[HPforGrownups] Re: Professor Snape's role

[Shaun Hately]

No: HPFGUIDX 99932

On 2 Jun 2004 at 20:01, maa-dee wrote:

> Now _that's_ an interesting theory! That's one of the funny things
> about Snape. I think the good things that he does are behind the
> scenes...in other words not in front of Harry. Afterall, in PS/SS, why
> didn't Snape just go up to Harry and say "Listen, I think Quirrel's
> trying to kill you/is dangerous, I'm keeping an eye on him, but you'd
> better be careful."? It is only because Quirrel tells Harry that Snape
> saved his life that Harry knows. It seems Snape would never have
> admitted it to Harry's face.
> 
> And if Snape did tip the Order off...there's yet another example. It's
> things like this that make me wonder if Snape really does hate Harry.
> Also his willingness to teach Harry Occlumency.
> 
> Wait a second, I'm condradicting myself, here. I think Snape does
> truly hate Harry, but he will go out of his way to help Harry when
> it's needed or asked for. Maybe the fact that he does things to help
> Harry, whom he hates, makes him hate Harry even more? I don't know.
> I'm no phsychologist.
> 
> The question is why does he go out of his way to help Harry? Is it
> because despite how much he hates Harry he simply doesn't want him
> dead? Or is there a much more interesting, yet-to-be-revealed reason
> behind it?

Perhaps it comes down to Snape's own self image and his own 
beliefs.

I have a somewhat ambivalent attitude towards Snape. A couple of 
the things he's done are to me, pretty much unforgiveable in a 
teacher.

However, it's only a *couple* of the things he's done. His general 
method of teaching, frowned upon by many, is of a type I benefitted 
from at school. I had some very Snapish teachers, and it wasn't 
particularly pleasant to be around them - but they were *so* 
effective. I learned a lot from them.

These men knew exactly what they were doing. They knew we didn't 
like them. They knew some of us hated them, and some of us actually 
feared them. They knew it - and they did it anyway. And the reason 
they did it was because they honestly believed - and rightly so - 
that they were highly effective teachers.

I suspect Snape has something of the same attitude. He knows 
students don't like him - but he doesn't really care. It's not his 
job to make them like him - it's his job to teach them as 
effectively as he knows how.

With this belief as part of the core of his self image ("I am a 
good teacher.") I think his treatment of Harry becomes 
understandable. Yes, I think he genuinely hates Harry - and he is 
quite prepared to show it - but not in situations where it would 
harm his ability to teach Harry (in his estimation - not 
necessarily in agreement with outside views).

Goading Harry in cases where it might encourage him to learn, or 
even in cases where it would have no effect positive or negative on 
his learning is one thing.  

Doing it in cases where it would damage Harry's ability to learn is 
another thing entirely. That goes against his image as a teacher. 
And I think respect including self-respect is very important to 
Snape.  

Telling Harry Quirrel is trying to kill him, would likely serve no 
purpose - would Harry believe Snape had his best interests at 
heart? And Snape is likely confident enough in his own abilities to 
believe that he can protect Harry.

But during the holidays, with the Dursley's - that's different. 
Snape can't protect Harry there. He also can't gain anything by 
Harry being mistreated. There's no reason for him to let it 
continue to happen.

So in such a situation, I don't think it would take much for Snape 
to do the right thing - even the smallest trace of sympathy based 
on shared experiences might be enough.  


Yours Without Wax, Dreadnought
Shaun Hately | www.alphalink.com.au/~drednort/thelab.html
(ISTJ)       | drednort at alphalink.com.au | ICQ: 6898200 
"You know the very powerful and the very stupid have one
thing in common. They don't alter their views to fit the 
facts. They alter the facts to fit the views. Which can be 
uncomfortable if you happen to be one of the facts that 
need altering." The Doctor - Doctor Who: The Face of Evil
Where am I: Frankston, Victoria, Australia