Is Snape so bad as a teacher?

[mary_j_59]

This is a response to the January challenge on Snapedom. I was apprehensive about posting, because the situations I describe are real. But the two crimes against students I discuss (briefly) haven't been mentioned yet, so I took the plunge. The essay follows the cut - It's g rated, as usual, and fairly short - probably no more than 1,500 words.

Comments

Dementors/Snape

[terri_testing]

Actually, we don't know that Snape was was willing (as opposed to WANTING) to let Dementors suck out Sirius's soul. What we have to go by is what HE DID. Which was strap Sirius to a stretcher, bring him gently--with no further injury, unlike what Sirius did to him-- up to Hogwarts, and turn him over to the Ministry for judgement by a presumably more impartial source.

I reread the entire canon ignoring what Severus threatened to do and focusing on what he DID do--hoo boy, it changes things.

Severus, to be fair. worked really REALLY hard to direct (misdirect) ones' perceptions a certain way. One shouldn't beat up oneself too much-or canon characters--for falling for his scams.

If you ignore his and Dumbledore's misdirections, and focus instead on Severus's ACTIONS--um. Well.

I commend the exercise to your attention.

As to calling Albus's actions at the end of POA "viciously cruel"--well, there are things Albus did that I can justify, especially given the war status and Albus's presumably being a victim of Asperger's, incapable of responding to normal human feelings.

Not that.

Re: Dementors/Snape

[mary_j_59]

About what Severus actually DOES, you are perfectly right. I noticed this when I began analyzing the character seriously, after HBP, and others have pointed it out, as well. He treats Sirius far better than Sirius treats him. If you really look at what he does in the books, and what he responds to, his gentleness is as obvious as his courage and loyalty. He is extraordinarily patient and forbearing with Harry a couple of times - not just in the Occlumency lessons, but also in the aftermath to "Sectumsempra". Once you see this - and it is really there - it's impossible to understand Rowling's attitude to the character. I was so sure that he was going to be the hidden king! That reading really fit him - and even made sense of the silly nickname - but no. Rowling keeps insisting that he is an unrepentant bully, despite all the evidence to the contrary. And those truly unrepentant bullies, James and Sirius, are called heroes. Oh, well.