Snape and respect

[c_voth312 <divaclv@aol.com>]

No: HPFGUIDX 51022

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "dumbledore11214 
<dumbledore11214 at y...>" <dumbledore11214 at y...> wrote:
> >   I believe that Snape is making 
> > an example of Harry in front of the class for two 
> > reasons: 
> > 
> > 1) To let HARRY know, in no uncertain terms, that 
> > no matter how many professors pander to him and 
> > let him get away with whatever he wants because 
> > he's "famous Harry Potter," HE, for one, won't 
> > be doing that.
> 
> I am repeating myself all over again, but how is it Harry's fault 
> that he is famous? He did not ask for his fame, he clearly does not 
> want it. If Snape is gealous of Harry, I would say tough.
> 

My thoughts exactly.  The impression I get of Snape (this is more a 
personal opinion than anything hard-and-fast in cannon) is that he 
feels he's superior, and he wants that superiority acknowledged--
which, if you think about it, points to a deep-seated insecurity.  
His ridicule of Harry is not so much a rejection of Harry's celebrity 
but an expression of bitterness that he, Snape, has not gotten the 
recognition which he feels he deserves.

>  
> > The things Harry does would result in definite 
> > expulsion for students of lesser-importance, but 
> > because he's Harry, he gets away with it. 
> Or maybe Harry gets away with some rule breaking (which he usually 
> does for selfless reasons - most of time anyway) because teachers 
in 
> Hogwarts know that this child is wizarding world's best chance to 
> beat Voldemort.
> 

I think the "greater good" factor plays heavily in here too, 
especially where Dumbledore is concerned: Harry and his friends do 
break the rules, but they frequently (albiet, not always) do so in 
the pursuit of a higher purpose--keeping Voldemort from returning, 
saving their classmates, etc.
I would also like to point out that there are better ways of handling 
discipline than Snape's.  Lupin also chastises Harry for slipping out 
to Hogsmeade against regulations, and you can tell his comparitively 
restrained lecture has a greater effect on Harry than all Snape's 
ranting and ridicule can manage.
Finally, it is true that McGonagall will bend the rules for the sake 
of her Gryffindor pride on occasion, but on the whole Snape's more 
blatant when it comes to house favoritism.

~Christi, who does like Snape but thinks he needs a slap upside the 
head and will probably get it sometime during Book 5