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Why do we love Snape?
This was a question asked over on the whysnape board, and here was my answer. I have expanded it a bit as a result of the bitter word's excellent essay on Dunbledore and the comments that resulted. It is an informal essay/meditation, g-rated and probably about 500 words.
Why love a fictional character? In what sense do we *love* characters in books?
Some people will never understand this love because it has never happened to them. When I was in library school, I learned about the levels of engagement and understanding children - and teenagers, and adults - go through in their reading. First it's just basic comprehension. Then you get lost in the story; you are caught up in the adventure you are reading. Then you come to the stage where you "find yourself in a book". Then, as a young adult, you begin to see layers of meaning in the story and the characters. You begin to read on more than one level. It's my guess that all Snape fans are reading on at least the third level and more probably on the fourth. Many readers never get there. They read for information and amusement, and don't necessarily identify strongly with the characters, never mind analyzing them! That's a perfectly reasonable way to read these books. It's also true that not everyone who "finds him/herself" in the potterverse will find themselves in Snape. Why would any reader identify with him, rather than with more (apparently) likable characters such as Harry or Hermione or Sirius?
Yet many of us identify with Snape more than any other character in these books. I certainly do, and here are some of my reasons. For one thing, Severus Snape is a bullied geek, and, as Jodel remarks, many of Rowling's adult readers self-identify as geeks or nerds. I dare say quite a few of us were bullied by people like James, Sirius and Lily; as a result, we may well have strong fellow feeling for young Severus when we see him in the same situation. He is also, very clearly, a man in mourning. His irritability, poor grooming, choice of clothing, and apparent insomnia all point to clinical depression, and anyone who has ever been even slightly depressed can't help but feel for him. Most of all, I find him fascinating because he is the most morally and emotionally complex character Rowling wrote, and because he (like Neville, and unlike Harry) is truly on a hero's journey. He is the only character she wrote who actually chooses to change. This is compelling. But that's true of characters in other books, isn't it? There are certainly heroes who become better people by their own efforts and who love without being loved in return. Then why is Snape so fascinating?
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. As I've said so many times before, in Severus, Rowling had the chance to write one of the greatest characters, and greatest heroes, in all of English literature. It's all there on the page - the courage, loyalty, intelligence and capacity for love*. And yet, she makes it clear in the adjectives she uses about him, in the torments and humiliations she puts him through, and in Harry's viewpoint, that she doesn't want him to be seen as a hero. Never mind what she says in interviews, which is even worse!
So, those of us who, for whatever reason, identify with Severus want to see justice for him. We want him to achieve some peace and happiness, and that never happens in the text. This is frustrating, so we can't let go. We keep struggling to affirm his heroism and discover other possibilities for him.
*He's got a great sense of humor, too. That helps.
Why love a fictional character? In what sense do we *love* characters in books?
Some people will never understand this love because it has never happened to them. When I was in library school, I learned about the levels of engagement and understanding children - and teenagers, and adults - go through in their reading. First it's just basic comprehension. Then you get lost in the story; you are caught up in the adventure you are reading. Then you come to the stage where you "find yourself in a book". Then, as a young adult, you begin to see layers of meaning in the story and the characters. You begin to read on more than one level. It's my guess that all Snape fans are reading on at least the third level and more probably on the fourth. Many readers never get there. They read for information and amusement, and don't necessarily identify strongly with the characters, never mind analyzing them! That's a perfectly reasonable way to read these books. It's also true that not everyone who "finds him/herself" in the potterverse will find themselves in Snape. Why would any reader identify with him, rather than with more (apparently) likable characters such as Harry or Hermione or Sirius?
Yet many of us identify with Snape more than any other character in these books. I certainly do, and here are some of my reasons. For one thing, Severus Snape is a bullied geek, and, as Jodel remarks, many of Rowling's adult readers self-identify as geeks or nerds. I dare say quite a few of us were bullied by people like James, Sirius and Lily; as a result, we may well have strong fellow feeling for young Severus when we see him in the same situation. He is also, very clearly, a man in mourning. His irritability, poor grooming, choice of clothing, and apparent insomnia all point to clinical depression, and anyone who has ever been even slightly depressed can't help but feel for him. Most of all, I find him fascinating because he is the most morally and emotionally complex character Rowling wrote, and because he (like Neville, and unlike Harry) is truly on a hero's journey. He is the only character she wrote who actually chooses to change. This is compelling. But that's true of characters in other books, isn't it? There are certainly heroes who become better people by their own efforts and who love without being loved in return. Then why is Snape so fascinating?
