In Defense of Snape (long)

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 122106


 
Naama: 
I have two objections to make here. One, on a plot leve. 
Second one,  on a "meta" level, regarding the methodology of 
interpretation.
 
My first point is - if Snape is nasty to Harry et al. in order to 
maintain his spy cover - why is he even nastier to Harry when 
they  are alone? 
 
Pippin:
Snape doesn't trust everyone that Harry trusts. Do you think 
Snape wanted Harry telling Quirrell that Snape treats him okay 
when they're alone?


Alla:

Pippin, why would Harry tell Quirrell how Snape treats him? 
Moreover, why would Snape THINK that Harry talks to Quirrell?

I agree with Naama. Snape hurt Harry plenty of times when they were 
alone - insulting James in Harry's face in PoA, making fun of 
Harry's terror when he wanted to tell Dumbledore about Barty Sr., 
etc.

Snape had NO witnesses to those interactions.
 
Naama:
Second point - which holds to most conspiracy theories, 
actually. If  you hold a theory that explains a character's behavior 
in terms of a  hidden agenda, you have to be very careful about 
consistency of  interpretation. For instance, taken one by one, 
which of Snape's  moments of nastiness do you interprete as 
necessitated by spy cover,  and which are authentic, expressing 
his true feelings and  personality?<
 
> Pippin:
>  Snape's  hidden agenda is revealed when we would expect 
> nasty behavior and don't get it; in OOP when he gives Umbridge 
> fake veritaserum (the Order's secrets are in little danger since 
> they are under fidelius), in GoF when he stands with the others 
> to honor Harry at the leaving feast,  in PoA when he conjures 
> stretchers for Harry and the others,  in CoS when he has a 
> "shrewd and calculating look" instead of the discomfiture you 
> would expect if his sole purpose in having Draco conjure the 
> snake was to humiliate Harry, and of course in PS/SS when we 
> find he has been shadowing Harry not to get him into trouble but 
> to protect him from Quirrell.

Alla:

In all of those instances he either had no choice or he had no 
possibility to exercise his sadism.
If he indeed faithful to Dumbledore, he can do nothing else, but to 
do that to Umbridge. If he wants to maintain Dumbledore's trust, he 
has NO CHOICE, but stand up and honor Harry.
If he knows that he will get nice bonus of handing Sirius and remus 
to Dementors and getting Order of Merlin, sure he wants Dumbledore 
to think that he tried to save the kids ( which I quite agree with 
Potioncat now was very last thought on his mind, IMO).
He did save Harry in PS/SS, yeah. He did what any teacher has to do 
when he sees his student in danger.



Pippin:

Snape has, by the conventions of Slytherin House, and of 
authoritarian societies generally, the privilege of insulting his 
inferiors. 

Alla:
Does any other Hogwarts teacher has such privilege in your opinion 
(please let's not talk about Umbridge, because she is not a teacher, 
she was sent by Ministry for very specific purposes) or it is given 
specifically to Snape, because he is so special? :o)

Needless to say I disagree.


Just my opinion,

Alla