Favorite Snape Scenes - He's such a lovely professor, no really.

[vmonte]

No: HPFGUIDX 122208


>vmonte:
>Professor Snape was forcing them to research antidotes. They took
this one seriously, as he had hinted that he might be poisoning one
of them before Christmas to see if their antidote worked.<

>Betsy wrote:
Perfect example of Snape being a good teacher. Nothing like a little
motivation to get the students working! <eg> And an example of Snape
not being evil -- no one was actually poisoned.

vmonte responds: Huh? 

>vmonte:
<snip>
>Malfoy got Hermione!" Ron said. "Look!"
>He forced Hermione to show Snape her teeth—she was doing her best to
hide them with her hands, though this was difficult as they had now
grown down past her collar. Pansy Parkinson and the other Slytherin
girls were doubled up with silent giggles, pointing at Hermione from
behind Snape's back.

>Betsy wrote:
Proof that Snape is not a nice man and that he does favor his House.
Something I stated in my very first post.

vmonte responds:
Is this a sign of Snape being a good teacher and motivator? Or is 
this just a small excusable quirk he has. Poor Snape, lets give him a 
break kind of thing...

>>vmonte:
>The more Snape treats these kids like garbage the less respect they
are going to have for him. I admit though that the children are
learning a great lesson here, although not about potions.<

>Betsy:
I think Snape would agree with the "it's better to be feared than
loved," philosophy of life. I'm not saying Snape is right but I
don't see how this makes Snape evil.

vmonte responds: Cruelty is evil.

>vmonte: Even the bad guy knows...
<snip of Crouch!Moody interaction with Snape>

>Betsy:
I'm not sure what your point is here. Are you trying to say that
Crouch, Jr. (who had a hand in crucioing Neville's parents into
insanity) is a better man than Snape? Or are you pointing to this
part when Crouch!Moody says:

"Meaning that Dumbledore's very interested to know who's got it in
for that boy!" said Moody, limping nearer still to the foot of the
stairs. "And so am I, Snape... very interested..."

Because, as we later learn, it is actually Crouch!Moody himself who
has it in for Harry, not Snape at all.

vmonte responds:
Nope, I did not say that. What I'm saying is simply that it takes one 
to know one. 

>Betsy: Or this part here?:

"I merely thought," said Snape, in a voice of forced calm, "that if
Potter was wandering around after hours again ...it's an unfortunate
habit of his ...he should be stopped. For—for his own safety."
"Ah, I see," said Moody softly. "Got Potter's best interests at
heart, have you?"
There was a pause. Snape and Moody were still staring at each other,
[...]
"I think I will go back to bed," Snape said curtly.
"Best idea you've had all night," said Moody.

>Because, Snape actually does have Harry's safety at heart (something
Crouch!Moody certainly does not). Though I do think that Snape does
enjoy catching Harry out. It confirms all of Snape's worst
expectations of Harry. I have never argued that Snape has warm and
fuzzy thoughts towards Harry. But Snape doesn't want Harry dead.

vmonte responds:
You think so? I don't. If Snape had nothing to hide in this scene why 
did run with his tail between his legs--what a coward. 

>vmonte: Ron doesn't get enough credit...
>"So you think Snape could be up to something, then?" asked Harry,
but Hermione broke in.
>"Look, I don't care what you say, Dumbledore trusts Snape—"
>"Oh give it a rest, Hermione," said Ron impatiently. "I know
Dumbledores brilliant and everything, but that doesn't mean a really
clever Dark wizard couldn't fool him—"<

>Betsy:
I can't recall what book this scene is in, but Ron *always* suspects
Snape as being the big bad of that year, and he is *always* wrong.

vmonte responds:
I think the adults at Hogwarts are over compensating (making 
justifications) for Snape's bad behavior, much like many adults on 
this site do. Ask most kids whether Snape is good or bad, they will 
tell you. JKR even states in her interviews that children are not 
fooled by this kind of teacher. 

