![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Entry tags:
Four Possible Interpretations of Snape:
This is an informal essay, about 500 words, about Snape and his role in the Harry Potter Stories. Rated G, no warnings. The essay follows the cut-
The four possible interpretations of Snape:
1. Snape is a baddie, and Voldemort's man. This is the interpretation all of us probably came to, if only for a second or two, immediately after reading HBP. IMHO, there are many problems with this interpretation when you read the books again; it ignores the story structure, the patterns in the books, the symbolism surrounding Snape, and even some of his actions. Then why do I say it's still possible? Because, the story being unfinished, Rowling may yet decide to write Snape this way. It seems a very unlikely interpretation to me, and, if Rowling does this, my admiration for her as an author will be greatly diminished. But she *could* do it, all the same.
2. Snape is a baddie, and out for himself. A few fans are promoting this one - at least, I have read it in a couple of places - but they have not convinced me. I have many of the same problems with it as I have with the "Voldemort's man" interpretation; all the same it seems more likely than "Voldemort's man" to me. Although it also ignores the structure, the patterns, and the symbolism surrounding Snape, it does *not* ignore his actions in the story, and it makes sense plotwise. It's quite possible. Again, I would personally find it very unsatisfying if Rowling wrote her character this way, but at least the story, as a story, would hang together and make sense. In other ways, it would be sloppy writing, but Rowling may well be a sloppy writer in exactly those ways. Time will tell.
3. Snape is a good guy*, but out for himself, and neither Dumbledore's man nor Voldemort's. A very possible reading - Severus might, indeed, be crying mentally: "A Plague on both your houses!" , and trying to 'take over' and fix the wizarding world out of a combination of rage at the wrongs he's suffered (from BOTH sides), vengefulness, and a sort of hard-headed, misguided idealism. I think it's very easy to read the character this way, and it contradicts almost nothing in the books, actually. Not my interpretation, but very possible. (*note: It's pretty obvious that Snape has some serious character flaws, and they would fit right into this interpretation. Some of his virtues do not - his loyalty, for example, which is hinted at in a couple of places. And this one also ignores the Christ symbolism which surrounds this character. But otherwise I do think this interpretation works well.)
4. Snape is a good guy, and Dumbledore's man through and through. My interpretation, and not mine alone* - as those who have read my essay called "Snape as a Pillar of the Universe" know, I really think this reading makes perfect sense of what we know of the character, the symbols surrounding him, the comparisons with Harry, and the plot structure. IMHO, this one just works, and I will be thrilled if Rowling goes this route - but there are no guarantees that she will. At this stage, I really don't think interpretation (1) is possible, but any of (2), (3) or (4) is. And, as I said, I might be wrong; Rowling might go with (1), after all. (*note - for a couple of other essays on Snape as Dumbledore's man, you could visit logospilgrim's website at www.logospilgrim.com. She has a few listed there; Emily Anne's is particularly good.)
Things we don't know, even if (3) or (4) is right: What was Snape's childhood really like? His parents? Was he orphaned very early in life, as Jodel from aol, cmwinters, and I suspect? Were he and Lily ever friends/rivals? Was he always Dumbledore's man (Jodel's interpretation, and she's almost persuaded me) or was there a time when he was a committed Death Eater? If he really was a committed Death Eater, what caused him to repent? (I know -Dumbledore's given us an explanation, and I'm sure it was true, as far as it goes, but I'm also sure it's not the whole story.) What is Snape's Patronus? His boggart? His animagus, if he has one? And on it goes. J.K.Rowling, please hurry up and write! Very Happy
The four possible interpretations of Snape:
1. Snape is a baddie, and Voldemort's man. This is the interpretation all of us probably came to, if only for a second or two, immediately after reading HBP. IMHO, there are many problems with this interpretation when you read the books again; it ignores the story structure, the patterns in the books, the symbolism surrounding Snape, and even some of his actions. Then why do I say it's still possible? Because, the story being unfinished, Rowling may yet decide to write Snape this way. It seems a very unlikely interpretation to me, and, if Rowling does this, my admiration for her as an author will be greatly diminished. But she *could* do it, all the same.
2. Snape is a baddie, and out for himself. A few fans are promoting this one - at least, I have read it in a couple of places - but they have not convinced me. I have many of the same problems with it as I have with the "Voldemort's man" interpretation; all the same it seems more likely than "Voldemort's man" to me. Although it also ignores the structure, the patterns, and the symbolism surrounding Snape, it does *not* ignore his actions in the story, and it makes sense plotwise. It's quite possible. Again, I would personally find it very unsatisfying if Rowling wrote her character this way, but at least the story, as a story, would hang together and make sense. In other ways, it would be sloppy writing, but Rowling may well be a sloppy writer in exactly those ways. Time will tell.
3. Snape is a good guy*, but out for himself, and neither Dumbledore's man nor Voldemort's. A very possible reading - Severus might, indeed, be crying mentally: "A Plague on both your houses!" , and trying to 'take over' and fix the wizarding world out of a combination of rage at the wrongs he's suffered (from BOTH sides), vengefulness, and a sort of hard-headed, misguided idealism. I think it's very easy to read the character this way, and it contradicts almost nothing in the books, actually. Not my interpretation, but very possible. (*note: It's pretty obvious that Snape has some serious character flaws, and they would fit right into this interpretation. Some of his virtues do not - his loyalty, for example, which is hinted at in a couple of places. And this one also ignores the Christ symbolism which surrounds this character. But otherwise I do think this interpretation works well.)
4. Snape is a good guy, and Dumbledore's man through and through. My interpretation, and not mine alone* - as those who have read my essay called "Snape as a Pillar of the Universe" know, I really think this reading makes perfect sense of what we know of the character, the symbols surrounding him, the comparisons with Harry, and the plot structure. IMHO, this one just works, and I will be thrilled if Rowling goes this route - but there are no guarantees that she will. At this stage, I really don't think interpretation (1) is possible, but any of (2), (3) or (4) is. And, as I said, I might be wrong; Rowling might go with (1), after all. (*note - for a couple of other essays on Snape as Dumbledore's man, you could visit logospilgrim's website at www.logospilgrim.com. She has a few listed there; Emily Anne's is particularly good.)
Things we don't know, even if (3) or (4) is right: What was Snape's childhood really like? His parents? Was he orphaned very early in life, as Jodel from aol, cmwinters, and I suspect? Were he and Lily ever friends/rivals? Was he always Dumbledore's man (Jodel's interpretation, and she's almost persuaded me) or was there a time when he was a committed Death Eater? If he really was a committed Death Eater, what caused him to repent? (I know -Dumbledore's given us an explanation, and I'm sure it was true, as far as it goes, but I'm also sure it's not the whole story.) What is Snape's Patronus? His boggart? His animagus, if he has one? And on it goes. J.K.Rowling, please hurry up and write! Very Happy
no subject
Thank you. :)
no subject