Snape's barbed words (Was: Sexy Snape / JKR's men /What's fun about the HPs?...)

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 152475

> Betsy Hp:
> < HUGE SNIP>
> Plus he's got that amazing wit he's so not afraid to use.
> (Sometimes when he shouldn't, I'll admit.)
> <SNIP>
> 
> Alla:
> 
> Hehe. I promise not to argue, just wanted to say that IF Snape was 
> not afraid to use his wit on those who are higher than he is in the 
> hierarchy, I would totally like that. Because usually I LOVE smart, 
> sarcastic characters as long as their sarcasm is a weapon against 
> those stronger than those characters or their peers at least. <snip>

Carol responds:
Hi, Alla. Let me quickly mention that, like you and Betsy, I never
found Lockhart attractive, so we agree there. But (surprise), I'm with
Betsy in finding Snape's sarcastic wit attractive (with the notable
exception of "I see no difference," for which, unfortunately, I can
find no defense).

But, speaking of superiors and equals, I don't think that Snape wants
to appear sarcastic to Dumbledore. Assuming that he's DDM (or, if you
like, wants to appear to be DDM), they are working together in a very
serious cause for which Snape is risking his life and sarcasm is
simply inappropriate. He will, on occasion, argue with Dumbledore, but
he won't push too far, and he doesn't resort to sarcasm AFAWK.

With his peers, however, it's another matter. He wins hands down over
Peter Pettigrew in "Spinner's End," with PP scuttling upstairs with
his tail (figuratively) between his legs. Snape gets in some pretty
good digs at Bellatrix, too, my favorite being, "Yes, indeed, most
admirable. Of course, you weren't a lot of use to him in prison, but
the gesture was undoubtedly fine" (HBP Am. ed. 27). He's hitting
Bellatrix where she's most vulnerable, her loyalty to Voldemort, and
doing a pretty good job of getting to her, I'd say.

Or, if you prefer the use of sarcasm with his colleagues, there's his
treatment of Lockhart in CoS (which is later taken up by the other
teachers, including McGonagall): "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." And "I certainly
remember you saying you were sorry you hadn't had a crack at the
monster before Hagrid was arrested. Didn't you say that the whole
affair had been bungled, and that you should have been given free rein
from the first?" (CoS Am. ed. 294). Snape is publicly exposing
Lockhart's ineptitude and pretense by repeating his own words back to
him. "The very man," indeed.

Or how about taking on a "superior" whose authority, unlike
Dumbledore's, he does *not* respect--Delores Umbrage?

He claims (after having given her fake Veritaserum earlier) to have
none left: "You took my last bottle to interrogate Potter. Surely you
did not use it all? I told you that three drops would be sufficient .
. . . Unless you wish to poison Potter . . . I cannot help you. The
only trouble is that most venoms act too fast to give the victim much
time for truth telling" (OoP Am. ed. 745).

Umbridge recognizes this cool bit of equivocating as a ploy, screaming
that he's being deliberately unhelpful and is on probation. Rather
than showing fear or concern, Snape gives her "an ironic bow" and
starts to leave the office but hesitates as Harry shouts his cryptic
message about Padfoot being "in the place where it's hidden." We once
again see Snape's "inscrutable expression" as Harry tries to will
Snape to read his mind (successfully, I would guess, based on HBP, but
that's not relevant here).

Rather than answering Umbrage's demand to know what Harry is talking
about, Snape says coldly, "Potter, when I want nonsense shouted at me
I shall give you a Babbling Beverage. And Crabbe, loosen your hold a
little, if Longbottom suffocates it will mean a lot of tedious
paperwork, and I am afraid I shall have to mention it on your
reference if you ever apply for a job" (746). Under cover of insulting
Harry and protecting Crabbe's future as a job applicant, he defies
Umbrage and saves Neville from suffocation.

I would say that his words in this scene qualify as a smart, sarcastic
character using his wit against someone higher than he is in the
hierarchy, for whom he feels no fear and a great deal of contempt, he
does for Lockhart, Bellatrix, and Pettigrew as well. (I also take
these scenes as clear evidence that Snape is DDM, but let's ignore the
loyalties and just look at the use of words as weapons.)

Carol, who finds Snape's wit and intelligence sexy but primarily
admires his (apparent) willingness to risk his life to serve
Dumbledore's cause against his own natural instincts