Darth Snape
| As I was writing just now Dominic came in and we were talking about my prediction on Snape's involvement in Voldemort's demise. First of all, I have to modify it a little: I had forgotten about the wording of the prophecy until I saw a post on Travis' blog about it, and so I now have to predict that Harry will use Sectum Sempra on Voldy, Snape will be there and lose his life due to an unbreakable vow (which Dom and I believe will be the "kickoff" for book 7). The fatal flaw in Voldy's system of thought is similar to that in Sauron's: Sauron cannot conceive anyone not trying to use the ring as a weapon, let alone trying to destroy it, and Voldy cannot conceive of somebody choosing death over not doing the right thing. "Rise Lord Snape" Dom had a brilliant observation of connection, but I must preface it with he contents of an email between myself and Pauli before I started writing here and can't remember if I've ever posted it here: Here is a question - is Snape Vader? (this just popped into my head) - Note - both Luke and Harry have an older wise/good mentor who dies/sacrifices self. Both mentors are killed by a former pupil who later turns towards the good and helps the young hero to defeat the truly evil one. Well, this is a possibility with book 7 of Potter, but I find it hard to believe that she has spent as much time on Snape as she has just to drop him out of the main action. If there is some validity to the comparison I think that it would be at most "recognized" on the part of JKR, rather than "planned." IE it may follow some pattern in mythopoeic hero stories, maybe one clearly outlined in Joseph Campbell's "The Hero With a Thousand Faces" (which I have but have, heretofore, been too lazy too read), and Rowling would probably be aware that Lucas used the plot structure but just figured: "what the hell, people are gonna compare it to Luke's Ass no matter WHAT I do or don't use ... and I came upon the literary convention and on the idea to use it on my own and it works for my story" - young Georgey-pooh was highly enamored of Campbell's work. So, anyway, when I was mentioning to Dom that I think Snape will be involved in Voldy's final end, he pointed out what I had missed - that this fits the death of Palpatine scene in Return of the Jedi. |
Comments on "Darth Snape"
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Pauli said ... (December 10, 2005 11:07 PM)
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Merlin said ... (December 11, 2005 10:06 AM)
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Merlin said ... (December 11, 2005 10:15 AM)
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Merlin said ... (December 11, 2005 9:36 PM)
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post a commentIt fits the model in regards to relationships, but not in regards to what we know about Vader and Snape. Vader was a good guy turned villian - we knew that all along. We don't know about Snape, even though I'm a good-Snaper at this point; if he was bad on the tower and he helps kill his master in book 7 he'll be practically a parallel, otherwise he's a much cooler character. I can't see how this could be the outcome, it would be a huge departure for Rowling, wouldn't it? as well as too much like Star Wars!
Aye, there's the rub ... Lucas is a bit of a hack and Rowling is most definitely not LOL
What I'm saying is that I think there is probably a common source that Jospeh Campbell probably discusses in his book The Hero With a Thousand Faces (although I doubt this was Rowling's encounter with it, I think she encountered it probably in much more substantial and less popular style works in her undergaduate in Classics - not knocking Cambell, he's a well respected scholar, but that particular book is probably formatted for peopl like Lucas who need milk instead of meat).
Rowling's use of this source plot device (which at this point, it should be admitted, is a purely hypothetical entity, conjectured by yours truly) is pretty much a class or two (or ten) above Lucas. The difference is analagous to that between Shakespeare's McDuff sub-plot and Tolkien's Witch King of Angmar (both using the "charmed captain of evil" plot).
But on Snape's and Vader's personal history, I would note that both are foundling prodigies. Snape enters Hogwarts for his student years as a "good guy" simply by the fact that he is child who has not yet gone over to the dark side - and children (and really all human persons) are intrinsically good rather than neutral, let alone bad. And I am sure that long before SS applied to teach (ie when he was a student) DD discovered his talents in much the same way that Quigon and Obi Wan find Anakin's.
For clarification, in my interpretation Snapes "bad guy" years would not necessarily include the years in which we the reader have known him, simply the time during which he received the dark mark and was
What makes Snape so much more interesting of a character (on the "good Snape" theory, which I ascribe to) is that Voldy is duped by his own arrogant assumptions. His pride will be his downfall. Like Palpatine he senses the tension in Snape, the emotions of temptation to resentment and anger, and he thinks he pretty much has him in the bag. NOt necessarily trusts him not to be helping DD, but he assumes Snape is far enough in these unhealthy trends that he can work him without worry.
The Thing is, these things are real in Snape, not just imagined by Voldy. But Voldy can't conceive of, basically, a true human being. One who struggles with these things, comes to grips with what is good in the source of them (righteous anger etc) and what is bad and, (in Christian terms, "by grace") walks the fine line between despair and presumption that is called Hope.
Also, Snape does not actually have to murder DD in order for the comparison to be true. DD is killed by a former pupil, but there wil be an unveiling (on the "good Snape" Theory)that it was not the former pupil you thought killed him. The way each author uses a stock plot device is unique (JKR's is uniquely a world better than Lucas')