Comments | rattlesnakeroot: Dear Ms. Rowling: What About My "Good Guy" Syndrome?

rattlesnakeroot

Dear Ms. Rowling: What About My "Good Guy" Syndrome?

Oct 29, 2007 02:29

Dear Ms. Rowling:
I've been thinking about this view you have of Snape Fans and their "Bad Boy" Syndrome, and the fact that it "heartens" you to see us on the forums, still arguing and cat-fighting after Book Seven.

Please - walk a mile in my shoes sometimes and tell me how fun it is!

Let me introduce you to my "Good Guy Syndrome."

The Snape haters ( Read more... )

good guy, hero, snape, tolerance

Comments 27

potionsmistres October 29 2007, 09:34:12 UTC

Nicely put. I think Snape shows that somebody doesn't have to be the Golden Boy to be a hero. While JKR is entitled to her own opinions, I think she has let herself become influenced by her own history and her dislike of one of her teachers (of course, that guy is probably laughing all the way to the fandom bank). I think James and Sirius were heroes, after they grew up (well, at least some). But they still had their faults--Sirius for example still called Snape "Snivellus." JKR makes no bones about these two being imperfect--in fact, is there such a thing as a perfect hero? No. But I find it to be rather distressing that while she sees James and Sirius as heroes, she doesn't recognize Snape as the hero he really is. Yes, she says he's brave, but she also can't let go of the fact that he was not a nice person. Well, James and Sirius were no angels either, yet she seems perfectly happy to forgive them their faults. And the whole house-rivalry in general bothers me. Snape proved you don't have to be in Gryffindor to be brave ( ... )

A very fine rant, indeed! pdmcmurry October 29 2007, 13:35:15 UTC

Excellent exposition on the underlying differences between Snape and the "bad boys" of Gryffindor.

I wish JKR would read this. JKR lumps Snape in with characters like Draco, defining them as "bad boys" while giving James, Remus, and Sirius a complete pass on their behavior. Every time she makes this kind of statement she reveals more about herself than about her characters.

orthoclase October 29 2007, 13:49:12 UTC

Exactly!

alwaysholly October 29 2007, 14:41:41 UTC

Yes agreed. :)

rattlesnakeroot October 29 2007, 19:38:27 UTC

Thanks for all the comments ( ... )

ms_arithmancer October 30 2007, 00:21:44 UTC

Oh, I don't know. Little James and little Draco with the same line on the train was a nice little bit of negativity for me. Then again, I expect Draco grew up to be a good father to Scorpius, so I don't have touble believing James may have been a good father as well. >:)