More Snape Defense, regarding Snape's childhood. (Long)

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 122815


TrekkieGrrrl wrote:

Some of the discussions here has made me wonder if Snape is capable 
of making a patronus at all.

To make a patronus, you must have a very HAPPY memory. And Snape 
doesn't strike me as a man with a lot of happy memories.

Alla:

I believe he can produce the Patronus. Didn't JKR mention at the 
Eddinburg festival that she cannot reveal Snape'st and patronus, 
because they are to essential to the plot or something to that 
effect?


Trekkiegrrrl:

That is one thing that is often overlooked when we discuss Snape, 
and Snape's behaviour in general. We all assume that he KNOWS how to 
behave and just don't give a *beep* about doing so.
Well, my postulate is that he's not.

Alla:

Cannot speak for everybody else, but I most certainly DON'T make 
such assumption. What I do think though that his apparently unhappy 
childhood ( and NO, we don't know for sure that he was abused at 
all, as Charme said earlier - couple of memories don't necessarily 
make unhappy childhood. We don't even know for sure if the boy in 
those memories was Snape) often used as an excuse that Snape is 
INCAPABLE of changing his behaviour and therefore it is OK for him 
to stay that way. Am I being clear? I am not saying that Snape 
necessarily knows how to behave normally, I am objecting to that he 
should not be forced to change such behaviour.

Trekkiegrrl: 
Now, I haven't been am member of this group for long, but it amazes 
me that noone has mentioned more about Snape's childhood.
I find it rather obvious that his own childhood has been the one of 
an abused child. And his behavioral pattern fits this very well.
No wonder Snape hides behind his sarcastic mask. Better not let 
anyone get close to you - that way they can't hurt you!

Alla:

It is a possibility, I'll grant you that, it is not a given, IMO. 
That possibility is partially the reason why Snape became so less 
sympathetic to me in OOP. He supposedly knows what does it mean to 
be bullied, if not at home, then at school and then he turns around 
and does the same thing to Harry and Neville.


Trekkiegrrl:
 
I don't think he's sadistic in the usual sense of that word either. 
But  again it's the typical pattern:People who are beaten as kids 
are far more inclined to slap their own children.

Alla:

It happens often, it is NOT happening always.

Trekkiegrrl:
Abused children show many "abnormal" patterns in their behaviour. 
and though some may grow up and act as "normal" responsible adults 
later on, some just can't. They do not have the basis for that. And 
Snape was one of the latter.

Alla:

If that is true, it does not justify in the slightest, IMO, that 
Snape's students should suffer because he is incapable of normal 
behaviour.



Trekkiegrrl:
One of the reasons why Snape is at Hogwarts is, I believe, 
protection. He's not safe outside Hogwarts. And with his obvious 
skill as a Potions Master, he has a plausible reason to stay there. 
No, he's not an ideal teacher after our standards. But again, 
remember how old fashoined the Wizarding World is. Go back 75 years 
and he would have been a MILD teacher. Add to that that he's 
probably never recieved any formal education in how to teach, and I 
think he does a pretty good job.


Alla:

Well, I do agree that Snape is in Hogwarts because of the 
protection. I still wish that Dumbledore would hire another 
Potionmaster and kept Snape strictly for research purposes... :o)

Just my opinion,

Alla