Snape again (was Ron Sequitors)

[Milz]

No: HPFGUIDX 16564

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., Amanda Lewanski <editor at t...> wrote:
> 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

I always thought Snape lacked good interpersonal communications 
skills. I definitely wouldn't want him as my boss..especially during 
the job evaluation time!

I also think he's frustrated. Over what exactly I can't say, but it 
affects how he interacts with the students. I speculate that he 
played a very important role for 'Our Side' during the Voldy years. 
But, his employment as a 'spy', prohibited any acknowledgement for 
his efforts. Whatever the case may be, hopefully we'll be able to 
read about it in the future books.

:-)Milz