Man the canons Re: Snape vs. Sirius (was: Snape's Stubbornness)

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 127351


Lynn:
I've been following this thread and I'm having trouble understanding 
the poor, poor, pitiful Snape or the bullied/victim Snape scenario.  
We are seeing Snape's memory in the Pensieve which is filtered 
through Snape's emotions and prejudices.  I have found with memories 
that there is my memory, their memory and what actually happened.  
Sirius answering quickly and Lupin's sideways glance spoke to me 
that there was other information that wasn't being shared at that 
time.  

Jen: 
How to interpret that scene hinges on a reader's perception of the 
Pensieve. I tend to see the Pensieve like you do Lynn, as a means to 
view personal, i.e., subjective memories, with all the attached 
emotions, misperceptions, etc., a character brings into experiences.

Others make a pretty good case for the Pensieve acting as an 
objective viewing of a memory, taking into account everyone present 
and reflecting the scene pretty much how it happened in real life.

Whether the memory is subjective or objective though, I do perceive 
some elements of bullying in that scene. Two-on-one, public 
humiliation....not exactly James' and Sirius' finest moment. *But*, 
and this is a big but, I don't for a minute believe the tables 
weren't turned on other occasions or that the one scene indicates a 
pattern of bullying on the part of James/Sirius. 

There was a reason they all hated each other so passionately, and I 
can't believe James' explanation for attacking Snape "because he 
exists" was the final word on the matter. That sounded more like an 
attempt to impress Lily and pander to the crowd than an explanation. 
What's he going to say? "Wah, Snape is mean to me all the time; just 
the other day he..." blah, blah blah. Better the nonchalant answer 
implying James has the power.


Lynn:
Also, if Snape was such a victim, wouldn't he have made sure he 
didn't sit so close to James? Again, I don't buy the deeply absorbed 
in the test paper explanation.

Jen:
This is another example why I can't believe there was a *pattern* of 
bullying on the part of James and Sirius. A victimized person is 
very sensitive to the routines and actions of an attacker. He 
wouldn't willingly go anywhere near the vicinity of James and 
Sirius, and in fact would be extremely careful to avoid them. In 
that moment, Snape is either truly unaware J & S are around, 
implying he's not overly sensitive to their prescence, or some part 
of him feels up to the challenge. 

> Bookworm:
> Doesn't this sound a bit like another young wizard we know?? 
> Tendency toward rescuing people, acting before thinking things 
> through...  Could it be they {Snape & Harry} are much more alike
> than either would like to think about?

Jen: I totally agree ;).