Glittering eyes (Was: Sadistic Teachers)

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 148100

Renee wrote:
><snip>
> As for the meaning of sadistic: `deriving sexual gratification from
inflicting pain or emotional abuse on others' isn't the only official
definition; `the deriving of pleasure from cruelty' is another one,
and I daresay one that is used more often. <snip> To me, Snape's
glittering eyes definitely point towards enjoyment. <snip>


Carol responds: While I agree that your definition of "sadism" is
likely to be the one that JKR has in mind (this is, after all, a
children's series), I don't think we can safely take "glittering eyes"
as an indication of sadistic pleasure. In fact, the description is
used (along with paleness) at least twice (once for Harry and once for
Snape) to indicate something like a fierce determination to overcome
fear or to go into danger.

JKR actually departs momentarily from Harry's POV to describe him as
he tells Ron and Hermione that he intends to enter the forbidden
corridor: "The other two stared at him. He was pale and his eyes were
glittering" (SS Am. ed. 270).

This description is very similar to that of Snape (from Harry's POV)
as Snape is about to leave Hogwarts on a perilous mission (returning
to Voldemort on DD's orders): 

"'Severus,' said Dumbledore, turning to Snape. 'You know what I must
ask you to do. If you are ready. . . . If you are prepared. . . .'

"'I am,' said Snape.

"He looked slightly paler than usual, and his cold, black eyes
glittered strangely" (GoF Am. ed. 713).

I think it's safe to say that neither Harry nor Snape is about to
receive sadistic pleasure from inflicting cruelty on another person in
these examples. In fact, both are about to go into great danger. There
is no link whatever to sadism here, unless it's the sadism of
Voldemort that each will be facing.

I would also like to point out, without quoting, that the descriptions
of Bellatrix about to Crucio Neville (successfully) in OoP and of
Umbridge about to Crucio Harry (unsuccessfully, because she's
interrupted) in the same book have no parallel in any description of
Snape. But I don't want to stray from my main point, which is that
"glittering eyes" in the HP books are not necessarily an indication of
sadism and should not be taken as such in the absence of other evidence.

Carol, noting (as I did in an earlier post) that the parallel between
Snape and Harry in these passages may not be accidental