In Defense of Snape (Against Snape in JKR's words)

[Tonks]

No: HPFGUIDX 122062


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "vmonte" <vmonte at y...> wrote:
> 
> What about Snape?
> JKR: Snape is a very sadistic teacher,(snip)However, everyone 
should keep their eye on Snape, I'll just say that because  there is 
more to him than meets the eye and you will find out part of what I 
am talking about if you read Book 4. [WBUR-99] 
(snip)> 

Tonks:
I can't remember what she is talking about in book 4. What did we 
see in book 4 that fits here?

--------
> JKR: Yeees. You shouldn't think he's too nice, let me just say 
that.
> JKR: He's worth keeping and eye on, definitely  [RAH-03] 
(snip)> 
> Alan Rickman: Well he's Professor of Potions and the current head 
of Slytherin House at Hogwarts - the school of wizardry that Harry 
> attends, but he harbours a secret ambition to be a Professor of 
the  Dark Arts. He isn't that taken with Harry though, probably 
because he  finds him a little too popular for a first year pupil I 
suppose. I  think at heart Snape is basically quite an insecure 
person, he's always longing to be something else that people will 
really respect  like a black magician not just a school master. 
>

Tonks:
Hum... well vmonte you are right, Rickman would know. So Snape would 
like to be famious as a powerful Dark Wizard...  you are right this 
is not good.
-----------
 
Alla:
> I am trying to pick the strongest reason for my partial (although
> very strong one) dislike of Snape personality and the fact that
> Snape enjoys causing other human beings emotional pain comes back
> over and over again.
(snip)>

Tonks:
This part of his personality is the internalized *bad parent* that I 
mentioned in a previous post. Now I have heard that in treating 
persons with MPD (multiple personality disorder) that when the 
therapist get to that part of the client's subconscious sometimes 
the *evil part* comes out and kills the therapist. I don't think 
that Snape has MPD. He does have this very nasty hurtful side which 
is that part of his (father?)that he has internalized as a young 
child. It is a complicated thing to explain, just understand that he 
has very little control over this aspect of his personality. 
--------

> JKR: <sighs> That is an excellent question and the reason is that, 
I have to be careful what I say here, the reason is that to answer 
it fully would give and awful lot away about the remaining two books 
but  when Professor Dumbledore took Professor Snape on to the staff 
and Professor Snape said I'd like to teach defense against the darks 
arts please and Professor Dumbledore felt that that might bring out 
the worst in Professor Snape.
(snip)
> vmonte responds:
> There is no way I would let a professor with sadistic tendencies 
> teach a DADA class. Would you hire an alcoholic as a bartender?
(snip)
> vmonte:
> I'm not sure he hates Harry either. Maybe it's more like fear. 


Tonks:

OK, so I like to find some good in everyone. Heck, I am one who 
thinks there might be hope for LV, for gods sakes!!!  So I'd have to 
say that you make a good case for Snape having some tendences that 
JKR has not show us yet. He is tempted to be famious, and in the 
Dark Arts. That must be why DD doesn't let him teach DADA. Well I 
will just wait and see. Of course, if I were his therapist I guess 
he would end up killing me, huh??  Alright I will keep my eye on 
him... (with hope in my heart)

Tonks_op