[HPforGrownups] Re: Snape's plant imagery

[L Sanford]

No: HPFGUIDX 124379


Carol:
> That image caught my eye, too, and it seemed to suggest neglect on
> the part of the adults in young Severus's life--his parents, his
> head of house, maybe even Dumbledore. I think the boy Severus had
> enormous potential,...edit... but that's what the image of the
> pallid, neglected plant suggests to me, and I find it very sad.
> 
> But the absence of light may also, as you suggest, indicate that he
> was raised to believe in the values of the Dark side,....

Molley:

I definitely believe that Snape's youth was filled with darkness.
I also believe that *any* living thing (plant, animal or person) will
languish over time in such an environment, regardless of whatever innate
gifts or personality that individual was born with. It is also true though
that if such an individual is brought out of the dark environment, the
damage done will begin to reverse  over time. Snape will never be a warm or
fuzzy kind of guy, but he has made progress since his DE days  As stated
elsewhere,(Lexicon perhaps) he's had 15 years away from his primary
tormenters the Mauraders.  Who knows, perhaps in HBP in the aftermath of
seeing from Harry's *worst memories* that they actually have some common
ground and that Harry is in fact NOT the arrogant, swaggering, brat-faced
little boy he has always believed him to be, Ole Severus may be in for a
little internal growth spurt so to speak.

As far as the plant imagery, the twisted side of me kind of see's Snape as
a kind of "Charlie Brown's Christmas tree".  As Linus says, "I never thought
it was such a bad little tree, *wrapping his blankie around the base*.  All
it needs is a little love". (Of course, Snape's Christmas tree would
probably spit needles at anyone trying to move it as opposed to the needles
just falling off.  **Sigh**  Oh well, I guess Rome wasn't built in a day . .
. )