In Defense of Snape (long)

[inkling108]

No: HPFGUIDX 122229


Inkling here, weighing in on Snape again (can't help myself):

I'd like to go back to Betsy's original post, specifically the point 
she made about Snape being a competent teacher despite his snarly 
personal style.  (Please bear with me, I'm catching up after a 
weekend spent away from the computer.) Despite my recent criticism 
of Snape, I actually agree with Betsy on this issue.  Snape *is* a 
competent teacher -- in Potions.

In fact what bothers me about his teaching style in Occlumency 
lessons is that it differs so much from his style in Potions.  For 
example:

In Potions Snape always provides a detailed and specific method, as 
well as the materials needed to produce the potion, and enough time 
to get the job done.

In Occlumency he does not provide a method, he does not make clear 
what kind of skills are required, and he does not give Harry enough 
time to prepare himself before breaking into his mind.

In Potions Snape always corrects a student by pointing out exactly 
what he's doing wrong (in singularly nasty fashion, it must be said, 
but he does tell them what they need to fix). 

In Occlumency he offers no specific corrections.  Instead he accuses 
Harry of not trying hard enough, of wasting his time, etc.

After watching Snape teach Potions for five books, I think we can 
make the following observations concerning Snape as a teacher:

It is in character for him to be nasty.
It is not in character for him to be vague and evasive.

It is in character for him to attempt to sabotage students 
emotionally (as in numerous examples already cited).

It is not in character for him to attempt to sabotage students 
procedurally ("Snape had struck before Harry was ready, before Harry 
had even begun to summon any force of resistance...")

It is in character for him to be supremely self confident and in 
control.

It is not in character for him to appear "unnerved" and "agitated."

Now, Snape exhibits all of these strange behaviors in the first 
lesson, long before Harry looks in the pensieve or flips him with 
the Protego charm.  Which leads me to say again (at the risk of 
sounding like a broken record) that the personal drama that unfolds 
between the two in the course of the lessons, while it is 
compelling, does not shed light on what Snape's agenda was when he 
set out to give the lessons in the first place.  


Inkling, late to the party...