Snape again (was Ron Sequitors)

[Amanda Lewanski]

No: HPFGUIDX 16558

Magda Grantwich wrote:

> > <Lupin rips into Harry in his excruciatingly quiet way, leaving him
> > feeling like crap (he and Ron ought to go apologize to Hermione,
> > who, like Lupin, was exasperated that they weren't taking Black
> > seriously...but anyway)>
>
> I really like that part of PoA because it comes immediately after
> Lupin has rescued Harry and Ron from Snape's office.  Snape pretty
> much tells Harry the same thing Lupin does: a lot of people are
> running around protecting your hide, Potter, but you don't seem to
> appreciate it; get with it, all right?

Tremedous observation! I had never really realized that, but you're
right.

> Snape's inability to make himself understood or to realize how he
> comes across is so integral to his character.  His outburst of
> frustration in the shrieking shack when Harry doesn't respond with the
> proper gratitude is wonderful.

I think it's partly because he's so internal. I've always gotten the
feeling that he has a very strict personal code of ethics, but it's just
that---personal. He seems to make no effort to conform to anyone else's
view of what is appropriate. His actions are based on his own judgement,
and he doesn't bother to explain himself. Since he is so very immersed
in his own viewpoint, he probably thinks it's obvious.

On a sort-of-related note, I have wondered about the effect (once Snape
has had some time to process things and isn't simply reacting) of
Harry's question to Lupin in the Shrieking Shack, "So that's why Snape
doesn't like you? He thinks you were in on the joke?" [paraphrase].
Snape simply might not believe Lupin was giving Harry the complete
truth, but in Lupin's version, it was all Sirius' joke, and he and James
were not part of it. This means that some of the anger Snape's been
carrying around for years is unfounded--if Snape accepts what Lupin
says.

So I've been looking forward to some Snape development. If this is
touched upon again, it'll be revealing to see if Snape behaves
differently, or if he simply figured Lupin was "sugarcoating" for James'
kid and to spare himself. I get the feeling Snape doesn't lie to himself
much. But he also doesn't apologize (much like my dad)--I think if he
does alter his view, he'll simply alter it and proceed from that point,
without wasting any time re-examining past actions. That seems to be his
style; the new method of proceeding is supposed to be acknowledgement
enough. [May I add that I got along much better with my father once I,
too, was an adult and could understand this?]

Along those lines, I've noticed that a set of words frequently
associated with Snape is "stepped forward." I've been meaning to go
through the books and compile how often this particular phrasing is used
for Snape, and in what settings. I think it underlines this perception
of him that I've got, about the just moving on and not wasting time with
recrimination.

Thoughts?

--Amanda


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