Snape's temperament and D.A.R.K. L.A.D.L.E.S. (minor TBAY ref)

[marinafrants <rusalka@ix.netcom.com>]

No: HPFGUIDX 52020

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Tom Wall <thomasmwall at y...>" 
<thomasmwall at y...> wrote:
> 3) The MDDT wrote:
> "[Snape] never does that in canon except in PoA. He is almost 
always 
> calm and deadpan in his words. This is the only time he looses it, 
> and almost ruins everything from this read."
> 
> I reply:
> No. Snape also had a tantrum on his way to the hospital wing after 
he 
> discovered that Black had escaped. So, unless you consider both to 
be 
> one-and-the-same, Snape actually majorly-lost his temper twice.

Also, while Snape isn't often shown to blow his top, he *is* 
frequently shown betraying strong emotion or physically struggly not 
to lose his temper.  Here are a few examples:

"even Harry, who hated Snape, was startled at the expression 
twisting his thin, sallow face.  It was beyond anger: it was 
loathing" (PoA, Ch. 5)

In PoA, Ch. 14 ("Snape's Grudge,") he's described as baring his 
teeth at Harry, quivering his nostrils, turning "the color of sour 
milk," etc.

In GoF, Ch. 25 ("The Egg and the Eye") we're told that Snape "looked 
livid."  He turns "a nasty brick colour," with a vein visibly 
throbbing in his temple. He speaks through clenched teeth, he 
snarls, and finally has to visibly force himself to speak calmly.

To me, Snape doesn't come across as calm and deadpan at all.  He 
*tries* to be calm and deadpan, but he's actually a mass of seething 
resentment, rage and bitterness kept in check -- barely -- most of 
the time by an effort of will.  In the Shrieking Shack, faced with 
the worst provocation we've ever seen him under, his will power 
fails and he loses control.  It's not un-Snapeish.  It's Snape set 
loose from his usual restraints -- restraints that don't come 
naturally to him to begin with.

> Because, by stark contrast, DL proposes nothing less and nothing 
more 
> than a canonically-faithful reading of Snape's behavior in the 
> Shrieking Shack, and later in the hospital scene. By DL's 
analysis, 
> there is *no* hidden agenda from Snape. He is acting *only* for 
the 
> reason that we're given ostensibly in the text: REVENGE. 

You know, Tom, I think it's time to face facts.  That shiny new 
appliance you've been playing with in your kitchen?  It's not a 
MAGIC DISHWASHER, it's a PRESSURE COOKER. (See user's manual in 
message #45348) Trying to put detergent into it will only gum up the 
works.  

Marina
rusalka at ix.netcom.com