[HPforGrownups] Emotional Snape, Mrs Figg's cabbage aroma, genie Voldemort

[Laura Huntley]

No: HPFGUIDX 38203

>As for Snape's bullying ways, in my experience the 
>most vicious bullies are those who have been bullied 
>themselves.  Yes, the victim turned bully syndrome.  
>It lends support to my theory that Snape was badly 
>mistreated by his carers as a child (witness all those 
>curses he'd learned by *11*... who did he plan to use 
>them on?).  Horrible business, being bullied and 
>abused by people you're dependent on.  Not much to his >credit if he has, indeed, subconsciously repeated the 
>pattern by bullying his students as an adult.  But not 
>impossible.  Not at all.

Perhaps not badly mistreated in the conventional sense, though.  I doubt his parents hit him or consistently pelted him with verbal assaults.  However, I think Snape's parents were probably Dark Wizards, probably middle-to-high class, pureblood (basically like the Malfoys).  I don't believe that they *hurt* him, per se.  But growing up in an environment where the people you love and admire (kids always love their parents when they're young, even abused kids) are well...evil, wreaks havoc on one's emotional growth.  I have a feeling they mostly ignored him except to express their disapproval when he was particularly disappointing.  Maybe Snape first started learning curses to impress them, but accidentally destroyed something/got in the way when he was trying to show them, and therefore only got a tongue-lashing for his efforts.  I have a feeling the only time he ever got any attention was when he was an awful brat.

I think this is also the reason that he primarily joined the Death Eaters...he wanted his parent's approval (even if they were dead at this point) -- to be everything they were and fanatically pursue the ideals that they held.  But when he *really* got deep into it, he finally realized that it just wasn't what he really wanted and defected.

But he's still a big nasty and I hate him.  Grr.

I think there's something similar going on with Malfoy, by the way...although not exactly the same.  Draco seems more materially spoiled and sure of himself.  Different personalities..you know.  Although if Draco is going to turn "good" is anyone's guess.  I think JKR has indicated that he won't, but who knows?

Just as a side note...the situation you described for Snape was strikingly similar to the one that Harry grew up in.  And yet Harry is still the sweet kid that he is...Speaks to how special a person he really is, doesn't it?  *smiles and glows* Harry's a good kid, you know?  

laura


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