Snape, Snape, Snape--favorite moments (Re: Snape's involvement in the...)

[cdayr]

No: HPFGUIDX 169248

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Jen Reese" <stevejjen at ...> wrote:

> 
> Jen: I'm going to be mean here and snip out all your fine arguments 
> because really, there's not much more I can add or subtract from 
> everything that's been said on the thread.  And your thought above 
> inspired me to try to start a "What I like about the character of 
> Snape" thread. :)  I can be open-minded, I *can*.  I'm going to give 
> some moments where I've enjoyed Snape as a character and admired the 
> job Rowling has done in creating him:
> 
> 1) Number 1 for me will always be his speech during the first 
> Occlumency lesson: "Then you will find yourself easy prey for the 
> Dark Lord!...Fools who wear their hearts proudly on their sleeves, 
> who cannot control their emotions, who wallow in sad memories and 
> allow themselves to be provoked this easily - weak people in other 
> words - they stand no chance against his powers!" 
> 
> Vulnerable!Snape.  Most of the times I really connect with the 
> character are when he's not being all swoopy and sneering and 
> definitely not scary Snape, but when he offers something of himself.  
> At least that's my understanding, that he's perhaps unknowingly 
> giving Harry insight into what made him 'easy prey' for Voldemort.
> 
> 2)  Pensieve Scene:  A moment of identifying with him, feeling 
> compassion, and wondering if Rowling might be going somewhere other 
> than what I'd thought was when young Severus had pink bubbles coming 
> out his mouth and was turned upside down to show his grey skivvies. I 
> felt like I was back in high school, not because I was ever bullied, 
> but because it's so easy to remember how mortifying that would have 
> been at that age.
> 
> 3)  That moment on the tower when he bursts through the ramparts, 
> taking in the scene, and Dumbledore first speaks his name.  He walks 
> forward and pushes Malfoy out of the way, the DEs drop back.  I wish 
> that moment could be suspended in time.  I thought he was going to 
> somehow set everything right, keep Dumbledore alive, work a miracle 
> and finally come out as being on Dumbledore's side.  (I'm not saying 
> Snape didn't do all those other things even if it appears to the 
> contrary, but I really thought *in that suspended moment* that DD was 
> about to be saved from a violent death even if he died from other 
> causes at the end of the story.)
> 
> Okay, *whew* don't want to stretch myself too much this first time.  
> I'd love to hear about other moments people connect with for whatever 
> reason.
> 
> Jen
>

Celia:

I second all of the above as top Snape characterizations. Your description of wanting to 
suspend the moment on the Tower in time actually gave me a little lump in the throat- so 
true!  I'll add a couple of my favorite Snape moments that give a little insight, even though 
they are very pretty brief.

1. I've always been intrigued by the fact that he is sitting alone in the staff room at the 
start of the boggart lesson in PoA. "The staffroom, a long, paneled room full of old, 
mismatched chairs, was empty except for one teacher. Professor Snape was sitting in a low 
armchair, and he looked around as the class filed in." (Am.ED. PB 132) To me this is one of 
the first indications we have of a larger life for Snape- he hangs out in the staff room? 
Does he have friends in the staff? Is he lonely and hoping someone will come in- just not 
Lupin and his class? It is a very small moment, but I've always found it to be a fascinating 
development in his character.

2. Similarly, the Snape/Fake!Moody/egg/Filch/Harry-under-the cloak stairs scene in GoF 
has the startling vision of "non-teacher" Snape in his gray nightshirt. Another glimpse of 
Vulnerable!Snape maybe, Jen? Confused, and not in control, and outmatched by Fake!
Moody, seizing his pained Dark Mark arm, and tuning a "nasty brick color, the vein in his 
temple pusing more rapidly." (471) I love love love Snape in cool control, as discussed up 
thread, but this scene gives the opposite view, a Snape that doesn't know what is going on 
and can't maneuver properly to find out. I think it is a very important scene for making 
him a multi-dimensional character.

3. Betsy had already made the case for the fabulous Sirius and Snape kitchen scene in 
OotP, which has so many little wonderful character moments for both, so I'll just add that 
when Snape's voice gets "quietly waspish," (518) it's time to be worried.

Celia