You mean "readers hate Wormtail but not Snape", I think.
grand Miltonian anger
That's what Snape would like us to think! Snape is very good at appearing indignant and put-upon (moreso in the movie, but it's present in the books as well), and that racks him up some sympathy. In short, Snape tells us he doesn't deserve the way he's treated, and we believe him.
Peter, meanwhile, has no sense that he deserves respect -- he tells us he's worthless, and we believe him. As you say, it's only once we examine what he's actually *done* that we see past the way he presents himself.
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Date: 2004-04-28 11:44 pm (UTC)grand Miltonian anger
That's what Snape would like us to think! Snape is very good at appearing indignant and put-upon (moreso in the movie, but it's present in the books as well), and that racks him up some sympathy. In short, Snape tells us he doesn't deserve the way he's treated, and we believe him.
Peter, meanwhile, has no sense that he deserves respect -- he tells us he's worthless, and we believe him. As you say, it's only once we examine what he's actually *done* that we see past the way he presents himself.