Snape and Harry again.

[huntergreen_3]

No: HPFGUIDX 113210

Carol wrote:
> Snape, however, uses *words* to ridicule students who perform poorly
> or otherwise annoy him. I don't think it causes them any real or
> lasting emotional pain.

Nora replied:
>>Snape was Neville's worst fear in PoA. Granted, Neville is tough and
he seems to have gotten past some of that...but that is telling. 
[snip]
lasting harm is not the only circumstance we should be
thinking about--intention on the part of the offender is a big one,
too. Does it excuse someone who intends to/wants to act viciously
just because they might be incompetent at it?<<

HunterGreen:
Do you think Snape intends to cause lasting harm though? We don't 
know what Snape's intentions are, but I don't think he puts that much 
thought into what he says. With Neville it seems likely that his lack 
of success frustrates and annoys Snape, which is why he's so mean to 
him (it could be that Snape, being very bright and naturally good at 
potions, has trouble empathizing with someone who has trouble 
learning). Maybe, more of a lack of patience than sadism. (in the 
case of Harry, though, I'd say that he does indeed intend to cause 
Harry discomfort, but I don't think that he believes he's doing Harry 
any lasting harm).
As for Neville having Snape as his biggest fear, that might not be 
completely Snape's fault. Neville started school *already* weak and 
having low self-esteem (just look at the way his grandmother treats 
him), so he was more senstive to Snape than he would have been 
otherwise. Sure, Snape is quite cruel to him, but he's not 
responsible for Neville's problems.

Carol:
> I honestly believe that his singling out Harry isn't sadistic,
> though of course his reference to "our new celebrity" is sarcastic
> (caustic, ironic, and intended as ridicule). But I believe that
> there's a valuable lesson being inculcated here. Harry *doesn't*
> know anything about the WW at this point. He didn't *earn* his
> celebrity status. It's not through any skill or talent of his own
> that he's the Boy Who Lived. And Snape wants not only Harry but
> everyone in the class to know that. [snip]

Nora:
>>There's a phrase that comes to mind, here: "When you assume, you 
make an ass out of you and me". Trite--but I think it applies well to
Snape in this situation. He may well think that he is doing Harry
and everyone else such a big favor by this immediate cutting down of
any possible pretension, but what he's also doing is sabotaging the
chance of normal relations from the beginning, and all on an impulse
where he (I think) has incomplete information.<<

HunterGreen:
The relationship between Snape and Harry was already doomed anyway. 
Snape would always see James when he looked at Harry, and even if he 
treated Harry like an average student, he still wouldn't be being 
*nice* to him. Snape, also, would still be favoring Slytherins and 
Harry's enemy Malfoy, so a rift would have eventually grown between 
the two of them. Perhaps it wouldn't be as strong, but they weren't 
ever going to be best friends either.

<snip>

> No, I don't credit Snape with altruism in publicly exposing Harry's
> ignorance, but I do think he has a reason for what he's doing and
> believes it's a good one. (He also, no doubt, enjoys doing it.)

The enjoyment really is the kicker on the mild sadism, as seen
above. I think there's something a little, ummm, wrong with someone
who gets their kicks out of the exercise of superior power over their
inferiors. No, Snape doesn't behave that way towards his other
colleagues (with the possible exception of some of the behavior
towards Lupin), because he's not in power over them. But he freaks
out when anyone in an inferior position makes any sort of challenge.
This is canonical. :)

Ah, Snape. Such a good illustration of the Ordinary Vices. Capable
of doing good without being a good person. More information, we
await you eagerly.

-Nora notes that a friend of hers still has that book, alas