HBP Thoughts, Snape, Likes and Dislikes

[vmonte]

No: HPFGUIDX 133299

Marianne wrote:
On the other hand, Dumbledore made some sort of comment about his
own cleverness and intelligence, at least 3 times, IIRC. And that,
since he was so clever, his mistakes were consequently bigger than
the average person's. Add that to the continued insistence that
Snape was to be trusted, and I can believe that the big BANG here
was that DD did make a monumental mistake in trusting Snape. The
pleading tone of "Severus
please" might then have been a plea such
as "Severus, please don't repay the trust I've placed in you by this
betrayal."

We'll hash this to death, I'm sure over the next few years, so
enough about Snape for now.


vmonte responds:
Mugglenet HBP Interview

ES: I know Dumbledore likes to see the good in people but he seems 
trusting almost to the point of recklessness sometimes.
[Laughter] Yes, I would agree. I would agree.

ES: How can someone so -

JKR: Intelligent -

ES: be so blind with regard to certain things?

JKR: Well, there is information on that to come, in seven. But I 
would say that I think it has been demonstrated, particularly in 
books five and six that immense brainpower does not protect you from 
emotional mistakes and I think Dumbledore really exemplifies that. In 
fact, I would tend to think that being very, very intelligent might 
create some problems and it has done for Dumbledore, because his 
wisdom has isolated him, and I think you can see that in the books, 
because where is his equal, where is his confidante, where is his 
partner? He has none of those things. He's always the one who gives, 
he's always the one who has the insight and has the knowledge. So I 
think that, while I ask the reader to accept that McGonagall is a 
very worthy second in command, she is not an equal. You have a 
slightly circuitous answer, but I can't get much closer than that.

ES: No, that was a good answer.


vmonte:
There are a few clues though to Snape's personality. He is very
clever. He has the ability to talk himself out of anything. He has
both Voldemort and Dumbledore believing that he is on their side.

In temperament though he is more like Voldemort than Dumbledore:

He mistreats those he feels are beneath him
He has delusions of grandeur
He changes his name: like Tom Riddle and creates a new persona for 
himself--he reinvents himself: TA DAH I'm the Half-Blood-Prince
He does not really have any friends and seems to prefer it that way
He is obsessed with the dark arts--he even invents more killing
curses (nice hobby)
He is rather sadistic and enjoys manipulating people with his words
He is a racist even though he is not a pure-blood
He came from an unhappy or neglected childhood
He holds grudges (the grudges are even against the children of the
people he hates)
He is emotionally stunted
He has probably killed several (many?) people since he was once a DE
He is so scary when he kills Dumbledore that even the baby eating 
werewolf steps away from him in fear---LOL!


Didn't JKR once say that children are never fooled by this kind of 
teacher...

Maybe Harry is right!


Marianne
Things I didn't like:
Dumbledore's stated reason for accepting Snape's remorse for his DE
past. I mean, are you kidding??? Giving people second chances is
all well and good, but this was way too weak. Unless, as I suspect,
Dumbledore gave only part of the reason why he trusted Snape.


vmonte:
I think that Snape proved his loyalty to Dumbledore by giving Lily 
the spell she used to save Harry's life. (Of course he also told 
Voldemort not to kill Lily but Voldy always underestimates silly 
little girls.)

Vivian