Some personal thoughts about ... Snape

[Ursula Mueller. FV-Mp.gröna]

No: HPFGUIDX 48394

After having read a couple of the amazing essays on
http://www.i2k.com/~svderark/lexicon/faq/ , I might give it a try and put
in my view on one issue (first post, btw):

On Snape 

1) Snapes character: 

Snape is a bitter, vitriolic misanthrope. Dont know what made him so
extremely bitter and misanthropic in the first place. Maybe he was utterly
mistreated and mobbed by his schoolmates, could be because of his strange
appearance (oily hair and the like). I see a genuine abhorrence towards
the Marauders in general and the whole Potter family in particular. He
simply seems to hate goodness, and the Potter family is an epitome of
goodness. Therefore, it must be especially painful for him to be indebted
to Potter sr., a debt, which Harry inherited. 

As the mobbed and disliked child that he was (my qualified guessing),
Snape must have felt painful enviousness towards children who were admired
by nearly the whole school (Sirius Black and Potter sr., for instance).
Snape is still sporting the same enviousness and resentment towards Harry
(the - famous - Potter ...).

However, I think Snape is a good person deep inside. :-) He has a
certain kind of morality, true commitment and straightforwardness, which I
find very appealing. :-)

2) Why does Snape bully around the Gryffindors (Hermione, Neville in
particular)?

Snape has to show loyality for his house, otherwise the Slytherin parents,
especially Lucius Malfoy, would get *very* suspicious about him.
Dumbledore placed Snape as the head of Slytherin, to both keep an eye on
the Slytherins and to make him a credible spy for future missions. Of
course, for the same reason, he has to bully Hermione (all true Slytherins
abhor muggle wizards and witches, of course). However, Snapes
mistreatment of poor Neville Longbottom might go back to Snapes own
history as a mobbed child. Sometimes, mistreated children look for other
children who are farther down the pecking order. Neville is such an
example. Sad, but true.

3) Why did Snape join the Death Eaters?

The mobbed child theory again: After leaving school, Snape knew that he
never, ever would gain the same admired status as Potter sr. & Co. At that
time, he must already be quite a bitter misanthrope. Snape - being treated
so badly himself at early age - has lost all his faith in goodness.
Moreover, he has always been a very ambitious and power-hungry person - a
true Slytherin! ;-) . What is more natural for him than joining the forces
who promise him glory, prestige and status? Where he can give rein to his
hatred and loathing of goodness? 

I think Snape might have learned - the hard way - that even goodness has
its inherent ambiguity. Why are all these other people admiring Potter sr.
& Co.? What makes Potter sr. & Co. so special? Is this admiration and
unconditional worship by nearly the entire school also part of an evil
power-game? In some way, Snape saw through this game, but he followed his
misanthropic bitterness and became truly evil himself. 

4) Why did Snape leave the Death Eaters?

I agree with comments stated in the Snape-essay, that at the end, Snape
felt betrayed and exploited by Voldemort. He understood that he would
never gain true status and glory by serving Voldemort, because Voldemort
is an egomaniac who uses others to reach his personal goal of boundless
power.

4) Why does Snape not qualify for the DADA job?

Dumbledore is very well aware of the fact that Snape was a Death Eater (I
am sure that Snape is the missing one who left Voldemort forever).
Dumbledore might still not fully trust Snape. Dealing directly with the
Dark Arts could anew corrupt Snape and draw him back into evil. Of course,
Snape is totally convinced that he would be the best DADA teacher ever,
because of his history as a Death Eater. Snape might know even more about
the Dark Arts than Dumbledore himself.

5) Is Snape going to die?

It seems, for what is stated in the Snape-essay, that Snape survives until
Book Seven, at least. Good for us, because he is such an intruiging
character! :-) I still am convinced, however, that he will die, saving
Harrys live and thereby fulfilling the debt to Potter sr. .

***Ursula

Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus. - HP series