Monday, September 27, 2010

Most Compelling Character

A fellow blogger, Margo Berendsen, challenged me to explain why I said Severus Snape is the most compelling character I've ever encountered. Now, let me preface this post by saying that I have many other favorite characters, and certainly characters that I've loved far more than Snape. But he is, without a doubt, the most compelling.

Why?

Because I've hated him, suspected him, pitied him, laughed with/at him, cried for him, loved him, and forgiven him (among other emotions but these are the strongest 7). I've never crossed a character whose single handedly made me feel so many different emotions - frequently, at the exact same time.

Because Severus faces everything he loves and hates in the world every single day - Harry Potter. James Potter was the leader of the group that terrorized him, making his school years awful. If you think about it - which Snape surely has - Harry could have been his. But Harry looks exactly like James - Snapes reaction is, admittedly, unfair but I get why. Lily - the love of his life - died to protect him. She lives on through Harry. To top it off, Harry being alone, Lily being dead - it was his fault. His mistake. What horrible prospects to face every time he looks at this boy. This all makes for excellent internal conflict.

Because Snape made a mistake. And he spent the rest of his life trying to make it right. Who can claim they'd do the same? Not many characters, or people, for that matter.

Because Snape is rude, sarcastic, mean, intelligent, and he's nothing but shades of grey. There is no definite good or bad in him - he's both predictable and unpredictable at the exact same time (and how many characters can both prove and disprove a label like predictability simultaneously). He is gorgeously flawed and complicated.

Because he's a Slytherin who showed more courage than any other Gryffindor when he killed Dumbledore. Could you kill the only person who really believed in you, who meant so much to you, who you respected, even if you'd save hundreds of lives by doing so? Even if, in reality, it was out of mercy because your mentor was dying anyway? Maybe I'm naive but I doubt many could. I couldn't. I'm selfish and would probably let the other hundreds of people die if it meant just a little more time with someone I cared about.

Because he's mysterious. When I first met him, heck...for the majority of the series, I never expected him to be one half to such a tragic, beautiful, could-have-been love story. He did so much for the girl he met on the playground. Not all of it good, mind you, but I've never crossed a character who's had such unwavering love and devotion for another, so long after they've gone and with nothing in return. Lily was Snape's  one true love. Maybe he wasn't hers but that's okay, he loved her enough for the both of them.

It doesn't hurt that he's played by Alan Rickman....just saying.

Who is the most compelling character you've ever read? Why?

34 comments:

  1. That is soo true!

    I have many characters I found compelling.

    But I used Sherlock Holmes in my post.

    Egotistic, Angry, Smart Alecky...

    And the best at what he does.

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  2. I love Snape too, just because I didn't see it coming that he was a good guy. But then, when I realized he was good all along, it was absolutely believable.

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  3. wow this is really GREAT! You've convinced me too--I had never thought of him that way!

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  4. Oh Melissa, I loved Snape. He's one of the memorable characters in the HP movies. Quirky, mysterious, sinister - and that surprising twist, he acted out of character - he was good in the end. Oh and I love Alan Rickman's voice too!

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  5. I'm definitely going to agree with you-- Snape is by far the most compelling character I've ever read! Thanks for sharing this.

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  6. Wow. Just wow.

    Snape is, and always has been, one of my favorite characters in that series. For every single reason you mentioned and more. I always had my suspicions that he wasn't "all evil".

    "he's nothing but shades of grey". LOVE IT!

    Thanks for your comments on my blog! And thanks for following :)

    Cheers,
    Jen

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  7. I love Snape too. His story is pretty heartbreaking.

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  8. Snape is such a complicated character, but I've always been partial to him. And yay for Alan Rickman--just so perfect.

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  9. Snape is an amazing character, you're so right. LOVE him! Sad for him. Hated him. Oh, gosh. If I could write a character half as amazing as him one day I'll be happy. AWESOME post. Love any posts dedicated to HP!

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  10. I've been converted to the cult of Snape. He's definitely one of the most compelling characters I've ever run across. I kind of love him.

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  11. I can't really limit it to just one, but I think that's the mark of a great novel--those characters you can't let go and/or who keep you guessing. Yes?

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  12. Snape was never my favorite character, but I can't deny that he is perhaps one of the most compelling characters I've ever read.

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  13. Wow...I'm not sure Snape would have come to mind if you asked the question before reading this (I'm not sure I could have come up with a single character), but as soon as you said it, I understood completely why you'd think so. And now, so do I!

