Snape killing flies WAS: Re: Lily WAS: First lesson

[montavilla47]

No: HPFGUIDX 185721

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "dumbledore11214" <dumbledore11214 at ...> 
wrote:
>
> Carol:
> < HUGE SNIP>
> In any case, if killing flies is an indication of murderous intentions
> or evil character, whether in teenagers or adults, we Muggles had
> better take a closer look at ourselves. <SNIP>
> 
> Alla:
> 
> In the real life of course not, but if in the book I am reading about 
> the character and seeing his memories and one of those very few 
> memories is him killing flies in his spare time, I will think that 
> author wants to say something about the character.
> 
> He is not reading books, he is not experimenting with potions, he is 
> not taking a walk, he is *killing flies*. That is a bizarre activity 
> for author to point out to me.
> 
> Because sure we all killed flies at some point of our lives (although 
> boy I cannot stand it, same as with cockroaches), but just as authors 
> usually do not show us characters going to the bathroom, unless it is 
> necessary to make a point, like few times in HP books it is necessary, 
> I would think that such thing does not need to be shown.
> 
> Since it is, I choose to make some conclusions based on that scene.
> 
> JMO,
> 
> Alla

Montavilla47:
I agree that we can and should draw insight into Snape's character
from those memories.  My impression of the third memory (with
the flies) was not that Snape was so horribly sadistic, but rather
that he was horribly bored and lonely as a teenager.

She could have shown him reading or making potions--but
those would not have conveyed either boredom or loneliness
to me.  Reading is a pleasureable experience.  I don't do it 
because I'm bored or lonely.  I do it because I enjoy reading--
often to the exclusion of other people.

Likewise, potion-making would have given me the impression
that teen-Snape was dedicated, maybe obsessive about magic.
Again, not bored or lonely.  

I'll agree that there's an edge of darkness in that he's killing
living creatures.  But, if you want to convey the sort of ickiness
that we associate with dangerously violent people, flies aren't
the best choice.

But, it's a good image, isn't it?  He's bored, lonely, and maybe 
--just maybe--he's sick and violent, too.  

I like the first image, too, when he's crying in the corner.  That 
one isn't so ambiguous.  It's hard to look at a crying child and 
have anything but sympathy for him.  The most ambiguous 
responses I've heard from people to that one are 1) that is 
isn't Snape's parents, but perhaps his mother and grandfather,
and 2) that the woman isn't afraid, but that they are simply
fighting on an equal level.

But what are we to make of that second memory?  It is just
to show us that Snape was horrible at riding brooms?  Is that
Lily laughing at him?  Or a random girl?  I find that people
tend to focus on either the first or the third memory and
gloss over that second one.