Snape--Abusive?

[sophierom]

No: HPFGUIDX 114727


    
Alex wrote:
<snip>   
Emotional abuse is a nebulous category. We can easilly say that
Umbridge is abusive because her punishment causes Harry (and some
other kid...was is Lee Jordan?) physical injury, and it's no longer
considered appropriate to use corporal punishment at school, and
corporal punishment that leaves marks is generally considered not
quite on in the home enviornment, either. 
<major snip...sorry>
Snape's motivation, we know nothing about. We can debate (and have
been doing) the possible motivations for his behavior. But we can't
know. His actual motivations are a black box. If he's behaving the
way he does toward Harry because he *actively wants to cause lasting
harm*, then I'd say, absolutely, yes, he's abusive. But most of the
other motivations that have been suggested are, at worst, ambiguous in
terms of determining whether his behavior is abusive or not. If he's
just being an as**ole without considering the impact his behavior
might have, then *maybe* I could see calling him abusive. Ditto if
he's so totally unable to control his temper that he can't stop
himself acting the way he does (though I think Snape would do *much*
worse things if he were truely out of control). If he's doing the
best he knows how (perhaps using the pedagogical methods that were in
use when he was in school or that he was exposed to at home), then I'd
say no, not abusive. Same if he has for some reason decided that
sarcasm and humiliation are the best ways to get through to Potter.

> KMC:
> > Snape is venting frustration with 
> > Neville not abuse. 
> 
> 
> Alla:
> 
> If the result of his "venting frustration" is that said student is 
> scared of the said teacher more than anything , in my book it is 
> abuse.

Sophierom:

This thread has made me want to ask JKR: do you see any difference
between Umbridge's abuse and Snape's bullying/abuse/harsh teaching
methods (since we all disagree about what exactly to call Snape's
behavior)? How about the Dursleys' abuse and Snape's? Of 
course, I can't ask Rowling, so I'll ask all of you instead. 

Obviously Umbridge is physically abusive with that evil quill, the
Dursleys are emotionally/verbally abusive, and Snape is potentially
verbally/emotionally abusive (I agree with those who argue that he is
at times abusive)...but is Umbridge's behavior worse than Snape's?
Because I admit to having a much stronger emotional reaction to
Umbridge than Snape.  Same with the Dursleys.  This could  be, simply,
because Snape has a few redeeming qualities (mainly, 
he's saved Harry's life and Dumbledore says he trusts him). 

So, I guess I'm asking about motivation, which Alex brought up in the
original post. Let's say, for the sake of argument, that we believed
that Snape does have slightly more noble  motives than Umbridge (who
seems to wield crulety for the sake of
being cruel) and the Dursleys (who seem to act out of fear and
ignorance) ...does that make Snape's behavior okay? Do the ends
justify the means? 

Sorry, lots of questions, no real answers because I, myself, am torn
between wanting to forgive Snape (so long as he is working for the
good of the Order, which I believe he is) and wanting to beat him over
the head (which I just realized is not a very mature response to
abuse, sorry).  Just seeing if anyone is interested because I 
think this thread is fascinating, and I was particularly fascinated
by Alex's comparison to Umbridge.