>vmonte: And it's always important to be an assertive teacher and
let those brats know just how much you loathe them...
<snip of the first potions class in PS/SS>

>Betsy: I've used this example, and explained this example in my 
first post on this subject. Please see message # 122040. I wouldn't 
say Snape is showing the students he loathes them - he's telling them 
they'd better do their reading and they'd better pay attention... or 
else.

vmonte responds:
Wow, nice strategy. Dear Diary, Tomorrow is the first day of term. 
Note to self: Remember to humiliate children in class and show them 
who is boss. PS. Make sure to pick one or two out that you can 
continuously use throughout the year as whipping boys/girls. 

>vmonte: And he never shows preferential treatment...

>Betsy:
Oh, Snape definitely favors the Slytherins. I've never argued that
he doesn't. All I'm trying to say is this doesn't make him evil.
Though I've also tried to show that he might have a hidden motive for
giving the children of Death Eaters, like Draco Malfoy, an easy way
of it.

vmonte responds:
Oh I see. If the Slytherins are coddled then they won't learn as much 
as the other students and this will lead to them not being 
recruitable Voldemort agents.   

>vmonte: Teacher tip! Don't forget to threaten your student's pets
and then deduct house points when their pet doesn't die...
<snip of infamous Trevor the Toad as lab rat scene)

>Betsy:
Like I said earlier, Snape is good at the motivating. And again, as
you pointed out, no amphibian died in the making of this scene. (The
points were clearly taken because Hermione and Neville cheated. In
some schools such behavior can lead to expulsion.)

vmonte responds:
Do you mean expulsion of the student or the teacher?

>vmonte: Jealous much?
>"How extraordinarily like your father you are, Potter," Snape said
suddenly, his eyes glinting. "He too was exceedingly arrogant. A
small amount of talent on the Quidditch field made him think he was a
cut above the rest of us too. Strutting around the place with his
friends and admirers... The resemblance between you is uncanny."
>"My dad didn't strut," said Harry, before he could stop
himself. "And neither do I."
>"Your father didn't set much store by rules either," Snape went on,
pressing his advantage, his thin face full of malice. "Rules were for
lesser mortals, not Quidditch Cup-winners. His head was so swollen—"

>Betsy:
Snape was right, of course. Harry's father did strut, and often.
James wasn't above hexing students in the halls either. And IIRC
this scene occurs when Harry is caught breaking school rules and
putting his own life in danger. Again.

I can see that Snape would be a bit jealous of the school's BMOC (big
man on campus). Most freaks and geeks are -- though that's only a
part of the tangle of emotions the bullied and picked-on feel towards
their tormentors.

vmonte responds:
All I have to say here is: SNAPE GROW UP ALREADY! SO WHAT IF YOU'RE A 
GEEK! GET OVER IT!

>vmonte:
>and a racist too..
>"Don't ask me to fathom the way a werewolf's mind works," hissed
Snape. "Get out of the way, Potter."
>"YOU'RE PATHETIC!" Harry yelled. "JUST BECAUSE THEY MADE A FOOL OF
YOU AT SCHOOL YOU WON'T EVEN LISTEN—"
>"SILENCE! 

>Betsy:
I don't see any sign of racism in this scene, I'm sorry. Is it the
werewolf comment? That doesn't strike me as racist. Snape thinks
Lupin has betrayed Dumbledore and led Harry into a trap, as Snape was
lead into a similar trap when he was a student. Snape was almost
killed by Lupin at that time, so there's a reason for the distrust.
I generally think of racism as illogical stereotyping.

vmonte responds:
This is your most upsetting comment BTW. What do you think a werewolf 
represents in JKR's world? Pick any derogatory name and insert it 
into where the word werewolf should be. How does it sound now? I 
think people should be called by their names don't you.

How about if Snape had yelled out: Don't ask me to fathom the way 
Lupin's mind works," instead.

Vivian