Grab a butterbeer and sing with us: Snape, Snape, Severus Snape! Join Sam, Taavi, Irvin, and our guest Luke, in discussion of Harry’s first week at school in Chapter 8 of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone!
In this episode:
- Are there Fitting Charms on Mrs. Weasley’s sweaters?
- Madam Malkin’s clever marketing ploy!
- Hermione’s parents would be appalled at Quirrellmort’s dental hygiene
- Did Dumbledore know that Voldemort was possessing Quirrell?
- Can you make a map of Hogwarts for the first years?
- The Victorian language of flowers
- Can Snape’s behavior be excused or just explained?
- House point inflation
- Does Hagrid save his favorite newspapers?
- A wizard is never late, except to class
Pub’s Jukebox: Potions with Neville by Seamus and the Finnigans
I think I failed to properly challenge Sam’s objection to the premise of my argument regarding empathy for Snape. While it is true that Snape has had sixteen years to process his complicated feelings, doing so requires an emotional stability he does not possess. Said stability matures with nourishment, friendship and personal experiences. Snape is almost entirely blameless for his case of arrested development – the few mistakes he does make (i.e., his attraction to the Dark Arts, calling Lily a Mudblood, etc.) are usually ultimately driven by prejudice/inclinations he’s inherited from his parents. And given what we know about Snape’s abusive and isolated childhood, it isn’t surprising that he never learned to work through his emotions. To his credit, he tries – he exposes himself to Dumbledore and expresses his feelings in his own, raw way on multiple occasions – but Dumbledore always shuts down any avenue of potentially resolving them. I don’t feel empathy for Snape because he’s had a hard life – I feel empathy for him because his hard life – I feel empathy for him because his hard life has caused him to become a very confused and conflicted man. I can’t excuse how he treated Harry in their first potions class, but I can understand what he’s going through and show him forgiveness.
A note to Irvin: Sam was correct; the nature of the Hogwarts staircases is NOT just a movie-ism. From Cursed Child, Act Two, Scene Twelve:
ALBUS walks up a staircase. Looking around as he does.
He doesn’t see anything. He exits. The staircases move in almost a dance.
SCORPIUS enters behind him. He thinks he’s seen ALBUS, he realizes he isn’t there.
He slumps down to the floor as the staircase sweeps around. MADAM HOOCH enters and walks up the staircase. At the top, she gestures for SCORPIUS to move.
He does. And slopes off – his abject loneliness clear.
ALBUS enters and walks up one staircase. SCORPIUS enters and walks up another.
The staircases meet. The two boys look at each other.
Lost and hopeful – all at once.
And then ALBUS looks away and the moment is broken – and with it, possibly, the friendship.
And now the staircases part – the two look at each other – one full of guilt – the other full of pain – both full of unhappiness. (CC 125)
And most people agree (with a few loudmouthed exceptions ;)) – including the author herself, that CC is CANON, this proves the point. Also, what a brilliant piece of poetic imagery as a literary device! (Lol, I know I’m just killing you right now.)
Thanks a TON again for letting me guest host, it was truly a wonderful experience! You’re all amazing and insightful people!