Snape: the Riddle

[kneazlecat54]

No: HPFGUIDX 136062

Signue makes 2 excellent points I'd like to comment on.  

> Sigune wrote:
> As for Narcissa, I have tried to show that the charm she works on 
> Snape is not that of sex, really, but the fact that she appeals to 
> his vanity and works on his weaknesses. Snape is a half-blood who 
> seems to have consistently sought the company of pure-bloods, a 
> commoner who likes to think of himself as a Prince, a wizard who 
> doesn't receive the recognition he craves. Narcissa touches upon 
> all that.

and...

> Sigune again:
> I must be missing something here, but I really can't see what 
> Snape stands to gain by Dumbledore's death. Voldemort's death, that 
> I can understand. But by killing Dumbledore, Snape has lost *all*: 
> his mentor, his protector, his safehouse, his job, his income - you 
> name it. Cut in his own flesh, he has. He wouldn't have done it if 
> he felt he had another choice.


Sigune gets to the essence of Snape, I think-his pride is the core 
of him.  From the minute Harry walks into his classroom, SS is 
intent on showing him that Snape is the boss, Snape is the powerful 
one.  Even though it should be beyond argument that an 11 year old 
child who has been raised by Muggles isn't competition to him, Snape 
constantly challenges Harry just to humiliate him.  Anyone who sucks 
up to him gets on his good side, and no Gryffindor is willing to do 
that.  The way Snape keeps old grudges alive for himself is another 
example of his egomania-if he feels that someone's gotten the better 
of him, he can't let go of it.  He's still trying to get even with 
James, and his rage at not being able to get revenge on a dead man 
leads him to abuse Harry.  The shot Snape takes at Tonks is another 
example-it's just gratuitously mean, and for what?  

I think of Snape as a double agent who's been caught in his own 
trap.  I don't believe that he's particularly loyal to either side.  
He just likes the power of being able to manipulate people who are 
ostensibly more powerful than he is-another enactment of his 
egomania.  He makes me think of someone out of John LeCarre or 
Graham Greene, who has played the game so long that he's forgotten 
why he started doing it in the first place and now keeps it up 
because he has nothing to live for outside the game. 

I don't think he particularly wants LV to win.  In fact, if either 
side wins, he loses, because his goal is to play one side off 
against the other for his own aggrandizement.  So yes, now he's 
tilted the balance way too far to one side.  It'll be interesting to 
see if he can restore some equilibrium, since he's now a murderer 
and caster of an Unforgiveable Curse who's on the run.  Somewhere, 
Sirius is laughing.  

Laura (Kneazlecat54)