[HPforGrownups] Re: What if Snape does not have to maintain any cover?

[Shaun Hately]

No: HPFGUIDX 101673

On 16 Jun 2004 at 15:43, cubfanbudwoman wrote:

> Shaun H. wrote:
> > Is Snape as good a teacher as McGonnagal? No. But is Snape-the-
> > Cruel more effective than Snape-the-Kind would be? I think that is 
> > very possible.
> 
> 
> SSSusan:
> What about Snape-the-Neutral??  (Sorry, couldn't resist.)
> 
> It *would* be a possibility, though, you know, assuming a spectrum 
> rather than an either-or.  Could our Snapey manage neutrality or is 
> that beyond him (beneath him?)?  More likely, I think, he wouldn't be 
> interested in it...and it certainly wouldn't promote his image w/ the 
> DEs.

You're right, that is certainly another possibility - it doesn't 
have to black or white, there is room for grey.

But I think you're right that he wouldn't be interested... why? In 
my opinion, because I think Snape does the world in a pretty black 
and white way. I think Snape would regard the grey as... well, 
reminiscent of a certain pair of underwear - a neglected area 
lacking effort, lacking any real sense of purpose. I don't think 
Snape is particularly interested in what he would see as half 
measures.

This may be why he's now (apparently) working on the side of good 
even though he is a very nasty man. For someone who doesn't believe 
in the middle ground, in doing things by half - rejecting Voldemort 
and evil, may mean supporting Dumbledore and good - no half 
measures.

In the classroom - what is the point of changing his teaching style 
slightly? The kids aren't going to like Snape just because he (for 
example) lays off Neville. And there's no way he's going to change 
enough so they like him.

No middle ground. No half measures. Snape-the-Cruel would find 
Snape-the-Neutral even more repulsive than Snape-the-Kind.


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