update & the symbolic Snape
Well, the fever is down if not gone and that's a good thing. My limbs are still rubbery and I'm a bit anaemic, but I'm slowly regaining strength and able to sit up longer, etc.
This bug was bad, but Lupus is truly le bitch. My friends, however, are choice. :) Thank you all for the well-wishes, the e-cards, the links, and emails. Special thanks to cordelia_v for her very thoughtful and helpful gift. *hugs flist*
Reading this:
http://book7.co.uk/three/
reminded me of another neat thing I discovered but that has yet to be widely posted about.
We know from book 1 that Snape likes (or is good with) riddles and is a master of double entendre and insinuation. Many times his words are couched with hidden meaning.
In their first meeting in Potions class, Snape picks Harry out as "our new celebrity" and asks him what he would get by adding asphodel to an infusion of wormwood.
Asphodel symbolically means death, esp. death of someone beloved to the person who offers asphodel. Asphodel is also a lily. Wormwood symbolically means bitter sorrow. So in essence, Snape is asking Harry if he knows what death wrapped in bitter sorrow is. Or put another way, he might be trying to tell Harry that he loved her and that he bitterly regrets Lily's death.
Harry, of course, ignorant of not just the wizarding world, but of symbolism, feels the clue-by-four whizz over his head and begins to wonder why Snape appears to be singling him out for abuse.
Snape, of course, feels Harry (whose mother was a Potions prodigy) is being remarkably obtuse and/or possibly spurning his carefully couched condolences.
And ne'er the twain shall meet... or?
Addendum: The Petunia (like Lily's sister) is symbolic of anger and resentment.
This bug was bad, but Lupus is truly le bitch. My friends, however, are choice. :) Thank you all for the well-wishes, the e-cards, the links, and emails. Special thanks to cordelia_v for her very thoughtful and helpful gift. *hugs flist*
Reading this:
http://book7.co.uk/three/
reminded me of another neat thing I discovered but that has yet to be widely posted about.
We know from book 1 that Snape likes (or is good with) riddles and is a master of double entendre and insinuation. Many times his words are couched with hidden meaning.
In their first meeting in Potions class, Snape picks Harry out as "our new celebrity" and asks him what he would get by adding asphodel to an infusion of wormwood.
Asphodel symbolically means death, esp. death of someone beloved to the person who offers asphodel. Asphodel is also a lily. Wormwood symbolically means bitter sorrow. So in essence, Snape is asking Harry if he knows what death wrapped in bitter sorrow is. Or put another way, he might be trying to tell Harry that he loved her and that he bitterly regrets Lily's death.
Harry, of course, ignorant of not just the wizarding world, but of symbolism, feels the clue-by-four whizz over his head and begins to wonder why Snape appears to be singling him out for abuse.
Snape, of course, feels Harry (whose mother was a Potions prodigy) is being remarkably obtuse and/or possibly spurning his carefully couched condolences.
And ne'er the twain shall meet... or?
Addendum: The Petunia (like Lily's sister) is symbolic of anger and resentment.