Hello! My name is Chie. I am likely to be the girl you'll see whose eyes would bulge out of their sockets at the sight of a book store and be seized by waves of epileptic shock whenever there is a book bargain. I'll probably be the one pushing you out of my way to get through the book bargain bins and tediously combing through the pile. (I forget my manners when it comes to books). I am tone deaf and have two left feet. But I would endure the embarrassment of a performance in exchange for books (terms and conditions apply). I have created this blog in order to find kindred souls. Those who would gladly share the same passion for books and reading because although reading is solitary task most of the time, it's no fun having no one to ramble to after..
Rest in Peace Alan Rickman, The Man Who Brought Severus Snape to Life
Date: Friday, January 15, 2016 Time: 7:31 AM
Personal Thoughts:
"Do not pity the dead Harry, pity the living, and above all, pity those who live without love"
Did Rowling mean those who live unloved, or those who live without loving others?
Snape said, "Always".
Rickman is known for his roles in many movies, including Die Hard, Robin Hood and Love Actually, but for most millenials, he's probably best known for playing Severus Snape in the Harry Potter movies, which is why for many other 20-ish and myself, hearing the news of his death came as complete - and painful- shocking news.
Rickman's portrayal of Snape was much more than just a role acted out on screen . It was the personification of a character that is meaningful to children and literature. HD teaches the children the complexity of adulthood and shows how childhood affects who you become as an adult. Snape represents the idea that people aren't always who they seem and that there is inherent good and evil in all of us. Rickman excelled at bringing this complexity to the screen and emotion to our hearts.
He "always" loved her, but did that love that drove him to do some good, absolve him the terrible prejudice things he said about the woman he supposedly loved? Did it free him of the years of unprovoked bullying he gave Neville and Harry? I don't think so, but I think the bad deeds also did not take away the good he did either. The good still happened. It didn't take away the trust, loyalty, and bravery he served Dumbledore with, even though he hated every moment of it. It didn't take away the actions that saved thousands, maybe millions of innocent lives. In many ways, I think Snape was more trusting and obedient to Dumbledore's cause than even Harry was. Rowling made it clear that the war would not have been won without him.
The character helped me to understand what a tortured world extreme racists like him grow up in; bullied by parents, peers, and constantly fighting their own hypocrisy and maybe falling in love with the people they thought they were supposed to hate. The burden of hatred, the confusion, living the rest of your life in misery trying to absolve yourself of crimes most the world will never forgive you for.
Whilst suffering and even good deeds do not wipe away what Snape did or absolve him of his prejudice, it does shine a light on the fact that people are not black and white. Snape reaffirmed for me how complicated people are and solidified for me the idea that really, there are no such things as good or bad people, just good or bad action . People are just people. Infinitely complicated. For better or worse, real people like the fictional character of Snape do exist, and their life has worth whether or not we want to admit it.
The entire Harry Potter is nostalgic for many of us, who have either read the books, seen the movies or both. The death of an actor who was a representative of a beloved character makes it feel like part of my childhood ended today. But there is also some tragic beauty that comes with the thought that Rickman possibly met Snape in his death.
Alan Rickman did not writhe character of Snape, but he brought him to life for generations of Harry Potter book viewers, and I think it's clear that no one else could have played his character. Of all the actors cast for the Harry Potter series, no one was better suited for their role than Alan Rickman as Severus Snape. He understood and accepted his character for who he was, both the good and the bad. I think that's really saying something, to accept someone like that when so many people cannot even accept themselves, let alone a bitter, prejudice, fictional character. He was able to recognise and respect Snape's importance in a way that we all better understood why Severus mattered.
Rowling said that Harry's naming of his son was in part, an acceptance and forgiveness of an apology he never received from his professor. Because of J.K. Rowling and because of Alan Rickman, I will remember and forgive... Thank you Alan Rickman and Severus Snape. Always.
Rest in Peace Alan Rickman, The Man Who Brought Severus Snape to Life
Personal Thoughts:
"Do not pity the dead Harry, pity the living, and above all, pity those who live without love"
Did Rowling mean those who live unloved, or those who live without loving others?
Snape said, "Always".
Rickman is known for his roles in many movies, including Die Hard, Robin Hood and Love Actually, but for most millenials, he's probably best known for playing Severus Snape in the Harry Potter movies, which is why for many other 20-ish and myself, hearing the news of his death came as complete - and painful- shocking news.
Rickman's portrayal of Snape was much more than just a role acted out on screen . It was the personification of a character that is meaningful to children and literature. HD teaches the children the complexity of adulthood and shows how childhood affects who you become as an adult. Snape represents the idea that people aren't always who they seem and that there is inherent good and evil in all of us. Rickman excelled at bringing this complexity to the screen and emotion to our hearts.
He "always" loved her, but did that love that drove him to do some good, absolve him the terrible prejudice things he said about the woman he supposedly loved? Did it free him of the years of unprovoked bullying he gave Neville and Harry? I don't think so, but I think the bad deeds also did not take away the good he did either. The good still happened. It didn't take away the trust, loyalty, and bravery he served Dumbledore with, even though he hated every moment of it. It didn't take away the actions that saved thousands, maybe millions of innocent lives. In many ways, I think Snape was more trusting and obedient to Dumbledore's cause than even Harry was. Rowling made it clear that the war would not have been won without him.
The character helped me to understand what a tortured world extreme racists like him grow up in; bullied by parents, peers, and constantly fighting their own hypocrisy and maybe falling in love with the people they thought they were supposed to hate. The burden of hatred, the confusion, living the rest of your life in misery trying to absolve yourself of crimes most the world will never forgive you for.
Whilst suffering and even good deeds do not wipe away what Snape did or absolve him of his prejudice, it does shine a light on the fact that people are not black and white. Snape reaffirmed for me how complicated people are and solidified for me the idea that really, there are no such things as good or bad people, just good or bad action . People are just people. Infinitely complicated. For better or worse, real people like the fictional character of Snape do exist, and their life has worth whether or not we want to admit it.
The entire Harry Potter is nostalgic for many of us, who have either read the books, seen the movies or both. The death of an actor who was a representative of a beloved character makes it feel like part of my childhood ended today. But there is also some tragic beauty that comes with the thought that Rickman possibly met Snape in his death.
Alan Rickman did not writhe character of Snape, but he brought him to life for generations of Harry Potter book viewers, and I think it's clear that no one else could have played his character. Of all the actors cast for the Harry Potter series, no one was better suited for their role than Alan Rickman as Severus Snape. He understood and accepted his character for who he was, both the good and the bad. I think that's really saying something, to accept someone like that when so many people cannot even accept themselves, let alone a bitter, prejudice, fictional character. He was able to recognise and respect Snape's importance in a way that we all better understood why Severus mattered.
Rowling said that Harry's naming of his son was in part, an acceptance and forgiveness of an apology he never received from his professor. Because of J.K. Rowling and because of Alan Rickman, I will remember and forgive... Thank you Alan Rickman and Severus Snape. Always.
