Abusive Snape was: Emphasis on proper address

[lupinlore]

No: HPFGUIDX 131461

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "prncssme" <prncssme at y...> wrote
> 
>   Okay, I was just going to let this one go but I just want it on
the record that I, in no way, 
> think abuse is EVER justified or defendable. But honestly, I just
don't think Snape is all that 
> abusive. High handed, overly critical, biased toward his own house
and deeply unhappy in 
> his current position but not abusive.
> 
>   I think this is why we will never agree on the respect of Snape
issue. I still maintain that 
> however Snape treats Harry (which, imho, is not even NEAR the level
of abuse shown by 
> the Dursleys), the man has saved his life on numerous occasions. I
also believe that Snape 
> cannot treat Harry well without raising the suspicions of certain DE
children in Slytherin 
> house. But when they are alone, a la the occlumency lessons, Snape
shows remarkable 
> restraint and dare I say it, politeness until Harry crosses the line
and looks into the 
> pensieve. I just keep thinking about Snape's almost sympathetic
reaction to Harry's 
> memory of being chased up a tree by Aunt Marge's dog. It seems
incongrous with a Snape 
> who will exploit any weakness to hurt Harry.
> 

That's fair enough.  :-)  I think you are right that we are at the
point where we always arrive with regard to Snape -- i.e. that some
will regard him as worthy of respect barring dramatic revelations, and
others such as I will never regard him as worthy of respect barring
such dramatic information.

We badly need more canon, but I doubt at this point it will help all
that much.  If Harry gets an O in potions many will regard Snape as
being vindicated while others, such as I, will regard it as absolutely
no vindication whatsoever.  If Harry does relatively poorly (actually
I think he'll probably get an "E" but I wouldn't bet a penny on it) I
and others will (very hypocritically) regard ourselves as vindicated
while others will argue that Harry's particular response to his
teaching style does not in any way invalidate it.

And a good time will be had by all.

Lupinlore