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To all questions: No. There is not one thing JKR could come out and say that he did that would make me stop liking the character. After all, I'm still here after finding out that he loved Lily till the end. *shudder*
Seriously, talk about committing atrocities all you want and I'm fine, mention him harboring a deep, unrequited love for Potter's mother, and I'm looking for somewhere to be sick.
I think the dark side of his character is what makes him such an interesting character, one that is worthy of all the praise and defence by fans. If he had truly done nothing wrong, either because he hadn't been a DE, or even though he was a DE, I wouldn't have found such an interest in him. That he has done evil, and turned his back on it to do good, is what is so interesting. Alternately, if he had done evil, and hadn't gone through the torment and self-sacrifice, if JKR hadn't heaped such loads of shit on him, would we love him as much?
If JKR and most of the wizarding world and a great number of the fans didn't completely hate him, would we defend him as fiercely? Maybe not. And they wouldn't hate him if he hadn't done awful things. Therefore, the argument could be made that he wouldn't be as well-loved if he hadn't done awful things. All right, it's not an air tight argument, but it's something to think about.
I noticed another comment that mentioned soldiers torturing prisoners of war, and questioned forgiving those people - it's not black and white. I've known a former soldier who tortured because of direct orders, and I liked him as a person, but in private I did feel a bit guilty about being his friend, because I don't personally condone torture.
But that's the nice thing about Severus - he isn't real. Death Eaters aren't real, that war didn't happen. It's a lot easier for me to like Severus - and indeed, prefer the dark, evil characters in JKR's world, because they aren't real. I could never admire a real-life Voldemort or any evil tyrant responsible for the deaths of many people like him, and I definitely wouldn't call them cool. But I think Voldemort is cool.
I've seen a lot of fans through their fanfic try to explain away his years spent with the DEs, or make light of what he did, or make him secretly enjoy petting kittens. They try to add in ways to make him a more likeable person, but I will remain a great admirer of Severus Snape's evil side.
Seriously, talk about committing atrocities all you want and I'm fine, mention him harboring a deep, unrequited love for Potter's mother, and I'm looking for somewhere to be sick.
I think the dark side of his character is what makes him such an interesting character, one that is worthy of all the praise and defence by fans. If he had truly done nothing wrong, either because he hadn't been a DE, or even though he was a DE, I wouldn't have found such an interest in him. That he has done evil, and turned his back on it to do good, is what is so interesting. Alternately, if he had done evil, and hadn't gone through the torment and self-sacrifice, if JKR hadn't heaped such loads of shit on him, would we love him as much?
If JKR and most of the wizarding world and a great number of the fans didn't completely hate him, would we defend him as fiercely? Maybe not. And they wouldn't hate him if he hadn't done awful things. Therefore, the argument could be made that he wouldn't be as well-loved if he hadn't done awful things. All right, it's not an air tight argument, but it's something to think about.
I noticed another comment that mentioned soldiers torturing prisoners of war, and questioned forgiving those people - it's not black and white. I've known a former soldier who tortured because of direct orders, and I liked him as a person, but in private I did feel a bit guilty about being his friend, because I don't personally condone torture.
But that's the nice thing about Severus - he isn't real. Death Eaters aren't real, that war didn't happen. It's a lot easier for me to like Severus - and indeed, prefer the dark, evil characters in JKR's world, because they aren't real. I could never admire a real-life Voldemort or any evil tyrant responsible for the deaths of many people like him, and I definitely wouldn't call them cool. But I think Voldemort is cool.
I've seen a lot of fans through their fanfic try to explain away his years spent with the DEs, or make light of what he did, or make him secretly enjoy petting kittens. They try to add in ways to make him a more likeable person, but I will remain a great admirer of Severus Snape's evil side.