I think Snape's grip on the reader's imagination is so strong because of the dissonance between what Rowling apparently intended and what she actually did.
While this is certainly true, I don't think it can be a cause for why Severus compels the minds and hearts of so many. I think the vast majority of us would feel the same way about him if JKR had never uttered a word about what she thought she was doing.
Besides the characteristics you mention that provide "entry points" for us to identify with him (bullied geek, etc.), the figure of Severus Snape seems to touch on a lot of deep "archetypal" patterns. I'm sure you're familiar with those kinds of analyses. Someone remarked above that Snape fans tend to respond more intellectually than emotionally but that this didn't mean they weren't emotionally attached to the character. I agree with that -- he pulls very deep emotional responses from those who resonate with him.
On the word "love", I don't think I can possibly use any other word for what I feel about him. After I read DH it took me a while to realize that I was actually grieving because I have had extremely little experience with that emotion. I was startled to further discover that the genuine grief seemed to have come out of genuine love. (Or, at least, as I say, I can't think of a better word.)
There's two levels or "colours" of that, though. You can love a character even if you wouldn't like them as a person. Take Darth Vader, for instance. I would want to stay well clear of him in real life. As a character, though? Just awesome! Ditto Han Solo. What a jerk! But the character is just so fun.
Not that that's how it is with Severus; just an extreme example to make the point. I think I would like Severus if I met him, although whether he would put up with me is another question. ;) But if I think about Severus as a real person, the reaction is a little less enthusiastic than the wholly positive "yeah! awesome!!" I get if I consider him solely as a character.
I'm quite clear on this distinction. I think people who argue along the lines of "but he did [blah] and acts like [blah]! How can you like that?" may not be.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2008-03-28 12:27 am (UTC)While this is certainly true, I don't think it can be a cause for why Severus compels the minds and hearts of so many. I think the vast majority of us would feel the same way about him if JKR had never uttered a word about what she thought she was doing.
Besides the characteristics you mention that provide "entry points" for us to identify with him (bullied geek, etc.), the figure of Severus Snape seems to touch on a lot of deep "archetypal" patterns. I'm sure you're familiar with those kinds of analyses. Someone remarked above that Snape fans tend to respond more intellectually than emotionally but that this didn't mean they weren't emotionally attached to the character. I agree with that -- he pulls very deep emotional responses from those who resonate with him.
On the word "love", I don't think I can possibly use any other word for what I feel about him. After I read DH it took me a while to realize that I was actually grieving because I have had extremely little experience with that emotion. I was startled to further discover that the genuine grief seemed to have come out of genuine love. (Or, at least, as I say, I can't think of a better word.)
There's two levels or "colours" of that, though. You can love a character even if you wouldn't like them as a person. Take Darth Vader, for instance. I would want to stay well clear of him in real life. As a character, though? Just awesome! Ditto Han Solo. What a jerk! But the character is just so fun.
Not that that's how it is with Severus; just an extreme example to make the point. I think I would like Severus if I met him, although whether he would put up with me is another question. ;) But if I think about Severus as a real person, the reaction is a little less enthusiastic than the wholly positive "yeah! awesome!!" I get if I consider him solely as a character.
I'm quite clear on this distinction. I think people who argue along the lines of "but he did [blah] and acts like [blah]! How can you like that?" may not be.