Snape & scenes outside Harry's PoV (was Staffroom scene)

[sashibuya at hotmail.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 11299

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Neil Ward" <neilward at d...> wrote:
> Amanda said, re the teachers' taunting of Lockhart
<"revealing interactions snipped>

Yes, Amanda, I remember the scene too! I also remember the 
interesting scene where Snape and Lockhart "duel." It's as if JKR was 
saying, "as irritating as Snape is, at least he's not an incompetent 
phony like Lockhart." I guess that's one of the reasons we don't 
dislike Snape, even if Harry does. Plus he does show a lot of 
personal courage throughout the series, even if it's usually 
manifests inconveniently for Harry. (i.e. being the one to deal 
directly with Quirrel, perhaps without Dumbledore's knowledge, going 
alone to face Black and Lupin, thinking that they were a psychotic 
madman and a werewolf, not running away like Karkaroff, his reaction 
to seeing Sirius again at end of GOF, etc.)
On the subject of Snape's astounding popularity, my theory is that he 
isn't archetypal as the other characters. 

> 
> Yes, I know what you mean.  That's what I was getting at when I 
called it a
> "very revealing interaction" and I agree totally on the different 
perception
> of Snape.  Our view of Snape is essentially that of a boy viewing an
> unpopular, embittered teacher who tends to pick on him for kicks - 
it's
> bound to be a somewhat negative portrayal.  That's not to say Snape 
is a fun
> guy to be around; just that he probably has facets we haven't 
seen.  Look at
> Snape's passionate introduction to the subject of Potions (PS) and 
compare
> that to Lockhart's inept blundering (CoS): who would you rather 
have as a
> teacher?
> 

You know, here's another question I've been wanting to ask but never 
found the right thread for. Does Snape really like being a teacher? 
Or does he not and that's one of the reasons he's so embittered (Why 
is Snape so bitter anyway, if one doesn't buy the Lily theory? ) He 
seems to enjoy potions, but hate the students. Certainly, even if one 
enjoys yelling at people, it can't be much fun to teach without 
liking the kids much, or thinking that one is actually accomplishing 
much. But if he dislikes the actual teaching process so much, why 
doesn't he find another job (I'm assuming that it wouldn't be hard 
for someone of his caliber)? Former Death Eater status doesn't seem 
to have hurt Malfoy and co. 

<snip>

Charmian