Snape's hero complex

[Hannah]

No: HPFGUIDX 119340


Snorky wrote:

> Would a hero complex explain Snape's actions thoughout the series? 
I think he wants to be recognized as a great hero. I've looked around
> and I don't think this issue has been covered. 
> 
> If Snape is suffering from a hero complex, it could explain a lot 
of things about him: his pride, his thirst for recognition and 
respect, his actions towards Harry and the Marauders,  why he joined 
and left the death eaters, his willingness to risk his life to fight 
Voldemort,  possibly why Dumbledore trusts him, and why he wasn't 
allowed to be DADA teacher. (I write "hero complex", a boring old 
cliche for Harry's "problem", on purpose.)
<big snip>

> Being special is really important to Snape. There are numerous
> examples of Snape demanding to be treated with respect. Also, the 
two
> people who seem to handle him best, MG and DD, never call him just
> "Snape", and insist to Harry that he always talk of him 
as "Professor
> Snape".
> 
> In POA, when Snape is apoplectic with rage at Harry when he find 
out that Sirius has escapes. A reason given by Lupin is that Snape 
is not going to be given an award for bravery.
<snip>
 
Hannah: Great post, Snorky.  It was suggested, a while ago now and I 
forget who by, that Snape has a 'saving people thing'.  And I think 
it is true.  Snape isn't a nice person by any means, but there is 
evidence in canon of him going out of his way to save/protect 
people.  And he doesn't get much (or indeed any) credit for it.

Snape risks his life as a spy, but the very nature of spying means 
he can't get much recognition for it.  Suddenly, he had that golden 
chance to win his Order of Merlin, something he probably felt he 
already deserved for his secret work of years before, and for his 
(utterly unthanked) efforts to save Harry and the Stone in PS.  
Added to missing his chance to get revenge on Black, no wonder he 
went beserk.

I would also agree that his feelings about Harry aren't easily 
explained away by just the James thing, especially when you consider 
that Snape doesn't seem to see 'Harry the person' at all, 
rather 'Harry the hero.'  How many times does he state that Harry is 
arrogant (and appear to believe it wholeheartedly)?  Harry is many 
things, but arrogant is not one of them.  Snape sees Harry as a 
rival for the role of hero, and, possibly for DD's attention.

This ties in with the speculation in other posts about DD and 
Snape's relationship.  DD admits to loving Harry (though he does 
have a funny way of showing it...) and he certainly stands up for 
him.  Maybe old Sevvy feels jealous of the attention Harry gets from 
*his* mentor.  It would also explain Snape's attitude to Harry from 
lesson one: seeing Harry as a rival, Snape attacks first (the best 
form of defence and all that).  It isn't rational, but I don't think 
rationality is a prerequisite in explaining Snape's behaviour!  And 
in GoF, in that infamous bit outside the office... why should Potter 
be going up to see DD on his own... that's not fair!

Snape gloats over Sirius because the latter is trapped at home and 
can't go out and fight for the Order.  Maybe Snape is so good at 
hitting this raw nerve with Sirius precisely because that's how he, 
Snape, has felt for years.  Trapped at Hogwarts, saving everyones' 
necks through his spy work, and unable to get any credit for it.  
Unable to do things like fight alongside his comrades at the DoM 
because he has to be seen to be on the other side.  

On the night of that battle, Snape went in the Forbidden Forest, on 
his own, to try and find Harry and Hermione.  Not the safest thing 
to do at the best of times, let alone when the centaurs had the hump 
over Firenze leaving.  Did the poor man get any credit?  No.  
Instead Harry blames him for Sirius dying, when it was Snape who 
told him to stay at home and wait for DD!  (On a side note, why 
isn't he angrier with Lupin, Mad Eye, Kingsley, or Tonks, who were 
actually with Sirius - and who he'd be more likely to listen to - 
and yet didn't manage to stop him going?)

I think if you factor in a 'saving people thing,' a lot of Snape's 
motivations can be explained.  Whether that's the one JKR is going 
to use is another matter entirely...

Hannah, who also agrees that the old Crumple Horned Snorkacks are 
mentioned way too many times in OotP to not get a important role in 
a later book.  Especially as LL is spending the summer looking for 
them!