Why do we call Snape "greasy git' etc

[juli17 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 144537

 

Valky:
I tend to see Snivellus as more likely to make it *harder*  for Harry
to forgive Snape than easier. When the origin of the name Snivellus  is
revealed it will not vindicate Snape as the completely innocent
victim,  I am sure. Harry will recognise "Snivellus" as well, because
he will look  exactly like the man who advocated for Harry's expulsion
in second year, and  wore many disctinct faces nice pleasant and polite
ones for those who would  benefit him and a sneer for anything else
held to be beneath him. In all I  don't think Jo is setting Snape up to
become entirely pathetic in Harry's  eyes and especially not by
revealing the source of the name Snivellus. I feel  confident to
guarantee that it won't be so easy to pity Snivellus and Harry  will
hate and does already hate him as much as his father and Sirius  did.
Mark my words. <g>




Julie:
I'd like to suggest one more possible meaning for the label  "Snivellus."
My Roget's Thesaurus gives several synomyms for "snivel,"  including 
"weep" (the common one), "be hypocritical" (hmm...), "be  sanctimonious"
(Bingo!). In fact, "sniveller" is matched with the third synonym in  my
thesaurus. 
 
Like many English words, the definition of "snivel" is pretty fluid,
depending on the who, what, where and why of the user. And the
choice of an appropriately egregious nickname for Snape is also
limited by his name, Severus. It has to be a word that fairly closely
approximates the sound of his name, even if the meaning isn't as
exact as another word might be.
 
Now, we know that Snape had a reputation for sticking his nose in
the Marauders' business, hoping to catch them up to some mischief.
In a school situation, at least in my experience, no student is more
disliked than the tattletale/snitch. And that seems to be exactly the
role Snape took on in relation to the Marauders. Severus Snape, the
Sanctimonious Snitch. Ergo, Snivellus. 
 
I don't know if all students saw him this way, or only the Marauders,
nor how often Snape might have snitched on them (and watched 
happily as they were punished). But it doesn't matter, because his
habit of skulking around the Marauders hoping to get them in trouble
is more than enough motivation for Sirius or James to dream up the
Snivellus moniker. It's close enough to make the point. 

As for how this will go down with Harry, well, he already knows this, 
doesn't he? Sirius told him how Snape followed the Marauders around, 
trying to get them in trouble. I don't think Harry saw Snape as  innocent
even as a teenager. What hurt was that Harry saw his adored  father was
no *better* than Snape as a teenager. So I suspect the whole  Snivellus
thing will have no impact whatsoever (even if we actually do learn  more
about the origin of the nickname, which I'm not sure is likely).
 
Julie 
 


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