Are appearances important to Snape? (was: CHAPDISC: HBP 2, Spinner's End)

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 142126

KJ wrote:
> There are a couple of things that bother me about Spinner's End 
> being Snape's regular residence. <snip dusty wine bottle & "air of 
> neglect" references>        

> Another thing that bothers me is that Snape is apparently a 
> friend of Malfoy. ...His speech is elegant and reads much like 
> Malfoy's manner of speech. This, among other things, is what gave 
> readers the belief that Snape was a pureblood. 

> All things considered, I don't know why there is a general idea 
> that Snape is poverty-stricken. ...While Lupin is described as 
> patched and threadbare, Snape is not and never has been. We 
> are only told that he had greying underpants. He has also been 
> employed reasonably well, one would assume, for 16 years, with 
> limited expenses. Why would he live in a hovel, when appearances 
> are so important to him?


SSSusan:
I enjoyed this alternate view of Spinner's End as *not* necessarily 
being Snape's childhood home, as well as your questioning the 
rationale people have used to determine that Snape came from an 
impoverished background.  

What intrigued me most, however, were your final few words:  "... 
when appearances are so important to him."  I am interested in this 
precisely because other list members have argued that Snape is NOT at 
all interested in appearances [the grey underwear, greasy hair, 
yellowing teeth, all of which *might* indicate a lack of attention to 
hygiene].  

Without taking a position one way or the other myself ;-), I would 
like to ask KJ (or others who agree with her) if more could be said 
about why you feel "appearances are so important" to Snape.

Siriusly Snapey Susan