[HPforGrownups] Response to Catlady on Snape etc

[JLen1777 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 142315

 

Potioncat:
<< 4. Snape's tiny sitting room is lined with leather bound books  and
contains a threadbare sofa, an old armchair and a rickety table.  It
had the "feeling of a dark, padded cell." A padded cell is used  for
someone who needs protection from himself. What does this room, or  the
house and neighborhood, tell us about Snape? Do you think this is  his
usual home away from Hogwarts? >>



Catlady responded:
< I never thought about the "padded cell" description before!  My
emotional reaction to walls covered with shelves of leatherbound
books,  coupled with my emotional reaction to shabby but overstuffed
furniture, had  me feeling more like he was inside a jewelry box 
(also padded, often in  quilted velvet or satin, for protection and
cherishing of the valuable  contents). Thus, I assumed it was his 
usual hide-out when compelled to leave  Hogwarts for summer holiday.>
 
Jaimee:
I believe the look of Snape's home at Spinner's End is quite  deliberate.  
This is all pure speculation on my part, but the  lack of warmth goes along with 
his potions classroom, and carries to his DADA  classroom as well.  I think 
his demeanor and chosen surroundings are what  allow him to be so good at 
Occlumency.  
 
Harry was abysmal in his Occlumency lessons because he was not able to  
'bottle' his emotions the way Snape was, and when Harry 'accidentally' views a  
memory of Snape's that he never intended Harry to see, he refuses to give him  
lessons any longer because he feels it jeopardizes his ability to be effective  
in Occlumency.  
 
As I said, this is all my opinion, and I see problems with it myself.   For 
instance, Snape seems to relish what makes him angry in order to block other  
emotions, which in turn seems to make him a better candidate for Occlumency 
than  Harry, yet when Harry invaded this very personal memory, he refuses any 
further  lessons.  Perhaps the anger was too close to his true emotions, whereas  
normally its a 'cover'?  I don't know...Anyone else have ideas on  this?
 
 
I wrote:
<< this truly seemed like Snape was pleased that  Naracissa was there
to see him. I have seen him be catty to Harry, Hermione,  Bellatrix,
any number of people; respectful toward Dumbledore; even  shown
favoritism to Draco; but never truly pleased to see anyone.  >>


Catlady responded:
<Um. In OoP, I think he was pleased to see McGonagall return from  St
Mungo's healthy again. My mind 'sees' him 'striding forward' with  a
smile on his face and warmth in his voice, but I must admit that  the
canon doesn't *specify* his tone of voice or facial  expression:
"Professor McGonagall had just stumped up the stone, steps into  the
castle; she was carrying a tartan carpetbag in one hand and  leaning
heavily on a walking stick with her other, but otherwise looked  quite
well.
'Professor McGonagall!' said Snape, striding  forwards. 'Out of St
Mungo's, I see!'">



Jaimee:
I see your point here, and what I wrote was probably just my own  
interpretation of events.  In all honesty, his response to seeing Narcissa  does not 
really show his tone of voice or facial expression either, but it was a  sense I 
got from it as genuine.  With McGonagall, I do not think it was  insincere, 
merely an 'appropriate' reaction to have when a colleague  returns.
 
Then again, Snape isn't known for his 'appropriate' reactions.
 
 
Eileen Nicholson:
<< Voldemort seems fairly one-dimensional now - did he ever have  a
conscience >>

Catlady responded:
<I think he never did. I think he was born a  sociopath, I mean
something in his brain that didn't let him have a choice as  to how he
would respond to the unfortunate circumstances of his  upbringing.>
 
I quite agree that he never showed anything other than Antisocial  Behavior.  
But in the way DD tries to guide Harry to a more Existential  approach about 
the prophecy and his choices, freedom, and responsibility, this  seems to take 
away any of those options for Voldemort.  
 
What do you or others think?  If Voldemort was 'born' a sociopath and  simply 
unable to have any remorse for his actions, does he then not have any  
responsibility for the horrible things he has done?
 
Jaimee


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