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  14. hahhaha! I love your last line (about it being played by Alan Rickman). I learned quite a bit in this post about him. I did not know all this stuff, so thanks. I noticed someone wrote Sherlock Holmes as the most compelling character. Very good choice I must say! I think I shall watch that movie today. So brilliant! Anyway, I miss you and hope to see you soon!

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  15. ...characters like Snape are what transform a good read, to a classic, for the simple reason you so perfectly described in your post.

    Like some of our wives and husbands say, "can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em."

    Writing of the hero is as easy as brushing one's teeth. The challenge of Snape is what hints of a writer's talent...which in this case is vast:)

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  16. Love this analysis of Snape's character. He was definitely one complex and interesting character.

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  17. Well worded. It's true, he is so compelling because he is so complex and evokes so many emotions in us. I think the most compelling characters are generally the bad guys (when written well).

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  18. Lol... ahhhh.. I started reading this, and I couldn't stop! And I'm just finishing the 5th Harry Potter book for the first time (yes, I am the only person on Earth who hasn't read the series yet)... and while I always suspected Snape was good, I didn't see the Lily story coming!!

    I love him too, already, even though I haven't finished the series yet... he is VERy complex! :D

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  19. Snape is one amazing character - so much going on and yet he pulls it off. Wow!

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  20. I think Snape is a very compelling character, he's so easy to hate and love at the same time. Not many characters can pull that off!!! I've enjoyed every minute of his acting (Alan Rickman that is) and I look forward to the latest movie (Just saw another trailer on Colene Murphys BLOG!)

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  21. Great question. I think the narrator in The tell-tale heart was very compelling.

    Brian in Hatchet also. And many more.

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  22. So true... not sure I can think of a character to top Snape.

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  23. I think Snape and Dumbledore can stand equally on this scale. Dumbledore also did many things that he regretted and that we, as readers, didn't expect.

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  24. You so nailed it. Way to bring out all the reasons Snape is so cool! Complexity makes him compelling! Thanks!

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  25. Snape has always been my favorite character in the Harry Potter series. You did an excellent job describing why.

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  26. Great job with your character study of Snape!

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  27. LOVE Snape. One of my favorite scenes in the Potter series is when Bellatrix and Mrs. Malfoy are running to meet him and how their encounter adds a whole new layer to who we thought he was.

    One my favorites is Megan Whalen Turner's Eugenides. Not only is his character named something cool, but we only get what he's about little by little. Love his unreliablity as a narrator too! :o)

    Great post and great to "meet" you, Melissa!

    Cheers,
    Jackee

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  28. I am with you One. Hundred. Percent.

    Great defense Melissa!

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  29. Hey Melissa. Just wanted to let you know that I gave you an award on my blog.

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  30. Awesome post!

    I too am a lover of Snape. I can remember getting into heated arguments with my DH while reading the earlier books that he wasn't "bad" just misunderstood.

    I actually thought he deserved a more fleshed-out ending than he rec'd in the last book, after all, as you pointed out, he was just as heroic as Harry.

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  31. Okay, I have to admit I've never read the books or seen the movies. *hides head* but your post alone makes me want. It sounds so intriguing the way you describe him.

    Your question leaves me thinking. I don't think I can narrow it down to one character. But I have a feeling I'll be thinking about this today! Great post!

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  32. Ah, you are so right about Snape! I am so glad I put you up to the challenge, he's a fascinating character but i just never stopped to analyze why (same goes for Gandalf. I was curious about what made him so compelling to me... though I still don't think I quite figured it out. Darn it all, you do realize what you've started? Now I want to go back and read BOTH series again. LOTR and now Harry Potter too!

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  33. Wow! Great post! I think Snape is the hidden hero of the Harry Potter saga, and he is by far the most complex character I've ever read in a fantasy series . . . ever, now that I think about it.

    However, one of my old favorite characters is Bilbo Baggins. He's flawed, he's whiny, he wants adventure but he doesn't want the discomfort, he's afraid to leave home, but then he's not completely content when he gets back, he gives a horrible ring to his nephew and has to fight himself to do it. I know that I probably will get things thrown at me by LOTR lovers, but The Hobbit was by far the better book because Bilbo is by far the more intriguing hobbit. Frodo is just too good, and only Sam, Merry, and Pippin save the story for hobbit lovers.

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  34. I have to agree. I do not like Snape, I am pretty sure I do not want him to be a teacher for my kids (however brilliant he may have been), but a more compelling character we would be hard pressed to find.

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