Um - okay. We are just going to have to differ here. As to Sirius in OOTP, I agree with Jodel. I see him as alcoholic (very possibly caused by depression - I can certainly see him as depressed here) and Remus as an enabler. Clearly, the man is not entirely well. But -
I am just stunned that you cannot see Severus's essential sadness. You may be a clinical psychologist, but I have to ask - have you ever been depressed? I have been, though just in the "shallow waters", and Marionros has also been. And, to both of us, Snape's depression practically leaps from the page. I do not see him as smug and self-satisfied at all. Irrational, unfair, and stuck in his past? Yes, at times, to all of these. And - especially when we find out how toxic his relationship with Dumbledore is, and how Dumbledore abuses him - there are clear reasons for this. Like Sirius, in some ways, Severus never grows up. As I have said before, repeatedly, the two are very alike in some ways. I've written an essay on that which might interest you, though I'm sure you won't agree.
But it does seem that you and I come at the world so differently that we will never achieve a meeting of the minds on some things. To give a brief example, I went to your blog and read your entry on writing characters, and I just don't approach my characters at all the way you do. Not at all. None of them. But I think I should probably continue that thought over on the post it's about, and not here.
Basically, in his lack of remorse for the werewolf caper, and in his utter failure to understand the probable consequences of his actions, Sirius comes across as far more entitled than Severus ever does. Both of them are flawed characters, and in rather similar ways. Still, I would not see "entitlement" as the chief problem of either one of them, not even Sirius. James? Dumbledore? Harry, as you so rightly point out in your comment? Yes, defintely. But not these guys*.
BTW, if you are feeling frustrated because I didn't address your argument, please remember (1) I am sick and tired of arguing about Snape, as I said before. No one's mind is going to be changed at this point - and my original post was not really about Snape. (2) I have gone into much greater detail about Snape elsewhere, and really don't want to repeat my arguments.
*BTW, Terri Testing did point out that, as a wizarding-raised pureblood, Sirius, like James, seems to have no comprehension of consequences. The wizarding world is a hidebound place, and wizards in general are mentally lazy. At least, that's what Rowling shows us. Heaven knows what she actually intended.
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Re: Entitled?!
Date: 2009-08-14 03:15 pm (UTC)I am just stunned that you cannot see Severus's essential sadness. You may be a clinical psychologist, but I have to ask - have you ever been depressed? I have been, though just in the "shallow waters", and Marionros has also been. And, to both of us, Snape's depression practically leaps from the page. I do not see him as smug and self-satisfied at all. Irrational, unfair, and stuck in his past? Yes, at times, to all of these. And - especially when we find out how toxic his relationship with Dumbledore is, and how Dumbledore abuses him - there are clear reasons for this. Like Sirius, in some ways, Severus never grows up. As I have said before, repeatedly, the two are very alike in some ways. I've written an essay on that which might interest you, though I'm sure you won't agree.
But it does seem that you and I come at the world so differently that we will never achieve a meeting of the minds on some things. To give a brief example, I went to your blog and read your entry on writing characters, and I just don't approach my characters at all the way you do. Not at all. None of them. But I think I should probably continue that thought over on the post it's about, and not here.
Basically, in his lack of remorse for the werewolf caper, and in his utter failure to understand the probable consequences of his actions, Sirius comes across as far more entitled than Severus ever does. Both of them are flawed characters, and in rather similar ways. Still, I would not see "entitlement" as the chief problem of either one of them, not even Sirius. James? Dumbledore? Harry, as you so rightly point out in your comment? Yes, defintely. But not these guys*.
BTW, if you are feeling frustrated because I didn't address your argument, please remember (1) I am sick and tired of arguing about Snape, as I said before. No one's mind is going to be changed at this point - and my original post was not really about Snape. (2) I have gone into much greater detail about Snape elsewhere, and really don't want to repeat my arguments.
*BTW, Terri Testing did point out that, as a wizarding-raised pureblood, Sirius, like James, seems to have no comprehension of consequences. The wizarding world is a hidebound place, and wizards in general are mentally lazy. At least, that's what Rowling shows us. Heaven knows what she actually intended.