Parenting Harry (was: Re: I don't like him much)

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 120113


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "eloise_herisson" 
If you've read any of my analyses of Snape's character in the past, 
which I don't expect you to have, given the volume of posts on this 
site, you will know that I consider Snape a deeply flawed character. 
I have never claimed that he is nice, or fair, or that he doesn't  
bully. That has nothing whatsoever to do with any particular role he 
may have (within the books) appropriated for himself or that JKR may 
have given him as part of her plot.


Alla:


I read your analysis in the different thread, Eloise (I know that 
you refer these words to another poster) and I actually quite agree 
with your analysis. (I make different judgment about the character 
based on that analysis, but my vision of the character is actually 
quite close to yours)

 

Eloise:
 
At the risk of repeating myself, Harry has no one parent figure. The 
various roles which a parent undertakes are split between various 
adults. Most of the limit setting seems to fall to Snape. 
Now I have not said that I approve of his methods, in fact I have 
not commented on them at all, because that actually is another 
issue. But I have, in this thread, given you good reason to think 
that I might 
> not:
> 
> >He either genuinely
> >.......................
> >It's usually down to Snape to do the less palatable side of
> >parenting, which is a little unfortunate, given his antipathy to 
his
> >charge. 
> 
> >aside from any character defects Snape may possess
> 
> >Snape, in his own, unsympathetic way
> 
> detests Harry or else gives a very convincing act of doing so
> 
> >like him or not,
> >whether his methods are acceptable or not, whatever the 
> motivation....
> ...............................................
> 
> Now you may read that as approbation, it was written neutrally 
> because the appropriateness of *how* Snape carries out his duties 
was  not my concern in this particular thread. 
In fact, my personal feelings about the character have no bearing on 
what I've said whatsoever.

Alla:

Again, I understand what you are saying, but I disagree. I think 
Snape's methods are quite closely connected to whether Snape can be 
considered to be a parent to the child or not.


Parent can punish the child, TRUE, if child DESERVES the punishment. 
Do I need to count how many times Snape went off on Harry 
UNDESERVINGLY?


I don't think that Snape DESERVES to be called a parent in any shape 
or way. That is what I am trying to say.

He is not strict disciplinarian, like McGonagall, not in my 
opinhion, he is sadist and if you are saying that in the fractured 
parenting Harry receives he needs THAT, then allow me to register my 
strongest disagreement.