Sadistic!Snape? (was:Snape's canon opposite/ Proving loyalty...)

[lupinlore]

No: HPFGUIDX 140318

Betsy Hp:
> Probably because the books don't plainly state it at all.  

Errr, actually they do.  On each and every page where Snape is shown 
interacting with Harry, Hermione, Ron, or Neville.

 
Betsy Hp: 
> I think Snape chose Harry for *all* the questions with deliberate 
> reason.  He was telling the other students in Harry's class that 
> Snape was not bowled over by the "great Harry Potter" and neither 
> should they be.  He was also playing the part of a former Death 
> Eater.  But most importantly to him, I think, Snape was testing 
> Harry's character, and I think (unfortunately and incorrectly) 
> found reason to worry.  

Which is really beside the point.  Snape's worries do not excuse his 
behavior toward Harry in any way, shape, form, or fashion.  Neither 
do his mistaken beliefs about education excuse his treatment of any 
of his students in any way, shape, form, or fashion.


Amiable Dorsai:
> > ...insulting an orphan's father...
 
Betsy Hp:
> Whenever Snape brought up James it was usually (IIRC) when Harry 
> was doing something colossally stupid, like sneaking into 
> Hogsmeade when there was a mass murderer out for his blood.  
> Snape, with good reason (especially after reading some of 
> Sirius's "advice"), was trying to turn Harry away from emulating 
> his father.  Snape chose a piss-poor way of going about it, I 
> grant.  But again, I see a reason for his behavior.  Enjoyment of 
> Harry's suffering wasn't it, IMO.

Once again, Snape's beliefs about Harry or James do not excuse his 
behavior in any way, shape, form, or fashion.


Betsy Hp:
> Actually, I'd catagorize the toad incident as trying to vividly 
> drive home the lesson that the potions the students are making are 
> *supposed* to be consumed.  Frankly, I think Snape was trying to 
> reach Neville here.  It didn't work, unfortunately.  And taking 
> five points for Hermione's cheating strikes me as something much 
> less than abusive and certainly not sadistic.

If threatening to kill a student's beloved pet isn't sadistic, what 
on Earth would be?

 
Lealess:
> > Honestly, Snape is not cut out to be a teacher.

Betsy Hp:
> I think he's an excellent teacher, myself.  

I find that bizarre and totally inexplicable.  But you do, of course, have a right to your opinions.


Betsy:
> I just think he's of a certain (out of favor now unfortunately) 
> sort.

And with extraordinarily good reasons.


Betsy Hp:
> Exactly!  While Harry still bears the scars of Umbridge's 
> treatment.  No, JKR knows how to write a sadist, and she didn't do 
> so with Snape, IMO.


And I totally disagree.  Snape is a textbook example of petty sadism 
which JKR has depicted perfectly.  The sad fact that he is allowed to teach is one of the deepest sins (and I use that word quite 
deliberately) of the Wizarding World, and helps account for the fact 
that so many fans have such deep contempt for that world, and would 
likely be happy to see Voldemort destroy it were it not for such rare examples as the Weasleys.

Lupinlore