[HPforGrownups] Re: Neville and Snape

[Christina Gross]

No: HPFGUIDX 3869

On 16.10.2000 at 16:07:34 Amanda Lewanski wrote:

>Up to this point I was agreeing with you, but I don't think this is
>right.
>Snape has the disenchantment that comes from being truly gifted and
>teaching
>those who are taking the class to fill a requirement.

The truly gifted sometimes don't enjoy teaching, even under the best
possible circumstances. Of course we don't know whether Snape was
such a surly teacher from day one, but I don't think teaching was the
profession of his choice.

> But
>ah, when another truly gifted one comes along! Imparting the art is
>a joy.
>Teaching is not. Alas that he lets his surliness and house
>affiliation blind
>him to Hermione. 

He doesn't give any encouragement to his non-Gryffindor-students,
either. 

>Perhaps he's been teaching for so long he doesn't
>care
>anymore, but I'll bet my socks that this disenchantment was the
>origin of
>his snarly teaching style. If he's based on a real teacher, I'll up
>the ante
>to my husband's socks, too. Plus, plotwise, it adds a bit of
>credence to the
>theory that he's at Hogwarts partially for the protection.

What I see in him is not disenchantment with a job that didn't turn
out as he imagined but rather resentment of a job he never wanted.
I'm quite sure he is at Hogwarts to be safe from Voldemort's
followers. Another reason could be that Dumbledore needs Snape's
skills at his disposal. And maybe the former Death Eater also
wouldn't be able to get a high-profile job he might want because of
his past. 

Just my two knuts.

Greetings
Christina

"A room without books is like a body without a soul." -Cicero

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