Is Snape a pureblood? (and wizard aristocracy in general)

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 89785

> Sigune reflects:
> I dunno - he doesn't particularly strike me as the aristocratic type; 
> I am not sure if I can explain why not. But even if you are quite 
> right to point out that aristocratic roots don't equal "good form", I 
> feel bound to say that likewise, arrogance and hauteur do not 
> preclude aristocracy.
> 
> Somehow, I have come to think of Snape as a 'self-made man', which 
> one could argue is a quintessentially middle-class concept. He is 
> ambitious and hard-working. Also, judging from what we saw in the 
> Occlumency lessons, he seems to have sort of reinvented himself at 
> one point inbetween his schooldays and the arrival of Harry at 
> Hogwarts. - As you point out, he has gained confidence.
> [*Question*: is there any canon evidence of his using swearwords 
> other than in the scenes from his memory?]
> 
> I don't know how this sounds to other people, but it seems to me that 
> Snape's arrogance is connected with the quality of his thinking as 
> Hermione signalled in PS: unlike many wizards, Snape thinks 
> logically. His arrogance stems from his impatience with people who 
> make errors of logic because they don't think rationally enough (to 
> his taste).
> 
> It also struck me that Sirius called Snape 'Lucius Malfoy's lapdog'. 
> Even when he meant it as a provocation, I get the impression 
> throughout the books that Lucius Malfoy thinks of Snape as an ally or 
> supporter, but in a patronising sort of way - Malfoy is the one with 
> the power to make things happen and by no means regards Snape as an 
> equal, which I think he would be more likely to do if Snape were on 
> an equal footing with him socially.
> 
> I entirely agree with your view of him as someone who tries hard to 
> better himself in the sense that he wants to make up for an 
> impoverished family background. His pride and confidence at present 
> may be related to a sense of achievement of sorts then. But I am not 
> sure that this precludes an aristocratic family. Yet again, I have no 
> definite proof, and this may be a piece of "Snape-as-I-would-like-him-
> to-turn-out-to-be" :).
> 
> Yours severely,
> 
> Sigune


Just to clarify your argument, do you mean doesn't "imply" an
aristocratic family? "Preclude" means exclude or prevent the existence
of, which I think is the opposite of your intended meaning. (I think I
essentially agree with you, but I'm not quite sure.)

Thanks,
Carol

P.S. On the subject of "aristocratic" wizards, I get the feeling that
the Muggle-born Justin Finch-Fletchley comes from the *Muggle*
aristocracy or gentry based on his name. I'm wondering if Sir Nicholas
de Mimsey-Porpington's aristocratic background is a Muggle heritage as
well, especially as he was the only ghost to be petrified in CoS. Was
he Muggle-born like the petrified students? And totally off the
subject, the 400 vs. 500 year discrepancy regarding Sir Nick's death
date can be resolved by his clothing. No one wore ruffs in 1492. They
were a sixteenth- (and possibly early seventeenth-) century fashion.
Consequently his death date must be 1592, not 1492 (400, not 500,
years before CoS).