Chapt Discussion: HPSS/CS Ch8 - Additional Questions

[bboyminn]

No: HPFGUIDX 188251



---  "Alorkin" <Alorkin at ...> wrote:
>...
>  
> 8. Feel free to add your own question. 
> 
> **Why is the castle off limits to students after hours?  Why has no one done anything about Snape's blatant abuses of power?  Why did none of the staff suspect anything about Quirrell?  Snape covets the position, surely his unmasking Quirrelmort would guarantee him the position.  Why does Dumbledore foster the interhouse hatreds through his inaction?  
> 
> Alorkin
>

bboyminn:

Not quite up to tackling the other questions, so I'll touch
on these -

1.) Why is the castle off limits to students after hours?

Are you insane? (smiley face) Think of the discipline problems
in the average American school, now imagine those same students
boarding at the school. If there weren't fully enforced strict 
rule, it would be anarchy. 

We see clearly from the time that students are out of bed
after hours, that it is for no /good/ reason. It is most
surely for some type of mischief making. Dueling, sneaking
illegal dragons around, brewing potions, sneaking off to 
enter dangerous and forbidden chamber, sneaking off school
grounds...anarchy and chaos I tell you, anarchy and chaos.

It has to be a nightmare controlling students in a boarding
school. 


2.) Why has no one done anything about Snape's blatant abuses
of power? 

Keep in mind that we are talking about a school system that
thought it was alright to cane students up until very recently.

English schools aren't like namby-pamby American schools. They,
at least until in recent history, were very strict and brutal. 
Though most British thoughr the caning and other barbaric 
behavior built character, so they let it go on. I can't
believe more students weren't killed during that period of
history.

So, a stict miserable teacher like Snape wouldn't have been
that out of place in the older British school system. Consider
Snape very much like the average nun in Catholic School. 


3.) Why did none of the staff suspect anything about Quirrell?

I think earlier in your post you asked, why didn't anyone
notice Quirrell, referring mostly to the fact he smelled.

I think they did notice that he smelled, but what could they do,
suggest he take a shower? They knew he was scared of vampires,
and they knew he smelled strongly of garlic, so it seemed a
logical progression - smell...garlic...vampires...afraid.

As to why they didn't suspect him, well partly because he was
clearly an odd ball, and as such, do to his timidness, he was
likely to be least suspected. The Quirrell Harry met down in 
the Chamber was not the same Quirrell that was presented to 
the staff on a routine basis over the course of years. 

Snape, in the eyes of most of the students, would certainly
seem like a much more likely suspect. 

Look at real life as an example, it is not the loud obnoxious
obvious jerk, but the quiet unassuming guy hiding in the corner
who ends up in a bell tower with a rifle.

As to Snape unmasking Quirrell in order to get his job, well
we know Snape and Quirrell were having a degree of conflict.
We know Snape suspected him of something. So, Snape wasn't
exactly ignoring Quirrell. In fact, more than anyone else, it
was Snape who did suspect Quirrell, and was doing something
to stop him. And, I'm sure if Snape had any proof, he would 
have had no reservations in taking Quirrell down. 


4.) Why does Dumbledore foster the inter-house hatreds through
his inaction?  

No offense, but I think you might be looking at the British
Hogwarts through modern touchy-feely American eyes. Keep in 
mind it wasn't that long ago, that caning of a sort was 
actually common in American school, just not quite to the 
degree it was in British boarding schools. 

I don't think Dumbledore fosters hatred through inaction. I
think he understands that schoolboys will inevitably find
sources of schoolboy rivalries. Think of real world Soccer
firms and hooligans, who fanatically and brutally support their
various soccer teams. And to some extent, though to a lesser
degree, we find similar with American sports team fans. Why
don't the authorities try to stop it? Because to try and stop
it, to assume you could stamp it out completely, would be an
excersize in futility. 

I also suspect that once they are grown up a bit, those same
schoolboys have little or no problem dealing with other 
Houses in daily life. This whole fanatic schoolboy rivalry,
is just that, something for impetuous impulsive hormone ridden
schoolboys. I think it softens tremendously in adult life. 

Just a few thoughts.

Steve/bboyminn