Analysis of Snape Part 3

[AyanEva]

No: HPFGUIDX 122020


At the same time, one can extrapolate from the analysis of Stage Two
development and assume that Severus' mother's inability to protect
herself and her son and the unpredictability of the interpersonal
reactivity of Severus' father led Severus to fail in the completion of
Stage One, Trust versus Mistrust, during which a child must learn to
trust the caregiver.  The inability to learn trust ultimately
guaranteed the aforementioned failure at Stage Two, Autonomy versus
Shame and Doubt.

Stage Three of Erikson's developmental model is Initiative versus
Guilt.  In this stage, a child must be given a positive response to
challenges and his initiative should be encouraged.  If the child's
attempts are not encouraged, the child will feel guilty for
independent behavior and will cling to the caregiver.  At this point
in Severus Snape's case study, the failure to successfully complete
Stage Three is evidenced by his decision to model his father's
affinity for the Dark Arts, presumably in an attempt to please his
father and identify with him.  While it is not specifically stated in
the Harry Potter books that Snape's father was involved in the Dark
Arts, it is implied.  The Dark Arts are not common knowledge and are
regarded with suspicion.  Severus apparently knew more dark spells
than anyone in his year when beginning at Hogwarts School of
Witchcraft and Wizardry (Rowling, 1999) and excelled in Defense
Against the Dark Arts for this reason.  Severus was sorted into
Slytherin house; everyone in Slytherin had familial traditions steeped
in the Dark Arts and with the rise of the Dark Lord, usually became
Death Eaters (Rowling, 1997). For a short time, Severus was also a
Death Eater  (Rowling, 2000). Many of the students who were once, and
are currently, in Slytherin also come from dysfunctional families. 
While Severus excelled in the Dark Arts, it is doubtful that his
proficiency was due to any sense of initiative, rather his abilities
were due to a sense of guilt caused by his perceived failure to please
his father, which in turn resulted in a fruitless attachment due to
fear of independent behavior that may have been contrary to wishes of
his father.  Severus' inability to act independently according to his
own desires and wishes and his inability to appease his father led to
a sense of inferiority, causing him to fail to successfully complete
Stage Four, Industry versus Inferiority.  

In Stage Four, Industry versus Inferiority, the adolescent should
develop a work ethic without inferiority and parents and teachers
should encourage the growth and productivity of the child.  

AyanEva