The State Of Snape

[teddy_radiator]

From Akatnamedeaster. There was speculation on whether Walking Dead's Daryl character may in fact be gay, and Kat included this quote from someone on Daryl's character. She also mentioned it paralleled how Severus Snape's sexual orientation could be viewed. And while still enjoying the fact that I like a masculine, very het Severus Snape, since I'm writing him, I can picture him anyway I wish.

"He strikes me as one of those guys/people who is really asexual, they are victims of a very difficult childhood and as such have a really hard time accessing/opening that part of themselves as required for a romantic relationship of any sort. As such, anybody who is capable of understanding and empathizing with them is certainly a possible romantic interest; people like Daryl Dixon (or in this case Snape) don't think in terms of gay or straight, and are very complex and fragile inside, thus they put up such a strong defense to protect themselves or what is left of their emotional self inside due to an early life and years of neglect or abuse."

I really like that. I think instead of 'asexual', a better term might be 'demisexual' as defined here: "A demisexual is a person who does not experience sexual attraction unless they form a strong emotional connection with someone. It's more commonly seen in but by no means confined to romantic relationships. The term demisexual comes from the orientation being "halfway between" sexual and asexual."

Don't mind me, just doing more navel gazing. I'm talking about a fictional character, so I can wax my crackpot philosophy to my heart's content. I'm also trying to gird my loins for the giftfest, and picturing my very masculine, older-but-wiser Snape, finding his place in the world with his favourite know-it-all by his side.

And yes, alright, I'm also working on a really filthy bit of raunch for HP_Het_taboo, so yeah, I need him to step up there, too.

Comments

[lemonade8.livejournal.com]

I think that definition works for that version of Snape. His sexuality isn't really touched upon in the books except for his attraction to Lily and some ambiguous flirtation or friendship with Professor Burbage. Well, he really is a bit of a cock block at the ball, (rose bushes beware!) but is that because he isn't getting any, doesn't approve of it, or because his penchant for schadenfreude is so over-developed? See, his ambiguous nature makes him versatile for so many things.

I read both het and gay Snape and think he works either way. I favor him with Hermione or Harry, but have read some pairings with him that really worked that were neither. It all depends on the writer, imo. Also depends on how much canon I'm willing to ignore on any given day.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

I understand exactly what you mean. At first, it was so hard to reconcile Snape with anyone except my OTP. I am such a singular person. I still don't feel comfortable reading him paired with certain characters, but I am expanding both my reading and writing repertoire with other pairings. Strangely enough, I tend to enjoy him more Dominantly with Hermione (although I adore sub!Snape with her), and find him more enjoyable being the passive partner in other couplings. My mind works so funny that way.

[tamlane.livejournal.com]

YAY for filthy raunch! \o/

What I take from that quote is that Snape is capable of being attracted to anyone, which I consider standard operating procedure for humans in general. Although I admit I could be projecting because personally I find myself capable of attraction to anyone, so isn't everyone else, too? ;) But this...

anybody who is capable of understanding and empathizing with them is certainly a possible romantic interest

...is how I would define attraction in general, whether sex enters the equation or not, and regardless of past abuse. Humans crave connection, and we tend to form strong bonds where we find it.

If we're talking specifically about Snape, though, I always thought that he seemed to eschew any sort of meaningful connection with others. He seems pretty damaged as far as relating to fellow humans. Even his "love" for Lily feels more like love for an ideal than a person. Of course, this is just the way I always interpreted his character, and certainly we see all this through the lens of Harry's POV, so YMMV.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

I suppose with me it was that the first fanfiction I read was Severus/Hermione, and that hooked me. For a long time, I wouldn't read anything but them. I have branched out since then.

I still prefer him Het, although I don't like to read him with any other female except Hermione (I'm so singular, hell, I totally botched a threeway F/F/M story with them), but I can deal with him and certain male characters okay, but the rarer the pairing the better. Some of the common ones (Snarry, Snupin, Snucius, Snaco) I just can't read.

And I can picture him having some strange ideas about love, but if fanfiction can give second chances, I love giving them to him. As you say, he's seen through the eyes of a teenaged boy who can't stand him, so it's hard to know exactly what we are seeing.

[gelsey.livejournal.com]

I can definitely see that. I've read him both ways, though some of the more popular slash pairings aren't my faves, though there is almost always an exception to every instance.

I do like to read him in different het relationships (I've written him in a few, and drabbled a couple), though he and Hermione are my faves, even if I haven't written them much in forever and haven't read much lately. I just can't see to find the energy to wade through stuff to see what I want to read. Heh.

[susanmarier.livejournal.com]

If I could express my thoughts clearly I would have something along the lines of I whole heartily agree with you. I too prefer a het Snape although I'm not opposed to a threesome like the addition of a Malfoy (either l or d). When I started reading Snape as a main character I admit I only looked for when it involved time travel, and those are still my favorites no mater the main. And it is a bit funny that the reason I started reading him was because I had read one that involved Hermione going back and I kept wanting her and Snape to get together, but alas it was a james/lily story.