An odd musing about Harry's attitude - cont dislike of Snape

[anyankavengeance]

No: HPFGUIDX 53953

> Wow, Andry.  Isn¹t it fascinating how people can like the same 
thing yet
> disagree so much?  This is fun.

I agree completely . . . debates are one of the best forms of 
education and entertainment. They're also a mighty good way of 
putting off Algebra II and Biology homework.


> Anyway, I don¹t see Harry thanking Snape as making them equals.  I 
think
> Harry thanking Snape would acknowledge Snape¹s skills and 
intentions.  It
> would be a sign of high respect.

It depends completely on the way he does the thanking . . . speaking 
as a high school student myself, I would feel kind of rude, thanking 
my teachers for something I wasn't really supposed to know they were 
doing. It would be almost like I was trying to show them up. But 
again, it depends on the method of the thanking. And I'm not sure it 
would be a sign of high respect, since there is literally no respect 
between the two characters. If anything, it would just be an 
acknowledgement of Snape's good intentions and efforts, something 
that, in Harry's perspective, he usually lacks.

> Mind you, I don¹t think Snape wants a thank you from Harry 
specifically . . . He would absolutely find that embarrassing.  

Exactly. A direct thank you would be almost insulting. Honestly, 
though, and I'm not trying to be dense here, but I don't really see 
any other way Harry could thank him. He could try being more polite, 
I suppose, but that might only annoy Snape more . . .


> But he
> has a valid point of view regarding Harry¹s safety.  And Harry 
(being a
> child) does not always realize how much people are doing for him.

No, he doesn't . . . and I don't think we do either, but that's a 
debate for another day. ;) However, I do think he had a pretty good 
measure of how much Snape helped him in the first book. I don't think 
being grateful ever crossed his mind . . . in his eyes, it was still 
selfish aims - Snape trying to cancel a life debt between he and 
James, rather than a sincere desire to help Harry.


> I found it striking how, in PoA, Lupin says the exact same thing 
Snape does. That Harry¹s parents would not appreciate giving their 
lives so Harry could disregard protection and sneak out of the school 
(paraphrasing).  But because Lupin is warm and fuzzy and liked, he 
knows how to get through to Harry.  I just think Snape might have a 
lot more patience towards Harry if he knew Harry appreciated what 
everyone was doing for him.  Especially Snape, who does so much and 
so thanklessly.  

I think we run into characterization issues here, and different 
interpretations thereof. I think it is a big part of Snape's 
character that he *isn't* thanked for what he does - I've always 
gotten the impression that he loved being able to pick his wounds 
like that, being the perverse little bugger he is. But I don't 
know . . . if Harry ever found a subtle and understated enough way of 
thanking him, if one such way exists, I do agree we might find Snape 
a tad less abrasive. ;)

"Andry"