More on Snape

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 102635

 
> vmonte responds:
> 
> I like Snape's character not because he is a great teacher (because
> he is not) or because he is a good person (yeah right!). I think he
> is a nasty, but quick witted character. I love his sarcasm! I like
> him because he says things I sometimes think, but don't have enough
> guts to say. I also like him because he is a fictional character 
and
> I can vicariously live through him without ever having to actually
> know him. 

Potioncat:
I agree with everything you've said here!  And I think the statement 
about his being a "fictional character" is the most important part 
of it.  (I've commented before I'd particularly enjoyed the bursting 
jar of cockroaches, as I have a 15 year old as well.)

Someone else mentioned, possibly on a different thread, that Snape 
is the "required cruel teacher" that you often find in books about 
school aged children.  But JKR has presented him with a twist: he's 
also on the good side and often can be found helping or at least 
protecting the students. (at least that is MHO for his motivation)

vmonte:
I would not do well in his classroom, and I don't like
> that he is a racist!  It would be ok with it, if I believed that he
> had grown up to understand that he was wrong to call Lily 
that "name"
> as teenager, but I do not believe he does.

Potioncat:
I'm not sure of this one.  He could still be a racist and not be a 
DE.  Or he could have mellowed to any number of degrees on his 
racist ideas.  I say this as a child of the South who grew up 
learning one set of "absolutes" who has replaced them fully and who 
has seen others change to differing degrees.

 Vmonte:
snipping
He also still refers to him with  respect: "Dark Lord" (it gives me 
chills).

Potioncat:
I suspect he has other reasons for continuing to use Dark Lord. But 
it's hard to tell.  BTW, have we found other characters who use this 
pharse?

Vmonte:
 And I believe that the way  he treats Hermione has something to do 
with her heritage. Or does he 
> hate her because she is a know-it-all? 
snipping

Potioncat:
I've been looking at that too.  I don't think it's her heritage.  We 
haven't heard of him picking on anyone else for that reason.  In 
fact he picks on Harry and Neville more than he does her.  And he 
appears to be marking her correctly.

I'm reading GoF, because I recall it as Snape's worst.  So far, 
IMHO, he's picking on Hermione because  he thinks she and Harry are 
stealing potion making supplies from him.  Which if we think about 
it, we'll find out it was Crouch!Moody who stole the supplies. I'm 
not supporting his method here, just that so far, I think that is 
his motivation.

Vmonte:
> I've also noticed that from day one the kids have been able to 
apply
> the lessons they've learned from their other teachers. Nothing yet 
> with Snape. 

Potioncat:
How about Polyjuice potion?  and Expelliarmus? (Boy did that one 
come back to haunt him!) Where did Hermione learn the potion for 
Harry's hand in OoP (I don't think we're told.) 

Have we seen them using transfiguration out of class? Or herbology?  
I do recall a lot of Charms.

Vmonte:
Are we sure he is at the school to teach the kids 
> potions?  Or are they learning something else from him?  And is DD 
> also keeping an eye on him like he is with Trelawny?  
> 
Potioncat:
I think he is there in great part because he is of help to DD 
against LV and he may need the protection of Hogwarts as well.
Very interesting post!

Potioncat