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

[An'nai Jiriki]

No: HPFGUIDX 142132

--- dumbledore11214 <dumbledore11214 at yahoo.com> wrote:

> SSSusan:
> <SNIP>
> > 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].  
> 
> Alla:
> 
> I would say that it is incredibly important to Snape
> as to how others 
> PERCEIVE him, not necessarily because of his looks,
> but because of 
> prestige and power I believe he craves.
> 
SNIP
> So, what am I trying to say? I don't know if looks
> per se are 
> important 
> to Snape, but how he perceived by others as a
> person, I think 
> certainly 
> is.


Chris:
I think that the position Snape wants everyone to
perceive is exactly what is perceived.  Of course, I'm
all for the Snape's still good side of the arguements.

However, I think Snape didn't care for himself until
he was a DE, and then learned very quickly (I don't
know how) to become good at hiding.  (I think may be
due to occulmancy, but I have nothing to prove it
with) 

I have noticed when he is described, words like
'always', 'again','for as long as I can remember',
'for years'.  These are words of stagnation.  I can
see no reason why a man in his late 20s, early 30s
until his 40s would choose to stop growing and
perpetuate a dark and bleak persona, if it wasn't
purposeful. 

Since most perceptions of reality are made in
childhood, the constantness of Snape being dark and
menacing would be held over into adulthood in the
emotional portions of the brain(this is basic
psycology) but have logical portion of his brain say
he was not.  Snape would then be able to hide in the
perception of being dark, but still be perceived as
harmless.  This perception has lasted at least 16
years of him being a teacher and many more generations
of parents would hear these tales (fanciful children's
exagerations) and form a harmless picture of him in
their minds.  Look at the appearance:

Clothes:  Snape wears the same black clothing so much
it is commented on when he changes (wearing green to a
Slytherin match). Dark is forboding.

Hair: His hair is greasy, which leads people to not
get too close.  It also never changes, which means
hair cuts, washings, and brushings.

Smell: For as much as Snape hovers, he is never
described as having a smell.  I think this is in favor
of good hygene.  But also, there is no smell to
remember.  This may also be a no smell to track.

Eyes: Snape's eyes are described as 'boring',
'peircing', and 'fathomless black holes'.  These are
anti-indicators of staring, or that Snape does not
hold eye contact unless deliberate.

Manner: Snape is not nice, but everytime he has been
backed into a corner, he becomes weak, and this is
done with an audience. Notice, we never see or hear of
Snape handling a Slytherin or personal problem in
public.  

I think that this is indicative of Snape showing only
what he wants to show. These are Snape wanting to keep
appearances, by not keeping them.
Chris

"You irritate me. Kill me now." ~Javert, Les Miserables


		
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