[HPforGrownups] Re: Petty Vengeance (was:Bad Writing?) (was: JKR and the boys)

[anthony cardno]

No: HPFGUIDX 162933

zanooda:
 The incident in question (Snape dropping Harry's potion sample) 
 actually happened on the very first lesson after Harry saw Snape's 
 worst memory ("Career advice"). I'm not trying to defend Snape here, 
 but it was probably the time when Snape hated Harry the most. IMO he 
 thinks:"You saw me humiliated, you saw me powerless, but now *I* have 
 power over you". It's vengeance and self-assertion (is it the right 
 word?) at the same time. Again, not defending, it's just a comment.

Anthanielc:
I have to agree here.  As a teacher and as the former director of a summer camp, I can honestly say that I've had those moments where a student or camper has caught me at a weak moment, and the temptation to make their lives momentarily miserable is always there.  "Moments of petty vengeance" are always around us; it's what you do with the urge that marks your character.  I don't think Harry is any better at resisting that temptation than Snape is, but I do think the response to percieved or actual humiliation is so ingrained in Snape's personality at this point in his life that he almost has no say in how he acts towards Harry.