Harry is an ungratful spoiled brat. Was: Snape is evil

[jsmithqwert]

No: HPFGUIDX 68168

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "rhosyn4u" <a4annielauss at m...> 
wrote:
> I'm not quoting anybody... is that ridiculously arrogant? I hope 
> not. Anyway......
> 
> I admit I'm not at all sure about the Snape thing and look forward 
> to some more sheddage of light upon the subject in further books.
> 
> That said, however, I have a STRONG hunch that Snape has been 
acting 
> a good deal of his maliciousness. If he were fair, decent, and un-
> horrible to Harry and the other Gryfffindors (to say nothing of 
> generous or affectionate) the Slytherin kids would not like him, 
> thus their parents (notably Malfoy) would not like him, thus he 
> would lose his position as head of Slytherin or at the very least 
be 
> mistrusted by the Slytherins. To do this would be to forfeit a HUGE 
> advantage both as a spy in Voldy's camp and as a confidante and 
> hopefully/possibly a redeemer of the Slytherin children, who face 
> rather the same fate of Mafia children; it's hard to turn away from 
> something evil that is as deep-rooted in the family/social culture 
> as that.
> 
> He's probably not the nicest person anyway; his grumpiness and anti-
> social behavior are probably just a part of him, but this theory 
> would explain his blatantly cruel and deeply unfair behavior. Also, 
> there is already evidence that he can act unconcerned and 
dismissive 
> on demand; his reaction to Harry's cryptic yell in OoP was 
perfectly 
> in character; so much so that Harry did not even detect it, even 
> though it was perfectly obvious Snape would have to feign ignorance 
> or Umbridge would get suspicious.
> 
> There, I'm done.
> 
> ~rhosyn =)

I agree that much of Snape's malicious behavior is probably an act.  
I would like to add that one of the wonderful things that makes him 
such a complex character is the fact that he has an excuse (covering 
up his spy activities) to amplify and act out on all the little 
impulses, grudges, and other unsocial things that civil people 
normally suppress.  I think that he does indeed have a predisposition 
toward nastiness, but I also think that he, like virtually every 
adult, can constrain himself to act civilly when it is appropriate.  
It's just great that JKR has set up his character in this unique 
position where he can't be civil because it sets up such an 
interesting experiment in interactive psychology between 
his "uncivil" front and the rest of society.

jsmithqwert