Does DD "like" Snape: Re: OFH SNAPE

[lupinlore]

No: HPFGUIDX 157038

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "P J" <midnightowl6 at ...> wrote:

> 
> I think Dumbledore found out that Snape had an obsession which 
turned out to 
> be an important part of DD's plan and the two of them have been 
working 
> together on that one thing.  He trusts Snape completely to 
accomplish it 
> because Snape's like a dog with a bone when he wants something 
badly.   
> However, I don't think DD considers Snape a good guy on the side 
of the 
> light.  No where does Dumbledore "tweak" McG or Flitwick or any of 
the other 
> teachers but he's *always* doing it to Snape.  The House Cup 
Banquet, the 
> flying car incident, the PoA ending, the "Granny Hat" in the 
cracker... I 
> don't honestly think Dumbledore *likes* Snape!
> 
> PJ
>


Hmmmm.  Does Dumbledore like Snape?  It would certainly, I think, be 
contemptible if he did, once again, IMO, proving that the epitome of 
goodness approves of and supports a reprehensible and indefensible 
abuser of children.  But then, does Dumbledore "like" anyone?

I really rather doubt that he does -- not in the ordinary sense of 
the word.  I don't know what the dictionary definiton of "like" is, 
and I don't care in the least, but certainly in ordinary discourse 
to "like" someone indicates an enjoyment of a person's presence, a 
trust in that person, and a level of intimacy and openness with that 
person, all of which can range in degree from relatively mild to 
relatively intense (i.e. you can like someone okay, like them to a 
fair extent, like them pretty well, like them quite a lot, and 
really like them).  This is all, I think, to be distinguished from 
love, which is a separate emotion and not simply "liking" to a great 
degree.  Nor is hate simply a matter of "disliking" to a great 
degree.  

The problem of course is that "liking" and "loving" bear some 
superficial resemblance as do "disliking" and "hating."  It's easy 
to get the states confused.  Teenagers do it all the time, and 
adults do it almost as often (just ask any divorce lawyer about that 
one).

DD seems to love at least Harry and probably Fawkes.  I don't know 
that we have much evidence for him loving anyone else, although his 
reaction after drinking the potion is suggestive.  He seems to 
dislike Scrimgeour, Fudge, and the Dursleys.  His feelings for Tom 
Riddle are not shown in detail, but if he hates anyone (and I'm not 
saying he does) I'd say Tommy Boy is the prime candidate.  

But does he really "like" anyone?  I don't really think so, because 
he doesn't have enough intimacy and openness with anyone to be able 
to say that. He for instance seems to love Harry, but he doesn't 
seem to like him in the ordinary sense -- i.e. his relationship 
doesn't show all the characteristics.  He certainly enjoys Harry's 
company, but his level of trust is wanting, and intimacy is, at 
best, only superficial.  The same with McGonnagall.   

So does DD "like" anyone?  No, I don't think he really does, or at 
least I think it's questionable.  I don't subscribe to Pippin's idea 
that DD has the same emotional defect as Voldy -- i.e. inability to 
love.  I think, in fact, we have pretty hard evidence to the 
contrary.  But I also think DD may well have his own problems.  JKR 
herself has said he is isolated, and that bespeaks an absence of 
true friendship -- which is the social manifestation of 
mutual "liking" between people.  And that may well be a tragic side 
of the character.  He has people who will die for him, but doesn't 
know who to call if he has a spare ticket for the quidditch finals.


Lupinlore