Snape the misanthrope (LOLLIPOPS addendum)

[Jenny from Ravenclaw]

No: HPFGUIDX 28880

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Tabouli" <tabouli at u...> wrote:

> This is one grudge-bearing, hostile, anti-social wizard.  He resents 
friendship and love in others, he is deeply mistrustful of people, he 
has no relationships of any sort, and he is obsessed with revenge on 
those who have wronged him.>

Sorry to cut out your additional comments about Lily, but I'm not 
focusing on that at all in my response.  I want to add to Susanne's 
comments that Snape really isn't so horrible to so many...

I see Snape as having some sort of relationships with other staff 
members.  He and McGonagall have an ongoing friendly competition about 
their Houses winning the Quidditch championship.  McGonagall, in fact, 
is the one who discusses it, and there is no evidence that she doesn't 
thoroughly enjoy their banter.  Snape and Filch also get along quite 
well, and I think Filch is even nastier than Snape.  As far as Snape 
and Dumbledore go, I get the feeling that Snape and Dumbledore have 
spent many hours talking and that Snape has opened up to Dumbledore 
about his past, his life and his current worries and issues.

I'm not always the nicest person myself, so in a way I can relate to 
Snape.  If Snape doesn't like you, he doesn't try to hide it (I'm 
pretty much the same way).  I know there are complicated reasons why 
Snape dislikes some of the characters, but in general, I think he 
makes no apologies or excuses for his behavior.  He is impatient and 
intolerant and those are traits that are very hard to hide.

I agree with you, Tabouli for the most part - especially that Snape is 
mistrustful and vengeful, but I think the humanity in him *is* there; 
we just have to look extra carefully to find it.

--jenny from ravenclaw *****************************