Cataloging Snape's Behavior, Pt. II CoS (very long)

[nkafkafi]

No: HPFGUIDX 115237


> Sophierom wrote:
> 
> So, this is part II in my series on Snape as seen in canon (subtitled:
> how to waste an enormous amount of time!).  Part I, if you're
> interested, can be found at Message 114856
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/114856
> <big snips >

Neri:
CoS is a good book for understanding Snape as a character because this
is the only book in which he does NOT play an active role in the main
plot. In SS/PS and GoF he is a suspect, so he has to look suspicious.
In PoA and OotP he his actions drive the plot, so he needs motives for
these actions. But in CoS what we see of Snape is pure characterization.
  
Sophierom :
>  Snape leads them "away from the warmth and light" of the
> Great Hall
> and into the "cold passageway" that leads to the dungeons. 
> Harry
> shivers when he enters Snape's office, and the room is full of
> "revolting things that Harry didn't really want to know the
> name of at
> the moment."  The fireplace "was dark and empty."
> 

Neri:
Why does Snape prefer the cold dungeon so much that he made it his
office? It might be due to a mechanistic reason (like "Snape is a
vampire") but I tend to think it is a metaphor. IMHO JKR tells us that
Snape is a cold person. Unnaturally cold, actually, so much so that
there is something suspicious about his humanity.

While I've never believed the vampire theory, even before Hurricane Jo
sent it to the bottom of TBAY, I think Pippin has some point: there is
indeed something not entirely human in Snape. Not that I think his
parents weren't humans. This would be biological determinism very
uncharacteristic of JKR. The problem is likely not in Snape's blood
but in his soul, and it is probably something he had done to himself
in order to gain protection from Voldy, or something that Voldy did to
him as a part of some terrible experiment. I smell Dark Art at work here.

I mean, look at the other baddies in HP: even Uncle Vernon at least
loves his wife and son. Dudley and Draco have friends. Filch has Mrs
Norris. Lucius has a family and Bella has a husband. Even Voldy (whom
JKR assures us has loved nobody) keeps a pet female snake. But Snape
is utterly alone as far as we know, and he shows warmth to nobody.
   
> Sophierom: Whether
> or not
> Snape and Dumbledore are playing "good cop-bad cop," I
> can't say for
> certain.  But, based on what we know of Snape and his hatred for James
> Potter, I happen to think that Snape sincerely would like Harry gone.
>  Still, I doubt he sees this as realistic, knowing as he does that
> Dumbledore wants to keep him safe from LV.
> 
> <snip>
> In this scene, it seems to me that Snape is quite aware that Harry is
> not behind Mrs. Norris's state, but he's willing to use the
> situation
> to punish Harry and help his Slytherin team nonetheless.  Again,
> I'm
> not sure if he really expects to get away with such blatant unfairness
> in the presence of Dumbledore and McGonagall. It seems almost like
> it's something he knows he has to try, even if it won't work.
>  And in
> some ways, it seems like a little show the three of them put on –
> rather like the scene in Snape's office when Ron and Harry have
> just
> landed the car into the Whomping Willow.  Snape is the "bad
> cop" and
> both Dumbledore and McGongall play some version of the "good
> cop."

Neri:
I think most of us agree that there is some element of act in Snape's
behavior. I think most of us also agree that there is at least some
element of sincere hatred in it. So the question is, what percent is
an act and what percent is true emotion.

I can well see why Secret Agent Snape has to maintain his cover by
favoring the Slytherins in class, but I never understood why would DD
and Snape play good cup/bad cup with Harry when they are alone with
him. They don't have to tell him it's all a cover, but why does Snape
has to play his "role" so realistically when he has only Harry (and
Ron or Hermione) for a crowd? What would it achieve? Even if you
believe in MAGIC DISHWASHER (which I personally don't) do you think DD
and Snape has been preparing for the Shrieking Shack scene for three
years in advance?  

> Sophierom: 
> A nice description of a "usual" potions class: "Potions
> lessons took
> place in one of the large dungeons. <snip> 
> When Snape
> turned and walked off to bully Neville, Hermione caught Harry's
> eye
> and nodded."
> <snip>
> Noteworthy here is JKR's use of the word "bullying" in
> relation to
> Snape's treatment of Neville in potions class.
> 
>`A bad idea, Professor
> Lockhart,' said
> Snape, gliding over like a large and malevolent bat. `Longbottom
> causes devastation with the simplest spells.  We'll be sending
> what's
> left of Finch-Fletchley up to the hospital wing in a matchbox.'
> Neville's round, pink face went pinker.'"  <snip>

Thanks, Sophyrom. I couldn't remember any cases of Snape tormenting
Neville in CoS. As I said before I think these specific two cases are
important because, unlike SS/PS and PoA, there's nothing in the plot
of CoS that requires them. This is pure characterization. Since child
abuse is an important theme of HP, and we know Snape himself was an
abused child and teenager, I think JKR is definitely trying to say
something here.

Neri