[HPforGrownups] Re: Depictions of Mental Illness (WAS: Moaning Myrtle)

[Irene Mikhlin]

No: HPFGUIDX 51459



Elkins wrote:

> And then there's Severus Snape, who I would say has some rather
> serious difficulties and possibly always has had.  What sort of
> person knows all of those curses at the tender age of eleven? 

The person that had some serious need to use them? I wonder how Sirius 
discovered his repertoire, anyway. It's not likely Snape was wondering 
around the school cursing students at random. Maybe he was getting even 
for innocent jokes of some popular students who have oh so much more 
sense of humour than he did? :-)


> Snape 
> not only doesn't look to his personal hygiene now; it seems from 
> Sirius' comments about him that he never did, not even as a 
> schoolboy. 

Oh dear, now we judge Snape on the basis of Sirius's impressions? 
Sirius, of all people? Can you imaging Harry's portrait painted by 
Draco? How close to reality that would be? But Draco is bad boy and 
Sirius is so ever noble and fair. OK, how about Cedric's portrait as 
painted by Fred and George in PoA?

We don't need some complicated explanations for the state of his hair, 
softly simmering cauldrons all day long do just fine.
And some would consider a grown-up man who runs to straighten and whiten 
his otherwise healthy teeth to be mentally ill.

Irene