Snape's "mind set?"

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 44193

Erasmus wrote:

>>I love the depth of Snape's character, but I think he is a 
reprehensible person. Probably very brave, definitely cunning, 
likely admirable and deserving respect for the sacrifices he has 
made and will continue to make, but how do people actually like 
him?
I know there's a huge following of Snape fic writers that love to 
invent ways for Snape to love and be loved. I think they're 99% 
delusional, and that the majority of them are unduly influenced by 
their attraction to Alan Rickman. I can sort of understand this but 
those are fics and this is supposed to be a discussion of 
theories about the books, is it not?<<

	I started to like Snape before I ever heard of Alan Rickman. I 
agree that in real life he wouldn't be easy to like. I think that's the 
point. For those of us who worry that we have Snapish qualities, 
or at least have to put in a conscious effort *not* to have them, it 
can be gratifying to imagine that somebody with such 
pronounced physical and emotional shortcomings  might be 
loved in spite of them.

>>I can understand that there could be very good reasons for 
Snape to put on an act to make the children fear him, or dislike 
him, or think he's unfair, but he goes much further than that. So, 
for those of you that believe Snape is acting purposefully, I invite 
you to come up with a plausible reason for Snape to act the way 
he does in these scenes:

>>1. PoA - Snape's Grudge

The one on one interview with Harry -- deliberately taunting Harry 
about James. Whether he has a good reason to hate James or 
not, what purpose could this possibly serve. Bear in mind that he 
is talking to a 13 year old orphan boy about his dead parents.<<

Snape has probably seen children suffer far worse things than 
being insulted. I don't think it ranks very high on his personal 
scale of awful things people do, or that he has done. 

I believe that Snape thinks the world is a hard, cold place where 
children can get hurt, and, unlike Mrs. Weasley, he sees no point 
in pretending that it isn't, especially when said children insist on 
putting themselves in harm's way for a lark. 

In this scene, Snape believes Harry has been doing something 
very dangerous (which he has), and Harry is stonewalling him 
about it. 

Look at the way Harry responds to Snape's interrogation:
"Harry didn't say anything."
"Still Harry didn't speak."
"Harry tried to look mildly surprised."
"'I don't know, Professor.'"
"'No,' said Harry, now trying to sound innocently curious."
"There was a long silence."

...after which Harry tells an outright lie, then resumes his silence 
through two more paragraphs. 

Snape insults Harry's parents in order to break through Harry's 
silence. Of course, since Rowling doesn't approve of Snape's 
methods, it backfires, and it is Snape who ends up revealing a 
humiliating secret: that he was the victim of a practical joke.


>>2. GoF - Hermione's Teeth

Mocking a young girl about a physical attribute that she's 
sensitive about. This isn't severety, or favouritism, it is cruelty, 
with no purpose but the joy of seeing a child hurt.<<

Snape's cruelty does snap Hermione out of her hysteria (she's 
standing there, covering her mouth and whimpering). It's not 
nice, but it works. It's been argued that a fourteen year-old girl 
has every right to whimper hysterically under such 
circumstances, and perhaps she does, but Hermione had better 
get tough if she's going to stick by Harry.


>>3. PoA - Remus Revelation

Clearly Snape and the rest of the staff were expected to keep 
quiet about Lupin being a werewolf. Him telling the Slytherins 
about it would be hard to explain with anything other than 
childish revenge or spoiling his misguided plans.<<

  Even if Snape doesn't still fear that Lupin is in league with 
Voldemort, and really nothing has happened that would convince 
him otherwise, Lupin is safe only as far as he can be relied on to 
take his potion. 

Why  should Snape place Lupin's career, or even Dumbledore's 
wishes, above the safety of the children entrusted to him? I think 
it speaks well of Snape, actually. He might have been sacked 
himself.

Remember that Harry's real enemies in the adult wizarding 
world take great care to hide their hatred of him except when they 
believe Harry is  in their power. Most adults in the WW fawn over 
him whether they have his best interest at heart or not. It would 
have been easy for Harry to think that everyone in the present day 
wizarding world, even Draco, wants to be his friend. Snape's 
hostility is what puts Harry, Ron and Hermione on their guard.

 
Pippin