#hama vs severus snape

[fanfic-lover-girl]

Snape vs Hama - When a Victim Becomes a Villain

So I was thinking about how victims become abusers and how their victimhood does not excuse their crimes as abusers. It is a valid explanation and it should provoke some level of empathy but the crime should never be totally condoned just because the abuser was a victim.

Which made me think of Snape vs. Hama for some reason.

In Harry Potter, Snape is considered a grey character while in ATLA Hama is an outright villain. While many Snape haters and antis claim Snape is not a hero but a villain, Snape's actions were nowhere near condemned on the same level compared to Hama's actions in ATLA. But why is that? For me, the main difference lies in how they retaliated against their abusers or the ones who committed crimes against them. Let me start with Snape.

Snape

So Snape was bullied mercilessly by the marauders while in school. Some of their actions were outright criminal. Including attempted murder (werewolf prank) and sexual assault (Snape's Worst Memory). As an adult, he became a death eater but then turned to the good side when his actions, in part, led to Lily Potter, his former friend, being murdered. It does not matter how the redemption happened - the point is that he had one.

But just because Snape had a redeeming moment did not make him into a sunshine cinamon roll. He detested Harry, the son of the man who made his school days hell, and always made sure Harry knew his dad was vile trash. He picked on Neville for being a clumsy student. He degraded Hermione for being an annoying know-it-all student.

But despite all this...Snape ultimately did more good towards the ones who hurt him. He saved Harry's life multiple times despite Harry always mistrusting his intentions and Harry always being proven wrong about Snape. He protected Neville in book 7 from the Carrows. He diligently brewed Lupin wolfsbane potion despite Lupin almost killing him years back and borderline gaslighting their awful past when they worked as coworkers (always calling Snape by his first name like they are friends and calling past bullying an old schoolboy grudge). He carried Sirius back on a stretcher in book 3 like a decent person while Sirius indifferently banged his head against the wall when he levitated Snape in the same book. He acts civilly towards Sirius and Lupin despite showing signs of still being wary of them.

Snape was not a pleasant teacher and not what someone would call nice, but ultimately he was a good person. Or at least he was not evil.

Hama

Hama has a tragic backstory as well. More than Snape. She was taken prisoner as a young woman and kept in an inhumane prison for years/decades. She was cut off from her element and had little hope of ever returning home. You can also imply that she was probably physically and/or sexually abused as well even if the show never indicates so. It's a prison so the possibility is high.

Fortunately, she is able to use bloodbending to escape. She then settles in a small fire nation town. I do not know when, but she then begins to use her skills to kidnap people from the town during full moons and hold them prisoner. I do not know how long she did this or if she committed these acts in various towns, but it is long enough for villagers to be cautious and give warnings about the full moon.

What makes Hama villainous is who she is attacking. We could empathize with her if she went on a rampage attacking fire nation soldiers or other fire nation prison guards. Kind of like Red Hood from Batman. The fire nation committed a grave injustice against her after all. However, she chooses to attack innocent fire nation citizens. Citizens who likely played no role in her captivity and have minimal roles in the war. Fire nation citizens who are likely also struggling in their own way during the war. The fire nation citizens, the working class in particular, are war victims as well. Moreover, there was nothing stopping her from going home. There was even a theory that Yon Rah came to the Southern water tribe looking for an escaped Hama, not Katara! She chose to stay in the land that oppressed her and hurt people in acts of revenge. She never even appeared to free others as well!

Unlike Snape who chose a different path once confronted with the consequences of his actions, Hama only doubled down and tried to bring Katara down with her. Even when Katara beats Hama, Hama suffers no remorse and laughs as she is led away by the townspeople.

Conclusion

I feel sorry for Hama. It's obvious her time in prison broke her. As for Snape, life dealt him a bad hand. Both were victims but only one chose to make her life's mission to hurt people. In the end, most of Snape's offences boil down to harsh words. Hopefully, Firelord Zuko was able to give other waterbender prisoners the justice they deserved.

PS: I think Hama should have just murdered all the guards, freed the other prisoners, and then gone back home or settled down in a quiet town.

For Snape, he should have left Hogwarts long ago. If possible, he should have transferred to another school because all Hogwarts did was lead him into a cult and turned a blind eye to his suffering. He should have played no role in the war at all and tossed Lily aside permanently. Harry should have never been Snape's problem. Maybe opening up his own potion business and leaving the country entirely, far away from Hogwarts and Cokesworth. Voldemort and Dumbledore both did not give a crap about him.

That's just my take.