What's in it for Snape? Finding motive...

[arrowsmithbt]

No: HPFGUIDX 97405

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "cubfanbudwoman" <susiequsie23 at s...> =
> 
> Siriusly Snapey Susan:
> YES.  When I argued—quite strongly—that Snape's teaching methods are 
> horrendous, uncalled for, abusive and likely ineffective, I was most 
> definitely thinking of him in a real life teaching situation.  I DO 
> still believe Snape's methods are *likely* NOT the best way of 
> reaching Harry and **definitely** NOT the best way of reaching 
> Neville ["reaching" meaning, effective in helping them to learn].  
> In real life Snape's abusive teaching methods [remember, JKR said 
> that herself!] would be cause for action.  But this **is** fiction, 
> and as you noted above, Snape's role in these stories is to provide 
> Harry with his Daily Dose of Misery.  I would do well to remember 
> that distinction when Snape pisses me off.
> 

Abusive? Depends on your definitions.
Horrendous? Uncalled for? Ineffective? Surely not.

IMO our Snapey knows exactly how far he can go before stepping
over the line into overkill. His insults and manipulation of student
behaviour seems to be nicely calculated to encourage the "I'll show
him!" response rather than the "rabbit frozen in the headlights"
reaction.

I rather approve of his 'you *can* do it, you *will* do it' attitude and 
when compared to such as Lockhart, who wants everybody to love 
him, Snape is a very effective teacher indeed. He lays it on the line
at  the beginning of his first lesson when in effect he says that the
students will do it his way and that no excuses will be accepted.
He reiterates his baseline before the OWLs exams - certain
standards are  expected, nay, essential, before a student will be
accepted on his NEWTS course. No exceptions. Very refreshing
compared to the current Real World ethic where all too often
academic standards seem to be negotiable or over-ridden.
Perhaps it is this that some readers find inexcusable.

It's no coincidence that Harry and Neville bear the brunt of his ire,
not only are they the two candidates for Prophecy glory, but they
are also the most frustratingly inept (from his point of view) students
in the class. Harry and Neville can't or won't even follow simple 
instructions that are written out for them. Everybody else does it 
better on most occasions, but these two - sheesh! 
Snape must be in dispair - here he is, having joined forces with the
Order so as to bring Voldy down, and the supposed saviours of the 
WW can't cope with a simple recipe or two. 

Of course, so far as Harry is concerned, he's not at fault. Snape 
hates him. That's it. That is the explanation for his poor Potions 
performance. Rubbish. It's *Harry's* attitude that is the problem. 
He views Snape as the Vernon Dursley of the WW - to be despised, 
mistrusted and out-manoeuvered if possible. This is a very dangerous
mind-set. The two cannot be compared except on a very superficial
level; unfortunately this seems to be the level that Harry operates on
for much of the time. Such thinking resulted in the death of Sirius.

Some may argue differently;  why doesn't Snape change? they ask.
Why should he need to? He was asked to teach Harry, he's aware of
what needs to be done, of how best to tackle the subject; Harry doesn't.
He knows that Harry needs to learn, he particularly knows that emotions
are counter-productive in mastering the skills that Harry has to absorb.
Indeed he tells Harry so, but he might as well be talking to a brick wall.
Even DD tells Harry that Voldy sees emotions as weaknesses to be 
exploited; that's why DD stayed clear of Harry in OoP and it's how 
Voldy finally got at Harry - his emotions in regard to Sirius.

"But Lupin did OK teaching Harry," you'll say. True, but maybe not
strictly comparable. Lupin was teaching Harry how to master aspects
of wand magic, Snape is in the business of teaching Harry to master
aspects of himself - and Harry can't do it - yet. Significantly, JKR said
recently that in the next book Harry has to master his own feelings 
to make himself useful. 

"Master his own feelings." About what? Snape, perhaps?

Kneasy