Snape's general behavior ( was Re: Snape -- Why so many fans?)

[lady.nymphaea at faerielands.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 25632

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Demelza" <muggle-reader at a...> wrote:
> I think you're underselling Snape. I don't think Snape was 
> a "complete looser". According to the canon, he came to Hogwarts 
> knowing more curses than a 7th year. Furthermore, he hung out with 
a 
> group of Slytherins (most of whom became Death Eaters). 

What I want to know is what kind of background originates a child who 
would know that many curses in first year. I have a feeling this is 
another one of Rowling's examples of child abuse and neglect; in this 
case, the example of a child whose parents either don't care what his 
interests are or encourage the wrong sorts of interests. The other 
example could be the case of a child who would use any means 
necessary to defend himself, which is just as disturbing.

> Dumbledore in SS/PS tells Harry that Snape and James had a 
> relationship very much like Harry's and Draco's: antagonistic. The 
> origins of that antagonism haven't been completely revealed. Maybe 
it 
> was a combination of things. Maybe Snape referred to Lily and the 
> other Muggle-borns as  "mud-bloods". There has been bad blood 
between 
> the Snape and Potter families for generations.

That last statement isn't proven. It seems like it's more than 
Quidditch rivalry that caused the Potter feud, as both Snape and 
Black seem to lead Harry to believe was the cause, but this looks 
like it's another one of these Items to be Revealed Later.

> Snape still holds a grudge against Sirius and Lupin. "Letting it 
> slip" that Lupin was a werewolf wasn't an accident IMO. Snape 
admits 
> that he protested Dumbledore's decision to hire Lupin. From what 
the 
> canon reveals to us, the adult Lupin has been discriminated against 
> due to his condition. The Hogwarts job was one of the few 
> opportunities he's had and the adult Snape destroyed Lupin's 
chances 
> of permanent employment at Hogwarts and elsewhere. That's a pretty 
> malicious thing to do.

I'm still wondering why Lupin didn't take his potion on time. The way 
that scene was written, it made it sound like he waited until the 
last minute to take it. I hope I'm wrong; I like Lupin, but I really, 
really wish he hadn't screwed up his chances like that, if that 
scenario was really the truth of the matter.

> Actually, I was horrified at the lack of Snape's professionalism. 
> Same goes for the insults he throws at Neville. But professionalism 
> aside, his comment to Hermione was appallingly malicious. No adult 
> should treat a child with that kind of contempt. Furthermore, it's 
a 
> double shame on Snape if he is the victim of bullying as you state 
> because he of all people should know the sting of victimization. 
His 
> behavior, therefore, lend credence to the the cycle of violence 
> theories and it's unfortunate he doesn't have the character to stop 
> that cycle. 

Snape's quite a case, no? Or was this scene just a setup for the 
Cinderella!Hermione scene at the Yule Ball? I'm still working that 
one out. Not to excuse Snape (or maybe, he's just a fictional 
construct...remember that all of you), of course, but the authorial 
intent here is certainly interesting. One of the things that bothers 
me about the series (not enough to make me quit reading, but HP is 
not my favorite series by half) is that most of the adults behave 
just as childish as the children; the wizarding world is a caricature 
of our world. Great touch in a kiddie series, to make the kids think 
they have one up on their elders, but not so good for the adult 
reader.

I don't have any idea *why* Dumbledore lets Snape behave the way he 
does. We know what JKR says: he's in the series because bad teachers 
are a life lesson, which is fine and dandy, but it's gone on for four 
books and my disbelief can only be suspended so far before it gets 
dropped. Put it this way: Snape is an ass, but the fact that 
Dumbledore keeps him around bothers me just as much as his antisocial 
actions. Hopefully this will be resolved in the last three books.

Meril
who really wishes she could explain herself better now