Understanding Snape

[wmkgourlay]

No: HPFGUIDX 91011

Snape is a difficult character to understand and to like.  I believe 
that much of his bitterness and cruelty that he exhibits stems to his 
childhood.  Obviously, his homelife was not picture perfect, but 
neither was Harry's.  He is deeply interested in the Dark Arts from 
very early in life, which is suggested in the books.  Why? maybe to 
get revenge on people who have hurt him? to know things that other 
people don't? who knows.  I think that he is a genius, intelligents 
beyond all others, (except Dumbledore).  Being a teacher, I quite 
often see really intelligent children who are complete loners, 
shunned and bullied by their peers.  Einstein had the worse social 
skills and preferred to by alone, but no one can deny his brains.

James and friends also targeted Snape, because he liked the Dark 
Arts, and James hated anything to do with the Dark Arts.  

He is a difficult character to decode.  Hopefully in the next book we 
will gain more insight into him.  I think in OoP, we learned quite 
abit already.  Even though is he mean and seems to do the right thing 
in the end.  Dumbledore trusts him.

Beth