Understanding Snape

[arrowsmithbt]

No: HPFGUIDX 91046

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Jim Ferer" <jferer at y...> wrote:
> 
> We don't see any signs of self-confidence. Being professionally 
> competent, which he is, does not exclude social phobia at all. 
>

Kneasy:
There's more  self-confidence than timidity or shyness IMO; the way
he deals with classes and students from day 1, the way he treats new
members of staff, the contempt he shows to Umbridge, his reaction
to Sirius at Grimmauld Place. This is not a deferential or defensive
character -  he  knows himself and is comfortable with himself. He
has no doubts about his competence or social standing.


> Kneasy:" I'm in a very small minority in this, but I'm not so sure 
> that this memory
> is of his parents; I think Snape is the adult, that what we see is 
> Snape's family and that they are the reason he splits from Voldemort. 
> And if there's one thing Snape isn't, it's shy. "

Jim:
> You have to jump through a lot of hoops to interpret that memory that 
> way; there's no reason to believe it. Snape is remembering some of 
> the pain of his life. 
> 

Kneasy:
I often chuckle at  this. I know I'm in a minority and I admit that  I could 
be wrong - after all I have exactly the same amount of evidence as those
that claim the child is Snape - exactly zero. "But oh," they say, "it's a
sequence of childhood memories." and this just a few pages after Snape
carefully explains to Harry that memories are not  neatly filed away but
are a random jumble that have to be searched *and interpreted*. I also
suspect that the teenager on the bucking broom-stick is not Snape, but
James. (see posts passim). I'd rather believe in the deviousness and JKR's
prediliction for deliberately misleading fans than a common consensus
with no backing evidence.

  
Jim: 
> They didn't have influence, but we have two examples of  unkemptness, 
> and how many of good care?  The remark about parents sending kids to 
> school like that was an aside, really. The point is that a kid who 
> doesn't look cared for at school has two strikes against him from the 
> outset.
>
Kneasy:
Sorry, but this is  just the sort of pop sociology that that gets the social
sciences a bad name. A conclusion is reached first and supporting
evidence sought later. By this  standard Luna's wierd get-up is also a
sign of lack of parental input.  Teenage boys are  not reknowned for
over-scrupulous sartorial or hygiene standards. Or are  you perhaps
saying that Hogwarts was remiss in their care of students?
  
Jim: 
> He isn't helpless, but he was humiliated and bullied on the lawn, and 
> the dialogue suggests the bullying was going on.  James wasn't the 
> one shown with gray underwear shown in midair in front of half the 
> school; he did it while hanging out with his buddies, the "arrogant 
> little berks" who were good at pretty much anything they did.  Is 
> there any reason to think Snape scored on them like that in any way, 
> ever?
> 
Kneasy:
Yes, he does seem to be bullied  -  or at least he is by today's standards.
But I have a lot of problems with 'Snape's worst memory'. For  a start  it
probably isn't his worst memory; his hatred of James et al seems to stem
more from the 'prank' than from his laundry arrangements. So why isn't 
that one at the top? See thread 80835 - 'the worst is yet to come' for 
thoughts on memories, and his extreme reaction *could* be
because of the other memories  in the Pensieve that no-one seems to
consider. 

Jim: 
> Snape's on the right side, and he's done the right thing more than 
> once. `Nuff.  He isn't spreading sweetness and light, but that's not 
> a membership requirement for being one of the Good Guys in a war.
> 

Kneasy:
I think Snape is on Snape's side and the fact that it is the same side as
the Order is pure chance. Your thoughts obviously differ, but have a look
through the Quick Quotes, there's a transcript from the end of 2000 or the 
beginning of 2001. JKR is surprised that Snape is so popular and states that
he is not nice but allows that  there may be a chance of redemption for him
in book 7. Doesn't  sound like a goody to me.