Snape vs. James (was re: Prodigal Sons)

[Katerina]

No: HPFGUIDX 140751

Christina, in part:
> The problem is, while
> we have completely canon evidence that *both* James and Snape were
> bullies at one point or another, the HP universe treats them
> completely differently.  Snape is actively disliked (Harry, Sirius) or
> tolerated (Hermione, Lupin), while James is *revered* (by every single
> character that knew him, except for Snape of course).


I think the difference lies in how the bullied person perceive the 
bully.  Look at the Gryffindors.  When they are bullied by their 
professor they probably tell themselves all kinds of things to feel 
better.  Like, "He is so ugly he probably never gets laid.  No 
wonder he is so irritated."

In PS, the students see that their bully is somewhat 'punished' by 
not having the House Cup in his house for the eleventh year in a 
row.  Unexpected points at the last minute.  I can imagine many 
random second years and first years thinking "Ha take that Snape! 
Your house is not so perfect after all!"

On the other hand James's bullying attitude never gets punished.  
And as a person who was bullied from age 7 to 12, I can tell you it 
really hurts.  I remember when I was in Snape's situation.  I was a 
little girl who was beaten up by a group of four boys every day.  
When I sought help the school's teachers said things like, "Oh, it 
is a defense mechanism honey.  Their parents had just 
divorced."  First of all what about me?  I return home with a 
black eye, I was thrown down the stairs twice that year, my body 
aches all the time.  When you see that the teachers themselves show 
no effort to protect you, you get bitter.

So yes, Snape is allowed to be bitter.  The guys who tried to get 
him killed are still seen as great and popular.  One of them, 
James, is even becoming a Head Boy. When Sirius said 'we were 
children, we did not know what we were doing' (OotP) I really had 
the urge to slap his so hard across the face.  This excuse does not 
give him the right to feel good about himself. 

Like Snape, I have my emotional scars.  I suffer through nightmares 
of my bullying, I do not allow anyone to touch me, I flinch at hugs 
and if I hadn't had two very good friends later in High School, I 
would have probably remained bitter and cold as ice, as I was during 
the age of thirteen, when I started High School which is six years in Greece.

So yes Snape's bullying is different than James's.  The first one is 
a teacher so you could always dismiss his sayings (like all 
teenagers do) the other one is a fellow student that ought to be 
punished but instead he was granted by the school itself the 
privilege to do as he pleases.

Kathlin