Angry Snape / St. Hedwig

[Mary Jo Neyer]

No: HPFGUIDX 83039

There have been several recent postings regarding Snape with which I would like to disagree.  One person wrote that they were disgusted that Snape, having been bullied, had become a bully.  There were also several postings to the effect that Snape is an angry being who, if deprived of his anger, would no longer be Snape.

I disagree very much with both statements.  First of all,  it is a classic symptom displayed by abused victims to repeat what was done to them.  This is accurate from the psychological point of view.

Secondly, Snape's anger means that he is also capable of deep love.  The fact that Snape can feel deeply means that he can both suffer and care deeply.  I find myself sympathizing at times with him because very often he is right:  for example, scolding Harry in PoA about sneaking into town when they are all trying to protect him, or Lupin's refusal to admit certain information about Sirius' animagus abilities to DD, or when he states that Potter must be behind Sirius' escape.  Snape is right, but people refuse to listen to him because he speaks with such hatred and anger.  This adds to his frustration( it would for me, anyway), that no one will listen to him when he knows he is right.

I am the mother of 6 boys and 3 girls.  When one of them comes home and starts being mean to his younger siblings, I know something is wrong. I separate the guilty party into a separate room, and if possible, establish some physical contact, such as sitting next to one another, with perhaps my arm around his shoulder.  With the older ones this can be difficult.  Eventually, I can get them to talk about what is bothering them, and it is as if a poison is released.  The household atmosphere changes and we can deal with whatever is really going on.  I find myself wishing there was someone who really cared for Snape, snarls ,greasy hair and all, who would really listen to him and care for him.  To me, he is a very lonely person, and he has made himself to be very unattractive.  The mother in me wants to do some mothering for him.


St. Hedwig  

Today, Oct. 16, St. Hedwig is remembered in Catholic churches. She was born in Bavaria around the year 1174. She married a prince of Silesia and they had 7 children. She led a most devoted life, looking after the poor and the sick, and founding hospitals for them. When her husband died, she entered the monastery of Trebnitz and died there in 1243Quote taken from the MAGNIFICAT prayer magazine.

I thought, given the prominence of Hedwig the owl, people might enjoy hearing about St. Hedwig.
 

Mary Jo