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. As I've said so many times before, in Severus, Rowling had the chance to write one of the greatest characters, and greatest heroes, in all of English literature. It's all there on the page - the courage, loyalty, intelligence and capacity for love*. And yet, she makes it clear in the adjectives she uses about him, in the torments and humiliations she puts him through, and in Harry's viewpoint, that she doesn't want him to be seen as a hero. Never mind what she says in interviews, which is even worse!
So, those of us who, for whatever reason, identify with Severus want to see justice for him. We want him to achieve some peace and happiness, and that never happens in the text. This is frustrating, so we can't let go. We keep struggling to affirm his heroism and discover other possibilities for him.
*He's got a great sense of humor, too. That helps.
Interesting essay
I have no problem accepting that other readers don't like Snape. Their opinion does not change what I see and identify with in the character. Why my ability to see admirable qualities in Snape is so offensive to other readers is a question I have struggled with. I suppose the fact that so many of them identify with James and Sirius, whom I see as arrogant berks, may be the answer. Don't be offended - read on...
The two personality types (Snape v James/Sirius) are so divergent as to make the commonalities difficult to see. Each person tends to appreciate the good qualities in the characters that are most like themselves. This does not mean that James/Sirius fans are arrogant bullies anymore than it means that Snape fans are petty and selfish.
I see the arrogance and entitlement of James and Sirius as their most compelling attributes. Others choose to focus on their loyalty and bravery. They tend to see Snape's early mistakes and generally blunt (rude?) attitude as more important than the actions he takes to atone for his earlier mistakes. Some even say those actions somehow don't count because, in their view, he did them for the wrong reasons.
Snape's good qualities are in the text. It may be as you say that those qualities are visible only if you are reading the books at one of the deeper levels identified in the essay. I think that it may have as much to do with the personality type of the reader.
Re: Interesting essay
Thanks for your comment. The above quote really interested me, because I, too, have tended to see both James and Sirius as arrogant bullies. But I can also see that, in many ways, Severus and Sirius are very alike (I have an essay about that!;)) And, because I can see those similarities, I can understand where Sirius fans are coming from. James is another matter. I disliked him in OOTP, and, after DH, he fell still further in my opinion. I have a really hard time understanding why Rowling should name him as one of the "heroes of his generation" when she denies Severus that accolade. I really don't think it's a matter of personality type, either. I would hope even a judging extrovert (what I think James is) would be able to see that James is abusive and a bully.
Just my two cents!
Re: Interesting essay
The vitriol with which "Snapeophiles" are attacked personally is astounding. I see much less of the reverse, although it can occur. James/Sirius fans frequently react as Gryffindors - they make a quick judgment based on emotion and run with it. Right is right, and wrong is wrong, and never the twain shall meet.
Snape fans tend to be less volatile and react more intellectually. This does not mean that Snape fans are not emotionally attached to the character, just that I think they prefer to base their judgments on thought rather than feeling.
Re: Interesting essay
Having seen a lot of this vitriol, I agree. It seems that a lot of people immediately jump to the conclusion that Snape fans agree with Severus on everything for no good reason, only like Snape because of Alan Rickman, or simply choose not to notice James/Sirius' good qualities. (And it isn't just Marauder fans that do this, which points to the rift having to do with personality types.)
I think that the love some people have for Snape is utterly incomprehensible to people who are attracted to totally different characters, and that explains the random conclusions jumped to. Because, after all, if someone doesn't agree with you, they must be thinking illogically. *eyeroll*
But I can also see that, in many ways, Severus and Sirius are very alike (I have an essay about that!;)) And, because I can see those similarities, I can understand where Sirius fans are coming from.
That makes sense. I hate James, but I can't seem to really dislike Sirius as much. In fact, he is my favorite of the Marauders (the lesser of four evils, more like). This could be the reason.