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

[madlysarcastic]

No: HPFGUIDX 120172


imamommy said:

> See, I have this theory, part of my parenting philosophy and general 
> attitude towards other people, that they will live up to your 
> expectations.  Snape has *expected* Harry to be an arrogant, lazy, 
> spoiled little toerag.  In many ways, that is *now* how Harry acts 
> towards Snape.  From their first encounter, IIRC, Snape cuts him down 
> for being "famous," and blasts him for not knowing the right answers 
> to questions on the first day of term.  HE treats Harry like he's a 
> cocky, no-good punk who's enjoying being the hot gossip, which, IMO, 
> he has not.  But after a few minutes, he gets Harry's dander up, and 
> provokes him into cheeking him (and yes, I think he was cheeky).  
> This pattern continues progressing through the books until, 
> ultimately, Harry has become, at least in his interactions with 
> Snape, much as Snape expected him to be.  
> 
> I do not think Snape's view of Harry is complete, but I think it now 
> represents an actual facet of Harry's personality, and now we have 
> become locked in a viscious cycle: Snape expects Harry to be a jerk, 
> Harry acts like a jerk, so Snape expects Harry to act like a jerk...

Maddy says:

I think that's all probably true. But I think that idea can be
extended to include Snape's behaviour and Harry's perception of
Snape's behaviour.

The first remarks from Snape against Harry seem to be a little out of
line, to be sure. But, while I do believe that Snape is purposely
unpleasant towards Harry, he *does*, as many here have said, do or try
to do things for Harry's own good. (Whether this is because they are
his duties as a teacher and an Order member, or from the goodness of
his own -slightly bitter- heart, is up to debate). But I think once
Harry noticed Snape's negativity towards him, and especially after he
found out that Snape hated James, Harry ruled him off as a "bad guy",
and an evil teacher all around. So everything Snape does, Harry
interprets as something "out to get him", something purposely to
Harry's disadvantage.

And I think to some extent, Snape becomes more like this as the series
progresses. The more we learn about him, the more unpleasant he
becomes, at least, in Harry's eyes. After their first meeting, Harry
expects Snape to be mean and unfair, and that's how Snape acts.
(again, at least in Harry's eyes).

More on Snape...

I think, with the glaring exception of the bit of violence Snape
showed towards Harry in the Pensieve scene in OotP, Snape's _actions_
have been pretty much efforts at trying to get Harry to obey rules for
his own safety, or simply because they are the rules. Snape's various
_comments_ however, are where he crosses the line, IMO. Whether it is
remarks about Neville's lack of skill in Potions, Hermione's teeth, or
Harry's father, Snape has a vicious tongue.

His *actions* reflect reason and possibly honour, but it's the things
Snape *says* that I think have given Harry and many of us readers the
impression that he's bitter and mean.

And while I certainly dislike Snape for being so mean spirited, I have
to give him credit for his good actions that we have seen so far. And
I think when all is said and done, what is *done* is more important
than what has been said. So unless new evidence comes to light in
books 6 and 7 about something horrible Snape does or has done, I have
to think he's a good person, regardless of his mean comments to Harry
and others.


=)
Maddy
(who really should be studying instead of posting, and really likes
Snape because he's such a great mystery...and enjoys snarky, sarcastic
characters like him more than she previously realized.)