feel a bit sorry for his plight. They did try to kill him, and what happens? They become Dumbledore's favorites, get away with illegal activity, and Lupin gets his own little house for good. While Snape is told to shut up and suck it up.
Yeah, he wants revenge. That's a better motive than protecting Harry, anyway. Really, if Snape were a hero, he'd ley Harry do ( ... )
Reply
Reply
This is actually a take on the guy I can accept--that he's indefensibly a git and that makes him interesting. I suppose this applies to my appreciation of Anakin Skywalker--I think half the stuff he does is wrong or stupid, but at least he's wrong and/or stupid in a way that fascinates me.
My guess is it's because he's been a double agent for that long and everyone still treats him like crap.Well, that's kind of the point of being a double agent, isn't it? He's supposed to make it look like he's a nasty Death Eater spy right up until his mission is complete, which won't be until somewhere in Book 7. So it's not as if there's some point halfway in where the good guys figure out Snape's a double agent and stop giving him crap--if they could do that he wouldn't be doing his job right ( ... )
Reply
Well, up until book 6 (yes, I can see why after that people would be undecided), everyone in the Order knew what Snape was doing was supposedly for the side of good. Harry knew that as well. Now, it doesn't excuse Snape's behavior towards Harry in the classroom, but surely that is enough reason to hate him instead of thinking that he is behind every single evil plan that was ever invented?
That doesn't make sense to me--the "everything" Harry gets away with doesn't include joining the forces of evil (or at least the appearance of same), so how can you compare that to Snape's reckless youth? Snape's clearly got more to live down than Harry does, given the story's internal logic that helping Voldemort rule the universe or whatever is ( ... )
Reply
They've been told he left the Death Eaters and he's really truly no kidding back with the angels, correct? That doesn't mean they believe it. People are so scared of Voldemort they won't even say his name, so it's not a considerable stretch that they would be suspicious of someone claiming to have left his employ. I mean, put yourself in Harry's shoes:
BIG AL D-DORE: What up, Harry, this is Professor Snape. Seems he used to work for the guy who killed your parents but he swears he's cool now, so I'm letting him earn his redemption.
LEGENDARY SUPER DUMBASS: Well, I don't know...say, what are you doing with that there?
SNAPE: Never you mind, Potter. You should shut the hell up. Ten gajillion demerits for Griffinwhatever. Also your mom was a total bitch. But I'm not evil ( ... )
Reply
Reply
On point a) he's obviously not in the know and somebody else (probably Dumbledore) is to blame for that. Whether this is a good idea or not remains to be seen. On the possibility that b) might not be true, I think the evidence is staggering.
And I don't think Rowling actually *wants* the readers to think that Harry is a super dumbass, even if he is.OK, that's certainly a good point. We're supposed to think Harry is of at least average intelligence and doing as well as the reader could under the circumstances. But I also think we're supposed to think that Harry's judgement is justifiably clouded by his emotions, and that Snape being a mean teacher is really supposed to make it impossible for him to figure out that Snape may be on his side. But as I've noted, the book is written for ( ... )
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment