Narcissistic!Snape (was: Whither Snape?) [long!]

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 127296


SSSusan previously: 
>>>Think also of Snape's comment to DD:  "Surely you remember that 
he tried to kill *ME*?"  Again, the possible implication that he 
craves validation, craves being considered important.<<<

Magda:
> >Or simply craves being alive.<<
 
Betsy:
> Hee! Thank you!  I've been long confused as to why folks think 
> Snape is making a mountain out of a mole-hill regarding the 
> Prank.  He. Nearly. DIED.  That's huge. 


SSSusan:
FWIW, since you included a snip of my post before responding with 
this comment, I would like to remark that the issue of whether Snape 
should or shouldn't be angry about the prank wasn't a part of 
anything I was arguing.  (Yup, I'd have been angry, too.)  

I was pointing out that I believe Snape is a good fit for the 
*clinical* definition of a narcissistic personality, as opposed to 
the more colloquial use of the term.  I believe Snape's emphasis 
on "me" in that sentence could be indicative of his desire to have 
DD validate his (Snape's) importance.  It *could* be just a 
straightforward accusation that Sirius attempted murder, but the 
emphasis on "me" makes it intriguing... and one *possible* 
explanation for the emphasis could be that it is instructive of how 
Snape thinks about things, himself in particular.


Betsy: 
> Snape isn't all that complicated.  The man is pissed. 

SSSusan:
This is definitely one possibility.  OTOH, what Mara & I have each 
presented on the possibility of narcissistic!Snape also fits 
nicely.  

In fact, while narcissistic!Snape may seem to be saying he's more 
complex than pissed, I like it precisely because in some ways it IS 
very simple -- it explains so *much* all in one package.  His 
getting along w/ DD (who is empathetic and validates him), his 
unwillingness to change even though Harry is important and NEEDS to 
learn, his outrage over the lost Order of Merlin, his hateful 
treatment of Harry from the *start,* his nastiness to Hermione, and 
on and on.  In some ways, this label makes things *simpler* -- it 
certainly makes Snape more understandable in my eyes, anyway.

Siriusly Snapey Susan