[HPforGrownups] Reasons for reactions to Snape (was: Reactions to Snape's...

[OctobersChild48 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 176017

 
Judy:

what  do you see as the primary reason 
for your disliking/despisingfor your disliking/



Sandy:
 
My primary reason for despising Snape was his treatment of Harry, the other  
two members of the Trio and Neville. My feelings towards him were firmly in  
place from his very first class and very first encounter with Harry in SS. I  
never doubted that he hated Harry, whether it be because of James or Lily, and  
his treatment of Harry was a total abuse of power. It took a very long time 
for  us to discover the exact dynamics of the relationship between Harry and 
Snape  but, to me, none of that matters, nor does it change anything. From the 
get-go  his treatment of Harry was mean, hateful, spiteful and cruel and he 
abused the  the tutorial authority he had every chance he got. There is no reason 
for any  adult to treat an 11 year old child that way just because of issues 
they have  with the child's parents - ever. His treatment of Hermione and Ron 
were by  default simply because they had the audacity to be Harry's friends. 
It took  until the last book to figure out his animosity towards Neville, which 
I believe  is because if Voldy had gone after all of the Longbottoms instead 
his precious  Lily would not have died. There is nothing Snape ever 
subsequently did that ever  changed my feelings towards him or the reasons why.
 
Now, having said all of that, I will admit that The Prince's Tale broke my  
heart when I first read it. What a tragedy - what a waste. What a miserable  
life. It was impossible to not feel sorry for him and feel his pain. But upon a  
second reading, and pondering the facts, I still cannot give him a free pass. 
As  an adolescent and adult he, and he alone, is responsible for the choices 
he made  that made his life the tragedy that it was. He brought all of his 
misery upon  himself and then made Harry his scapegoat and whipping boy. I hate 
the man. His  death was horrific and I did not like it at all, but it still 
does not change my  feelings for him. I concede that he was brilliant and that he 
was brave but it  changes nothing. I do not forgive him.
 
Sandy



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