Envy & Snape / 7 Deadly Sins & DADA Profs (was:Re: Who Does this Sound)

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 167055

> >>Red Eye Randy:
>  I found some descriptions of Envy from Greek mythology and other 
> sources on the internet.  Who does this sound like to you?
> <snip of descriptions>
> In Harry Potter ....
> He lives in a dark place with snakes and has a sallow complexion.  
> He may have had passions for someone who he could not have, and is 
> tortured by the memory of this lost love.  He never smiles except   
> at the sight of someone else's troubles(like Harry's).  He wanders 
> the halls at night ( he does not sleep well).
> Someone else got all the attention and all the glory.  Someone else 
> took something important away from him which he can never have.  He 
> is now reminded of this every day by the son who looks just like   
> the man who did this to him.
> SEVERUS SNAPE ?

Betsy Hp:
My first instinct is to throw my arms around poor, maligned Snape and 
cry, "Not my Snapey-poo!".  After which, of course, I'd suffer a 
horrible and oddly creative death. <bg>

But while I think you exaggerate (ie Snape *has* smiled at things 
other than "someone else's troubles": Draco's offer to put in a good 
word with Snape's friend Lucius for example), I must admit, envy does 
play a part in the makeup of our dear Severus.  Especially, I think, 
in the trials of his youth.

Not, I hasten to add, that I think Snape wanted to *be* James Potter, 
to live his life etcetera.  But I do think it makes sense that Snape 
was envious of how *easy* things appeared to be for James.  Rich, 
handsome, pure-blooded, coddled and adored not only by his parents, 
but possibly the Hogwarts staff as well (I'm sure James used his 
charm to good effect), James was everything that the poor, awkward, 
(and most killingly, I suspect easily driven to tears especially when 
young) Snape was not.  And I'm quite sure that galled.

And I agree that it *still* galls Snape to this day.  It's hard to 
fight a dead man, especially a dead *hero*.  (Snape has quite 
successfully, I think, put his issues with the other Marauders behind 
him.  Lupin proved untrustworthy, Sirius unhinged, and Peter 
pathetic.  But James lingers.)  I'm fairly confident it was Snape's 
issues with James that led to him pushing Harry so hard in their very 
first lesson together.

However, I don't know that I'd list envy as a primary issue with 
Snape's interactions with Harry.  I don't get the sense that Snape is 
*competing* with Harry as I think he may have with James back in the 
day.

Oh, and this is a bit of an aside, but Snape doesn't live in the dark 
with snakes.  He lives in the well set up dungeons of Hogwarts with 
*children*.  I don't think we can write the Slytherins off as less 
than human yet. <g>

> >>Red Eye Randy:
> <snip>
> 1.Quirrell was Pride (could not see himself as he truly was in      
> mirror)
> 2. Lockhart was Greed ( wanted what others had done for his own)
> 3. Lupin was Sloth ( was slow to act due to his regrets about life)
> 4. Moody was Lust (for vengence and retribution)
> 5. Umbridge was Anger ( it seemed to bubble up to the surface)
> 6. Slughorn was Gluttony ( he drinks and eats to much)
> 7. Snape could be Envy ( he is bitter and resentful toward Harry?)
> Or you could just make a case for Voldemort who seems to fit this 
> description too.
> What do you think?

Betsy Hp:
I think that while you could make a case for one of the sins with 
each of the DADA teachers (though hang on, what's up with Slughorn?), 
I doubt JKR wrote them in such an allegorical manner.  I mean, I 
think it'd have been a bit more obvious if each teacher was supposed 
to represent one, and only one, deadly sin.

If I were to do it (because while I don't think it's purposeful, I do 
agree it's possible, and also, kind of fun <g>), I'd go:

Quirrel = Lust (wanting to be strong enough to take power)
Lockhart = Greed (stealing others' works for his own gain)
Lupin = Sloth (I agree with this: hiding in inaction and self-pity)
Fake!Moody = Envy (need to be recognized as the *most* loyal DE)
Umbridge = Gluttony (wanting more and more power, never satisfied)
Snape = Pride (able to handle anything all by himself, eg the Vow) 

Which, since we've not had seven DADA instructors yet, leaves Wrath.  
If there's not a seventh year at Hogwarts, I can see Harry getting 
trapped in this particular sin (lord knows, he's got reason).  Though 
of course he'll find a way through it and prevail in the end.

Betsy Hp (feels like she's been away *forever*)