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

[vmonte]

No: HPFGUIDX 97411

Kneasy wrote:
"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.


vmonte responds:
It's funny that you mention JKR's quote because I think it really 
relates to Snape as well. Because I also believe that Snape is a 
person who is not able to master his feelings, and that he is often 
not useful to the Order because of them.  I realize that Harry is a 
goof-off in school, and that he needs to master himself in order to 
be effective in the next two books.  Unfortunately, I believe that 
Snape is incapable of mastering himself.  Too bad, because he has a 
brilliant mind -- I love his biting wit! 

I think that we learned a lot more about "Snape the person," during 
the penseive scene. I think that Snape lives and wallows in the past. 
Snape is right to tell Harry that Voldemort knows peoples weaknesses. 
Voldemort knows the people who wear their hearts on their sleeves.  
Look at the quality of people Voldemort surrounds himself with.  They 
are either emotionally unstable or quite mad, cowards, or incredibly 
dim witted.  True leaders surround themselves with the best kinds of 
people.  I also think that most of JKR's characters have been showing 
emotional growth, all except for Snape (and perhaps Percy).  

I believe that in the next book, the children will be forced, due to 
circumstances, to grow up and master themselves.  I think that this 
is when they will start to see Snape for the person he is.