[HPforGrownups] CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Prisoner of Azkaban Chapter 14: Snape's grudge

[Bart Lidofsky]

No: HPFGUIDX 190065

CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
> Questions:
> 1. Was it fair that Sir Cadogan was sacked when all he did was to allow entry to someone who had the passwords? Isn't that what passwords are for?

Bart:
Well, the question is how intelligent portraits are to begin with. 
Sirius was clearly neither student nor teacher, so theoretically Sir 
Cadogan should have been suspicious, password or no password. However, 
as he probably did not have this sort of judgment painted into him, he 
is not suited to be a guard of a dormitory. Sacking is fair and just.

Jeanine the elf:
> 2. Were Harry and Ron extremely foolish and selfish not to reveal the hidden
> passageway to Hogwart's staff, especially to Dumbledore?

Bart:
Well, yes; it could be used in the other direction. Of course, Lupin 
knew about it too, and didn't bother to report it, but we don't "know" 
that yet. Besides, I would be very surprised if DD did not know about 
the entrance, even at this point.

J the E:
> 3. Although Hagrid appears to be talking only of Hermione when he tells the boys he would have expected that they would value friendship above broomsticks, (the new Firebolt is what has interested them) is he also subtly suggesting that they thought more of the Firebolt than of their friendship with him too  in that they have forgotten the threat to Buckbeak?

Bart:
If Hagrid meant that, he would have said that. Or, at worst, hinted far 
more strongly.

J the E:
> 4. Even if he is not, what do you think of the boys' attitude to a good friend
> when that friend`s need is forgotten or pushed out of mind by a mere new
> possession?

Bart:
In Arlo Guthrie's song/story "Alice's Restaurant Massacree", after a 
number of events not involving Alice, he says, "And Alice... Remember 
Alice? (laughter) This SONG'S about Alice... (more laughter)". With the 
illusion of time passing, JKR has cleverly caused the READER (well most 
readers) to remember that THEY had forgotten about the promised work for 
Buckbeak, too. If you look at real time instead of story time, it is 
pretty incomprehensible that the boys would have forgotten all about it. 
I call it poetic license.

J the E:
> 5. What do you think of Harry's action in visiting Hogsmeade with Black on the
> loose? Do you think that Harry reflects on the consequences of his actions of
> that day?

Bart:
Harry is convinced of his own invulnerability. He did, after all, manage 
to duck a confrontation with Black. I don't think it is until after 
Lupin reveals his disappointment (see below) that it sinks in what a 
stupid thing he had done.

L the E:
> 6. Do you think Snape makes the remarks about Harry's father to goad him into
> losing his cool and admitting where he has been?

At the time? Yes. Having read the whole series? Well, there was 
something I had suspected from VERY early on in the series, and that was 
that Snape resented the fact that his own efforts in the first Mortywar 
were pretty much unappreciated, while Harry was lauded as THE hero, 
having pretty much done nothing but be there. Snape would look at Harry, 
and see James. From his point of view, Harry was an arrogant prick, and 
Snape was stuck with him. So, I believe that Snape was using his 
standard method of getting Harry sufficiently angry to do the right thing.

J the E:
> 7. Both Snape and Lupin tell Harry he is selfish in going to Hogsmeade when
> everyone else is putting themselves out to ensure his safety. Why does Harry
> resent hearing this from Snape but feels chastened when he hears it from Lupin?

Bart:
There is a compelling argument that is not part of formal logic called 
the "your own man argument". Its name comes from when children play 
games, and work in teams. If there is an argument about a play, and a 
member of one team who was on the scene argues in favor of the other 
team, that usually ends the argument in favor of the other team, then 
and there. If someone from the first team chooses to continue the 
argument, he is silenced by the statement, "Your own man says you're 
wrong." and there is generally no valid rejoinder to it. Essentially, a 
witness who stands to suffer more than s/he gains from his or her 
testimony is generally found to be more believable than one who will 
gain, or even one who is disinterested. In this case, Lupin is on 
Harry's team; when Snape, the opposition, says that Harry's wrong, 
that's just an argument, but when Lupin, Harry's "own man" says that 
Harry's wrong, then that ends any arguments then and there.

Bart