Severus Snape

[LoveMe_HateMe]

Was he a good guy or a bad guy? I think he turned out to be one of the good guys in the end...

[Gaybaby94]

I'm reading the series now (on the last book actually). Right now I believe he is bad, but there is a reason Dumbledore trusted him.

[Jess]

EDIT: oops didn't realize this was a debate.

Yes, he was nasty to Harry and always bullied him, but there was a reason for that. Harry looked so much like James, who was pretty mean to Snape back in their Hogwarts days. But to the very end, he was --- oh wait I don't want to spoil it.

[Syvelocin]

Always a good guy.

It was Snape who protected Harry. Snape who cared for him (in a twisted sort of way). Harry was too set in his own prejudices he had kept since first year to see Snape was always there. I think Harry always unfairly judged him. Of course, he was horrible to Harry at many times, but Harry takes it a bit further than he should I think. He's too intent on preserving his father's pride to think James could have made mistakes as a student. Snape may not have acted like Lupin did toward him, but you don't have to act like that to care for someone.

'Course, when JK pulled the random Snape and Lily thing out at the last minute it kind of made it both more obvious and more shallow on Snape's part. Not that I don't like the dynamic, it's just we never knew anything about this until it was convenient to give Snape this random devotion and tragedy that made his death more depressing.

Maybe it's just as a writer, I don't think any character portrayed at a time as evil is actually a bad character. Snape was never a bad guy in my head, from the first book to the last. Even Voldemort, he thinks he's truly doing the wizarding world a justice. It's his beliefs. Just cause Harry is his enemy...

[Human]

I think Snape turned out to be a good character. Maybe a bit messed up, but still good.

[TheBigUnit]

Snape was a good guy, after the last book he became one of my most favorite ppl from harry potter, technically snape was a bad guy once but that was before harrys birth

[Jess]

Always a good guy.

It was Snape who protected Harry. Snape who cared for him (in a twisted sort of way). Harry was too set in his own prejudices he had kept since first year to see Snape was always there. I think Harry always unfairly judged him. Of course, he was horrible to Harry at many times, but Harry takes it a bit further than he should I think. He's too intent on preserving his father's pride to think James could have made mistakes as a student. Snape may not have acted like Lupin did toward him, but you don't have to act like that to care for someone.

'Course, when JK pulled the random Snape and Lily thing out at the last minute it kind of made it both more obvious and more shallow on Snape's part. Not that I don't like the dynamic, it's just we never knew anything about this until it was convenient to give Snape this random devotion and tragedy that made his death more depressing.

Maybe it's just as a writer, I don't think any character portrayed at a time as evil is actually a bad character. Snape was never a bad guy in my head, from the first book to the last. Even Voldemort, he thinks he's truly doing the wizarding world a justice. It's his beliefs. Just cause Harry is his enemy...

beautiful. I would have written something similar, but I didn't in case it spoils it for someone who've never read the books

For your last paragraph, what do you think of Umbridge? She was a truly evil character in my opinion, even worse than Voldemort, and the way she's portrayed is so good...hard to explain for me.

[Syvelocin]

beautiful. I would have written something similar, but I didn't in case it spoils it for someone who've never read the books

For your last paragraph, what do you think of Umbridge? She was a truly evil character in my opinion, even worse than Voldemort, and the way she's portrayed is so good...hard to explain for me.

Oooh, Umbridge. She always felt power-hungry, and of course snobbish. Like she very well could be on Voldemort's side. I mean, they do share a lot of the same values, but she's Ministry, which is kinda the awkward middle ground in society, "We're not evil, but you are all stupid, and we are the only people who know what's best for the wizarding world" pretty much. It's non-canon, but I've always had this idea behind the ministry: the ministry was supposedly established in the 17th century, same time as the witch trials, they probably were in desperate need of laws and guidance, so I feel the ministry actually thought to take advantage of this and basically become undercover dictators. I've always thought a lot of their operations were completely over the top. Of course there were some good parts of the Ministry, but anyone with any sort of real power was at least a little corrupt.

But enough random speculation. She was a disgusting woman, I thought. She's definitely a match for the trope bitch in sheep's clothing. Always hated her more than Voldemort surely. But I was fond of Trelawney, so I really wanted to punch her in the face. But my statement still stands. I guess I have the issue that real life isn't always the basis of literature, even though I do believe JK knew that when she was writing and incorporated that into the story, I don't think every fan understands that. Because in real life, we are all grey, neither black nor white. We all have both evil and good parts of us.

[Charles Finley]

Of course he was a good guy. He served the cause of good. Disliking the protagonist does not an evil character make.