Snape's hero complex

[curlyhornedsnorkack]

No: HPFGUIDX 119316


> Marianne:
> 
> Well, I have a few issues with these.  Snape, as a kid wasn't
> working to expose a werewolf - he wanted to know where Lupin went. 

I think there is enough evidence for me to suspect that Snape did want
to expose a werewolf. Werewolf identification is taught in the 3rd
year. Snape wanted to know were Lupin went "every month". I think
Snape is very clever and capable of adding clues together.

> In SS/PS, 
> other teachers were involved in putting in place the series of tests 
> that one had to pass through to get to the Stone.  

Contributing to a defense plan seemed expected of the staff, as Hagrid
showed when he listed the defenses.  Suspecting a plot and delving
into it was extra work, and only done (as far as I can tell) by Snape.

> And, we also have 
> evidence that Snape had grave suspicions, if not actual knowledge, 
> about what was going on with Quirrel, but there's no evidence that
> he went to DD to let him in on that.  

I'm a bit confused about why you bring this up, as I didn't mention
Quirrel in my e-mail, I think. But, as long as you mention it, I would
infer from the following DD comment that DD might have known that
Snape was doing something extra: "I do believe he worked so hard to
protect you this year because he felt that would make him and your
father even..." The key words to me are "this year". Unfortunately,
I'm not sure how the issue of whether Snape went to DD or not is
relevant to my main argument.  (As you can see from my initial email,
I don't think DD's reason is Snape's only one.)

> In POA, everyone was involved with 
> searhcing the building for Sirius. 

Snape was most likely in charge. Snape says, "All searched..." to DD's
numerous queries. DD says, "Very well, Severus." (POA)

> > snorky: I've always had a problem imagining Snape as a realistic
> > character because I can't envisage how a grown man could have so
> > much hatred for a child, because of something that happened in the
> > past, especially a child orphaned before he even knew his father.
> > I think the problem is that something current is bothering Snape,
> > and that is that Harry is a rival Hero who is more successful. 
> <snippages >
> > But Harry has all the glory, almost from birth, for something for
> > which he isn't really responsible. It't just not fair, and Snape 
> > hates it when people don't play by the rules.  The degree to which
> > Snape seems to fixate on Harry's celebrity indicates to me that 
> > Harry's fame is what bothers him most.  

> Marianne: 
> There's something to be said for this. I think, if this is really 
> what motivates Snape, it shows a gigantic blind spot on his part 
> where Harry's concerned.  


I think you're exactly right. I wonder if what he saw in Harry's mind
during the Occlumency lessons will affect him in any way.  (A  good
thread would be Snape's blind spots, but I'm so short for time I can't
research it right now! I don't think he has any idea that he's
considered to be supremely unfair and nasty. I think he thinks he's
being fair.  But I'll discuss it another day if no one else has.)


> Snape seems incapable of seeing beyond 
> Harry's celebrity.  He reacts to the perception of "famous Harry 
> Potter" rather than to Harry the kid.  Snape may very well thirst for 
> respect and acknowledgment of his gifts and what he has done in the 
> past towards defeating Voldemort.  He may feel he has never received 
> due recognition.  But, what he doesn't get is that Harry does not 
> react in the same way.  Harry's encounters with Voldemort have been 
> things he's undertaken because he thinks he has to do them at the 
> time.  He's not doing them to be famous or lauded or recognized or
> to get an Order of Merlin.  There may very well be a hero-thing going
> on with both characters, but I think Harry is much more reluctant to
> see his actions as achievements worthy of public praise.


We agree here on Snape and Harry. Harry seems bewildered by public
praise in general (except with regards to Quidditch - something in
which he can take pride that doesn't involve Voldemort history. )

> Maybe what gets up Snape's nose is that he *does* recognize this 
> about Harry, but hates that, in comparison to himself, Harry's 
> motives are more self-less. 

I don't see Snape as being introspective enough to compare his
motive's with Harry's. To me he seems very defensive against the
outside: it's Snape and Slytherins against the world. Another whole
discussion and I haven't even finished my main argument yet!

> Harry knows someone is in danger and he 
> reacts - he goes to save Ginny in CoS and Sirius in OoP.  He may be 
> too impulsive in how he goes about it, but he does it because he 
> thinks it must be done.  He doesn't seem to have the hunger for 
> recognition and respect Snape has. 


I think Snape's natural instinct is to run off and save someone as
well, just like Harry. When Ginny was snatched in COS, Snape "gripped
the back of a chair very hard..." . To me, that sounds like someone
who wants to do something, but doesn't know what to do. Also, twice in
OOTP, Snape ran off on rescue missions. The first time, with wand out,
was to find out why a woman(who turned out to be Trelawney) was
screaming, and the second time, was to rescue a boy from a toilet. And
he didn't even think to stop and guard his innermost secrets from a
known snooper (Harry) who hadn't treated Snape with complete respect
in the past.

I think Snape has more expectations or desires for a reward after good
deeds than Harry. (although Harry also expects to be treated well
after what he has tackled, as he ranted in OOTP.) It's evident when
Snape is not being rewarded or treated fairly. A possible example is
in PP/PS just after he referees the Quidditch game so that he can be
nearby in case Harry is attacked again, and Harry wins by almost
hitting him while zooming by to grab the Snitch. Snape has an angry
expression on his face and spits. To me I can imagine him moaning, "
Here am I, selflessly saving that brat, and how does he repay me - he
nearly knocks me off my broom". Being a spy must be hard for him,
because it involves doing things that he can't talk about, but I would
bet DD massages his ego on a regular basis. 

-snorky
(who believes snorkacks of all kinds will play part in a major plot 
twist in book 6.)