The Key to Snape? Response to Valky

[vmonte]

No: HPFGUIDX 139189

Valky wrote:
This process of elimination puts Snapes Worst Memory clearly in Lily's
court. By elimination having her come to his rescue and insulting her
were the most unusual things in the memory.

OKay I am back on that darn ship again...

Valky leaps off the plank and swims safely to shore.

vmonte:
There are a few things that stick out to me in Snape's memory but I
do think that Snape's interaction with Lily is important. JKR makes a 
point of showing all the hormones that were flying during HBP. 
Snape's reaction to Lily could very well be in the same dynamic
of Ron and Hermione's nastiness to each other--due to frustration. I
don't think that Lily and Snape ever dated, but I do think that Snape
secretly wanted her. Snape really reminds me of Merope in a way.
Snape's hygiene issues, like Merope's, are a sign of neglect and/or
abuse. And Merope, like Snape's mother, were both abused women.

Children that come from this kind of environment often feel helpless.
They want to save their mother, but they cannot. To say the least,
Snape may not have a healthy perspective on relationships because of
this. I could see him thinking that Lily was too good for James.

It must mean something that Snape never talks about the woman! She is
his weakness--the thing he cannot emotionally control in himself.
This is the weakness that Voldemort used to his advantage.

Notice how Tom Riddle first listened to all of Ginny's secrets,
pretending to have a sympathetic ear. Voldemort is a manipulator.
I cannot completely see Snape as a victim though. I do not think that
his attraction to Lily was a healthy thing. It was probably darker,
delusional and obsessive.

Slughorn talks about obsessive love in the chapter HBP. I think this
is important somehow. My feeling is that Dumbledore knew that Snape
had strong feelings for Lily, and that is why Dumbledore believed
Snape.

JKR, like Lily, is a very popular woman. Celebrities are often the
victims of obsessive "fans" themselves. And we've seen what some of
these fans are capable of doing.

Snape may have seen himself as Lily's "Prince" - that is until James
came into the picture.

Vivian

Who is still struggling with the idea that this is what is motivating
Snape. I smiled when Harry became shocked (during HBP) at the depths
that girls go to torture men. I'm reminded that once again that men
really do seem to be ruled by their............heart. :)