[HPforGrownups] Re: Conspiracies and re-assessments

[Magda Grantwich]

No: HPFGUIDX 112371

> I agree!  Lily was coming to defend Snape!  How this could be
> "under duress" I don't understand.  The only think I can think is 
> because Snape was 
> embarrassed, he called her "mudblood" to try to divert the
> attention to someone else, and show himself as a "tough guy", but
> that in NO way excuses his attitude towards Lily!
> 
> Chancie


I think what Snape picked up on was the same thing that has struck
most readers: Lily wasn't defending Snape as much as she was raking
James over the coals because he was acting like a jerk.  Notice that
she doesn't even mention Sirius?  The only person she pays attention
to was James - any girl who can reel off the detailed criticisms she
has of him is not a girl who is indifferent to a guy.  And of course
James misses it by a mile - typical guy.

Snape's dignity was already smarting sorely by this point and the
last thing he wants is some Gryffindor muggleborn girl charging in to
rescue him, especially when it's obvious that she doesn't care about
him at all but just about how James is not acting like he should. 
Snape doesn't want to be rescued; he wants to win this fight.  So as
soon as he can he shoots the mudblood comment at James to get him
riled up - and it works.  Dumb kid.

(Sidenote: it amazes me that people see this seen as "proof" of Snape
having a crush on Lily or of some mythical Snape/Lily ship.  They are
totally indifferent to each other.)

Snape was way out of line using the "m" word and it's clear that he
knew what it meant and had no problem - at the time - using it to
hurt.  Fortunately for James, as it gave James some retroactive
nobility for continuing the fight.  He wasn't just being a berk
anymore, now he was defending Lily's honour (or something).  

Snape shouldn't have had to be some perfect saint-like kid before we
sympathize with his predicament.  He didn't become more likeable
because he was picked on; Harry certainly doesn't LIKE him any more
but he does EMPATHIZE with him.  He knows what its like to feel that
way and he condemns his father and Sirius without hesitation, both
then and later.  

I think some people think that to empathize with teen!Snape is
somehow to excuse his actions or his comment about Lily.  Not at all.
 If Harry hadn't empathized with Snape, it would have indicated a
moral deficiency in HARRY, not in Snape.  

On other forum I subscribe to someone asked a brilliant question:
does our knowledge of what Voldemort is prevent us from condemning
the actions of Tom Riddle Sr. when he abandoned his pregnant wife
because she was a witch and condemned his newborn son to live in an
orphanage?  After all, Tom Riddle Jr. grew up to be Voldemort so what
does it matter what his father did?  

I think it does matter.  

Magda




		
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