Snape and DD's ideology (Was: Motivations for Joining DEs )

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 140947

Nora wrote:
> <snip>
> Speaking of that, my counterquestion is still open.  We've got hints 
> and such that Snape is something of an ideological kindred to 
> Voldemort--can anyone provide me with arguments for Snape as an 
> *ideological* counterpart to Dumbledore?  Canon for Snape believing 
> in the power of love, believing the best of people, faith, hope, 
> charity, teamwork, friendship?


Carol responds:
I can give you one example of teamwork. Snape initiates the effort by
all the teachers (or at least the heads of houses) to inform Lockhart
that his opportunity to demonstrate his DADA expertise has arisen:
When Lockhart enters the room, *all* of the teachers look at him "with
something remarkably like hatred," but it's Snape who initiates the
action with "Just the man. The very man.  A girl has been snatched by
the monster, Lockhart. Taken into the Chamber of Secrets itself. Your
moment has come at last." In short, Lockhart can either save Ginny
Weasley or pack his suitcases. This sentiment is echoed first by
Sprout, then by the usually gentle Flitwick, then by Snape again, and
then by McGonagall, who puts the stamp of finality on Snape's
suggestion by stating that "tonight will be a fine time to do it" (CoS
293-94). The heads of houses have acted as a team following Snape's
lead. It's clear that they all hate Lockhart, but they feel no such
antipathy to Snape.

And his decision to help and protect Draco at Narcissa's request,
whether or not he knew the nature of Draco's task (he did not
anticipate the third provision), can be interpreted as true friendship
or even charity in the sense of agape love, especially when the price
of failure is his own death.

Faith? Quite possibly he has faith in Dumbledore even after
Dumbledore's death by his hand. That's a topic for another post. Hope?
I don't know. Maybe he hopes that Voldemort will fall, that the Chosen
One for all his failings (in Snape's eyes) will save the WW. For
himself, his own future, I'm quite sure he holds no hope.

Carol