Resounding agreement here - I don't like the readings that assume if Snape is on the "good" side, that means everything he does has good purpose. JKR seems to present him as a conflicted, unhappy, bullying person who nonetheless does some good things. Your contrast of James and Snape is excellent - James presents as an overall good guy who nonetheless does some really bad things. Harry didn't deal with this idea very well (particularly as Sirius and Remus tried to encourage him to see the bigger picture) but Harry likes his villains to be Evil and his heroes Good. Unfortunately for him, that's not the world he lives in.
no subject
Date: 2006-11-29 11:29 pm (UTC)