How Do You Like Your Heroes?
The adorable Jackie at Bouquet of Books and Dani at Entertaining Interests are hosting this Heroes & Villains blogfest, in which we get to talk about our favorite heroes & villains...
Me, I like the ambiguous type, so I have an affinity for the villains who are also heroes...and the heroes who are also villains. Today, I have only one name for you: Severus Snape. Of Harry Potter fame for those who don't know (is it possible there's anyone out there who doesn't know?). Throughout the series we learn that he is a man capable of both intense cruelty and profound, unselfish courage.
What I love most about Snape is that he kept us guessing throughout the entire series. Even by the end, the answer isn't entirely clear as to whether or not he was good or bad. ***SPOILER (sort of) ALERT*** He certainly did good, even heroic, acts, but that doesn't erase the fact that he was a total arse to Harry and the other students for all those years, no matter what the backstory was on his motivation.
My fascination with Snape is actually what led me to write my first novel-length fiction, a Harry Potter fanfiction titled Professor Burbage and the Potions Master. He was very fun to write, precisely because of that duality in his character, especially when the intelligent and talented hero/villain was paired with an entirely sweet, fluffy-headed innocent.
There are many great Snape quotes, but my favorites are his condescending remarks to the students. I said he was an arse, but that doesn't mean he didn't crack me up.
“I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death — if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach.”
-Severus Snape in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (J.K. Rowling)
“That is the second time you have spoken out of turn, Miss Granger,” said Snape cooly. “Five more points from Gryffindor for being an insufferable know-it-all.”
-Severus Snape in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (J.K. Rowling)
Alan Rickman did a marvelous job portraying the sinister wizard in the movies, but considering Snape was supposed to be the same age as Harry's parents, he was a little elderly for the role. If my fanfic were being made into a movie, this is who I'd pick to play him:
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| Jack Davenport (as the ex-Commodore Norrington in Dead Man's Chest) |
So who is your favorite Hero who's also a villain?
Comments
Currently, my favorite hero who is also a villain is Tyrion Lannister. I do enjoy a character who knows how to play his cards.
I also think Magneto..the villain from X-Men fame...is another good example. In the comics, especially, he's portrayed as both hero and villain for various reasons.
But, umm, as to my fav character, I'm going to have to give that some thought while I do my morning walk in a sec.
AR was a little old, but he did do a great job. He was also responsible for a lot of women fancying Snape ;P
I never focused on Snape in my HP fanfics, I was more interested in Harry and Draco, but I can see Snape's ambiguousness being appealing to a writer.
Sophie's Thoughts & Fumbles
Also, I read/heard somewhere that villains think they're the stars of their own movies, their the protagonist of their own stories. Interesting spin when you look at it that way.
I remember right before book 7 came out everyone was still guessing, but not me! I knew! I knew Snape was a rotten, stinking villain of the worst sort.
Imagine my surprise. ;)
Great post.
Tim
The Other Side
Love,
Janie
Nice post, V.
Thanks for participating in the blogfest and for the compliment. You're adorable yourself! ^_^
A hero who is also a bit of a villain that I like is Paul Atredes from Dune - in the first book he's all hero, but by Dune Messiah he is a bit lost and his troops are killing millions.
Tasha's Thinkings
How about your former Gov., "Blogo."
I lived in ChiTown for a year and I noticed there are a lot of hero/villains there, (and I'm not even talking about the Cubs :)
I also wanted to say thanks very much for stopping by and commenting on my recent D-Day post. (I'm still working through all the comments!)
CSM Ryan's story has received an incredible amount of support and a HUGE *Thank you* goes to DL Hammons - and all the Blitzers :)
PS: Bill said to let everyone know he really appreciated all the personal comments directed his way :)