Snape in the Shrieking Shack (was re:time-turning)

[Alex Boyd]

No: HPFGUIDX 112979

 
 Alshain  wrote:

> I find Snape's self-respect quite intriguing. On the one hand he has 
> very high opinions of himself and his worth and takes himself far too 
> seriously (or he might have made fun about Neville's Boggart instead 
> of becoming angry); on the other hand the bullying MWPP subjected him 
> to must have hurt his self-confidence badly.


I don't see these two things in conflict at all.  Dumbledore (for
example) would almost certainly have been able to laugh off the
Boggart Incident--because he *isn't* a quivering mass of self-loathing
and anxiety like Snape is.  Being able to laugh at oneself *can* be a
trait of a weak-willed person colluding with his/her oppressors, but
more usually a person who can laugh at him/herself is confident and
secure in his/her identity.  Someone who works with teenagers really
*ought* to be able to take a certain amount of mockery--it's par for
the course (have I mentioned that I'm a teacher?)--but Snape is far
too insecure to do so.

Alex