Snape's hero complex

[eloise_herisson]

No: HPFGUIDX 119374


Hoping to catch Snorky before the holidays take over....

Snorky quotes:
> > Eloise:
> > ...In PS, we have no suggestion that Severus shares his mistrust 
> > of Quirrell with D as he does later of Lupin. Why? I think that 
> > he is desperate to be the one who protects the stone, who can 
> > take it safely to D, thus declaring both his loyalty and his 
> > claim to favoured child status. This is why he is so keen to keep 
> > Harry out of the way. And then the dratted child does it again! 
> > Similarly, he wants it to be he who catches Sirius.
>  
> Snorky:
> It's possible, but he still risks his life in PS/SS (the dog biting
> incident, taking on Quirrell in the forest), and it seems a bit too
> much to risk for proof of loyalty and favoured child status. I don't
> see why he would risk so much at this point in his life, when DD
> doesn't even really talk much to Harry, and Snape's loyalty doesn't
> seem to be doubted by DD. 

Eloise:
As you kindly pointed out <g> I did write that some time ago 
(although only *one book* ago). I might phrase things a little 
differently now.

I think that the need to prove himself is very strong. Yes, this 
manifests itself as what you term a hero complex, but working in 
secret, Dumbledore's approval and recognition was all that he was 
going to get at that point. Have I mentioned I view Snape as 
extremely insecure? I think that need for approval is very deep. It's 
true that the books don't indicate that Dumbledore talks to Harry 
that much, but I'm sure that Snape is aware of Dumbledore's 
attachment to him and given his special nature, he's an obvious 
threat to his status. Snape does seem to be Dumbledore's right hand 
man and there's a danger of his role being taken over by this upstart 
boy with what might turn out to be precocious talent. It's in Snape's 
interests that he *isn't* precociously talented, which could be 
another factor in his constantly putting him down as we discuss below.

By PoA, there's a chance of public recognition, yes, but the Sirius 
thing is so personal, that there I believe he was driven not only by 
a desire to protect Harry (desire isn't exactly the right word, duty, 
perhaps) but by a personal desire for revenge, not simply for what 
Sirius did to him at school, as if that wasn't enough, but for being 
instrumental in making him fail to save James. I've argued before 
that one of the things Snape can't stand (in himself, primarily, then 
projected onto others around him, particularly students) is failure. 
Sirius (he thinks) made him fail. 
 
> > Eloise:
> > 6) In his dealings with Harry, Severus is obsessed with putting  
> > him in his place, assuming that he will have ideas of grandeur, 
> > that fame will go to his head. I think he is aware, as the 
Sorting 
> > hat was, that Harry could have done well in Slytherin and fears 
that
> > Harry himself might be open to corruption. Even worse, he is a 
rival
> > in his relationship with D. D trusts Severus, but he favours 
Harry. 

Snorky:
> Are you saying that Snape is doing the above (putting him in his
> place, etcetera) to save Harry from corruption? Also, I'm not sure
> that DD doesn't love Severus almost as much as a son. (In case 
you're
> curious, I don't like Snape in general.)

I don't think it's his prime motivation, but it might well be the way 
he rationalises it to himself. He does disagree with Dumbledore's 
policies from time to time, particularly the way he treats Harry. He 
explicitly says as much to Fudge in PoA, IIRC. I'm not at all sure 
that he doesn't see himself as a counterbalance to Dumbledore's 
indulgence and perceived favouritism.

And yes, Dumbledore is deeply fond of Severus. I'm sure of that. 
Severus is the Prodigal Son, wayward, difficult, selfish, flew off to 
make his fortune elsewhere when he didn't get his dues at home, but 
when returning penitent, is welcomed back. I think Dumbledore loves 
him particularly for all his faults. But perhaps that's projection on 
*my* part. <g>


> > Eloise:
> > and again in 33668,
> > > I think it is acutely painful for him that 'famous Harry 
Potter' 
> > > gets all the credit for Voldemort's downfall when however much 
> > > 'good' he has done is secret. 
> > > 'Fame isn't everything' isn't just another nasty remark, it's a 
> > > cri de coeur.
> 
> 
> Snorky:
> Yes, 'Fame isn't everything' is a big clue. I think fame is on 
Snape's
> brain because Harry has it, and he doesn't, yet they are both 
heros. 

Exactly.

(big snips>

Snorky:
> It's also possible that Snape learns to hate Harry less as he learns
> about Harry's upbringing, recognizes what a good Slytherin Harry 
could
> have been, and comes to appreciate the huge number of things they 
have
> in common.

Eloise:
I wonder. It could work the other way as well, you know. The more he 
sees they have in common, the more animosity it might arouse. The 
more they have in common, the more it could have been *he*, not 
Harry, who was the hero. Life's just so unfair. Poor Severus. I think 
he'll come to respect Harry a bit more, but very reluctantly and I'll 
be surprised if he ever shows it.

Snorky:
> 
> Just a heads up in case you think I'm ignoring you: I have so many
> things to do to prepare for the holidays that I'm dropping out of 
the
> HP universe for a while. Happy hunting!

Thanks. Wanted to get this off before you disappear, if you haven't 
already. I should drop out too, really, but....

~Eloise