Understanding Snape

[Jim Ferer]

No: HPFGUIDX 91074

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.

My belief comes not from pop sociology of any kind, but from life 
experience as a former child and current parent. Kids who go to 
school unkempt are likely, actually certain, to have problems because 
of it. Any teacher will tell you that. I tell you, from firsthand 
knowledge, they will be made fun of, not included, and be an 
outsider. Period.

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."

What standards should we be using?  It's true that MWPP didn't beat 
the hell out of Snape and leave him with broken ribs or anything, but 
humiliation hurts just as much.  This particular memory is part of a 
continuum of bad memories.  The prank and Snape's laundry 
arrangements are all about one thing: humiliation and degradation in 
public.

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."

Something we can agree on! No, Snape's not a "good guy" in the sense 
you mean, but he is on the right side.  My point is Snape's motives 
are unimportant.  He's fighting on the right side.  Right now that's 
good enough.

His motives are significant only as a predictor of future behavior.  
Would he turn against Dumbledore and the Order? We don't know what's 
moving Snape so we can't say.  I would guess that Dumbledore treated 
him in a way no one else has, forcing Snape to reexamine what he'd 
been doing.  Whatever the reason is, it seems to center on Dumbledore 
somehow.

If we find out later that these memories are not what they so plainly 
seem to be, I'll have to change my hypothesis; but Snape's life 
course as we see it is dead on for social avoidance, misanthropy, and 
poor ability to deal with people.

Jim Ferer