Harry's View of Snape Matters Re: Canon for the Snape being abusive

[quick_silver71]

No: HPFGUIDX 144260


> Christina:
> 
> The fact is, canon supports Snape acting in a way that YOU consider
> child abuse, and your opinion on that issue is perfectly valid;
> however, when you look at the wizarding world, canon *clearly* 
states
> that Snape is NOT a child abuser.  He is not considered one by the
> world he lives in, which is the canon world.  Before you argue 
that a
> society's view of a subject is not necessarily a correct one, I'd 
like
> to point out that nobody in the WW calls Snape abusive, even the
> people that we accept as the most forward of thinkers.  Harry says
> that he is unfair, a greasy git, annoying, biased, and mean, but 
never
> once does Harry say, "Somebody should put a stop to Snape's 
teaching
> because he is totally abusive."  Likewise with Hermione, who I 
would
> say has a much more progressive view of things like racism and
> violence than even Harry does.  Same with Dumbledore, who is the 
most
> progressive figure that we have probably met (and who is considered
> exceptionally free-thinking by most people).  Nobody expresses the
> idea that Snape is a child abuser but us.

I've been following this debate for a while and would like to add my 
opinion on something. I personally wouldn't describe Snape 
as "abusive" per se but that, to me, misses a fundamental argument 
about Snape. I part of me agrees with the people that say Snape 
won't be punished for his behavior in the classroom and if he was 
then it would be extremely petty. But another part of me thinks that 
Snape should be punished for his actions in the classroom because 
they are indicative of a larger problem (I'm going to expand on this 
side since the other opinion has been argued by other people).

Harry dislike of Snape did not spring out of nowhere and Snape's 
behavior in the classroom and as a teacher at Hogwarts certainly did 
nothing to improve Harry's view of him. Of course Harry had his own 
part in building up that relationship but so did Snape
whether or 
not his actions were meant to provoke Harry is really beside the 
point because as of HBP Harry hates Snape. People point to the "big" 
things that Snape has done for the side of the "Light," and it's 
true that Snape has done many things to help Harry, but the face 
that Harry sees far more often is Snape as the nasty, annoying, 
biased grit. Relationships between people are built as much on the 
little things as the big things and Snape certainly has made it 
difficult for Harry to "like" him or even "trust" him. 

As an example look at after Harry gets off the Hogwarts express in 
HBP
Snape mocks Harry and makes him walk into the Great Hall. I'll 
admit that Harry is the one that is far more out of control in that 
scene with his hate and such but Snape make a point of kicking Harry 
while he's down. One can't help but wonder if Snape is a total 
social idiot (which we know he's not) or if the man simply can't 
control himself around a Potter. Snape honestly seems to want Harry 
to hate him and then freaks out when Harry does hate him
does Snape 
have a passive-aggressive complex or something?

It's like the expression about the straw that breaks the camels back

Snape behavior in the classroom is a larger sign of his inability to 
control his emotions, his old grudges with student's parents, his 
slightly nasty side, etc. And I do think Snape may have to pay or 
pay more (since his killing of Dumbledore isn't really related to 
this issue
a suitable form of punishment is his exile and current 
hatred by most wizards) because that does seem to be one of his 
major flaws. Sirius certainly paid for his flaws (although I think 
people exaggerate the role Sirius's flaws played in his death), 
Lockhart seemed to be thrown on his sword, Lupin's flaws seem to 
have caused him certain problem (with more yet to come), and that 
doesn't even touch on Harry's (and James's) many flaws. 

Quick_Silver