Snape and the meaning of courage

[anthyroserain]

No: HPFGUIDX 105846

Aggie:

> The way I read your post, and please forgive me if I'm wrong, 
> but you seem to imply that while you do not think he is wimpy, you 
> think he is cowardly.  Could you explain your reasoning behind 
that?  
> We are talking (well I am! ;0) ) about the young Snape.  From the 
> pensieve scene I do not see how you can label Snape a coward.  

Katie:

Oops! I didn't think to clarify that.

For the record, I do NOT consider Snape to be a coward. Not in the 
Pensieve scene, certainly. In my post, I was just trying to 
distinguish between the concepts of wimpiness and cowardice, and 
speculating a bit on what Snape thinks as well.

Aggie:
> His philosophy does make him cold, but it also keeps him alive.  I 
> don't think it's his worse trait, he wouldn't be 'Snape' if he 
wasn't 
> that way.  It's just what makes him as interesting as he is.

Katie:
It does make him interesting. I just really don't like it :)

Aggie:
> I completely agree with you that the Snape we are 'allowed' to see 
is 
> just his persona.  Deep down I believe that he is just the same as 
> the 15 yr old we see.  Keeping himself to himself but prepared to 
do 
> battle with anyone who challenges him.     

Katie:
I really wonder what Snape is like deep down. The glimpse of Snape's 
memories that we get (and his consequent reaction when he realizes 
that Harry sees them) seems to indicate that there is a lot more 
going on with Snape that we don't know about yet.

HunterGreen (whose post I still would like to reply to!) said that 
it seems Snape is describing his younger self in the Occlumency 
quote. I'd bet that Snape's boggart would be his younger self.


-Katie