Analysis of Snape Part 4

[AyanEva]

No: HPFGUIDX 122021


If the child is unable to move freely between his home environment and
his peers, he will develop a sense of Inferiority in place of
Industry.  Severus, as previously stated, entered this stage with a
feeling of inferiority.  Around this time, he also began attending
Hogwarts.  

When entering a new environment, it is imperative that an individual
come from a previously stable and supportive environment and have the
ability to trust others in order to form a stable social environment.
 Unfortunately, Severus was introverted, mistrustful, lacking in
self-confidence, determined to gain his father's affections, isolated,
and came from a volatile home environment, "a greasy-haired teenager
sat alone in a dark bedroom, pointing his want at the ceiling,
shooting down flies
" (Rowling, 2003).  Due to his initial state upon
immersion in a new environment, Severus failed to make any friends,
gain the support of teachers (he certainly did not have the support of
his parents), and had no place at school or at home, particularly
since he was sorted into the most reviled house in the entire school.
 In fact, his academic environment was, in many instances, more
difficult to accept than his home environment.  Following the initial
memory of Snape's parents fighting, the reader is invited to ponder
the following images, "A girl was laughing as a scrawny boy tried to
mount a bucking broomstick
(Rowling, 2003).  Severus' difficulties at
school including a number of humiliating experiences in which he was
mercilessly picked on by his fellow classmates and rival Gryffindor
house members (Rowling, 2003).  As a result of his social
shortcomings, Severus failed to gain a sense of Industry and instead
reinforced his self-image of Inferiority.  

Due to Severus' lack of interpersonal relationships, his low
self-esteem, troubled family life, and failure to achieve any sense of
Industry, he also failed to complete Stage Five of Erikson's
personality model, Identity versus Identity Confusion.  During Stage
Five, a young adult should develop a sense of self.  He must have role
models with whom he can communicate freely and the freedom to make his
own decisions.  Obviously, Severus had no one with whom he could
associate and no role models.  He was never truly allowed to make his
own decisions as he was controlled by his desire to earn his father's
(and mother's) affection.  The adult responsibilities that tend to
accompany Stage Five were avoided when Severus joined the Death
Eaters.  The Death Eaters' actions were entirely controlled by Lord
Voldemort.  Lord Voldemort seems to have embodied the idea a father
figure to Snape in a rather twisted sense.  The Dark Lord paid
attention to young Severus and could be pleased with some degree of
difficulty. 

AyanEva