Harry self-effacing? (Was: Potter and Peanuts)

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 127047


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "horridporrid03" 
<horridporrid03 at y...> wrote:

Betsy:

<snip>

> Harry is also no Charlie Brown.  Where Charlie Brown is dripping with 
> self-doubt and lacks any self-esteem, Harry is pretty confident in 
> himself and doesn't take attacks lying down.  Actually, I think if 
> Harry had been a bit more self-effacing when he and Snape first meet 
> in Potions class in PS/SS, their relationship might have gotten off 
> to a much better start.

Geoff:
More self-effacing?

What's the guy supposed to do? Lie on the floor and let Snape wipe his 
feet on him?

Look at canon. What does Harry say to Snape in their first Potions 
class?

'"I don't know, sir," said Harry......

.."I don't know, sir."......

"I don't know," said Harry quietly. "I think Hermione does, though, why 
don't you try her?"....'

(PS "The Potions Master" pp.102-03 UK edition)

That's hardly jumping up and down and saying "Look at me. Look at me. 
I'm the Boy Who Lived."

What were Snape's responses to each of these answers respectively?

'"Tut, tut - fame clearly isn't everything.".....

..."Thought you wouldn't open a book before coming, eh, Potter?"...

..."And a point will be taken from Gryffindor house for your cheek, 
Potter."'

(ibid.)

OK, Harry's third comment might have been interpreted as being fresh 
but I see it as him trying to get Snape off his back. Here he is, in a 
new school, first lesson in this subject and he is the target of 
unwarranted hostility, humiliation and sarcasm. Snape is also playing 
to the Slytherin gallery by the look of things.

I remember my first week at grammar school when I was 11. We had a 
Woodwork teacher just like Snape and we were terrified to breathe in 
case he picked on us. None of us could do anything right.....