Dissection: SS/PS ~ Chapter 8 The Potions Master

[A Gunslinger]

This chapter begins with Harry Potter being pointed and stared at by nearly everyone who sees him. It’s particularly difficult for Harry as he ignores the excessive attention given to him while trying to find his way to classes. He is of course “the boy who lived”.

A vivid description of the Hogwarts castle with the various quirks of the stairs, ghosts doors and portraits follows.

We are next introduced to Mr. Filch and his cat, Mrs. Norris. Harry and Ron get on his wrong side nearly immediately while trying to force their way through a door that led to the forbidden corridor. Mr. Filch threatens to lock them up in the dungeons for their deed, starting a long arduous relationship between the eventual DA and Filch.

The classes our friends have are: Astronomy, Herbology, History of Magic, Charms, Transfiguration, Defense against the Dark Arts and Potions.

The professors are described next. Each of them, a brilliant mind.

Professor Flitwick: Excitable
Professor McGonagall: Strict, clever and fair.
Professor Binns: Dedicated (?)
Professor Quirrell: A Joke
Professor Snape: Well that's what the chapter is about isn't it? (Free Severus!) We discover that while most of the teachers are delighted to have Harry in their classes, Snape is less than impressed, and in fact seems to delight in his own dislike of Potter. The potions master is portrayed as someone who is cold and commanding. He has the ability to 'keep a class silent without effort'. Snape picks upon Harry at the start of class itself. While taking roll call, he pauses at Harry's name and says, "Harry Potter. Our new -- celebrity"…in a sneering fashion, of course. And his final remark, "Tut, tut -- fame clearly isn't everything" is decidedly mean.

The mails arrive that morning and to Harry's immense surprise; Hedwig brings him a note from Hagrid asking them to join him for tea. Good for Harry. He does have something to look forward to, but…

Why does Hagrid invite Harry for tea? Does he do this to everyone he happens to know or is it just a privilege accorded to Harry? If so, why? Harry is and insecure. lad, for certain. Probably the result of years of abuse.

Potions Lessons are called the worst thing that happened to Harry so far(at least according to him). Harry discovers that his idea about Professor Snape disliking him had been a little 'understated'. Snape hated Harry or at least that's what Harry thought.

At Hagrid's cottage, Ron and Harry get rather comfortable and enjoy their visit until Harry spots the article about the break in at Gringotts'.

He isn't quite convinced that Hagrid was being truthful but goes back to the castle with his pocket weighed down with rock cakes and seeds of curiosity firmly planted in his head.

All in all this is a cornerstone Chapter in the Harry Potter series as it sets up the antagonistic dynamic between Harry and Snape. More importantly it set forth the biased mind's eye that Rowling causes the reader to dislike Snape themselves, making Snapes intentions unkowable and suspect throught the series (except, of course for ME...who knew Snape was a devilishly cool character!) Hee!

[Seafoam Understone]

The introduction of Snapes at this time is apt. Things in Harry's life seem to be on the upswing. He's afforded a chance to get away from the cruel Dursleys and enter into a realm all new and fascinating to him (and us!). Wonders at every turn and mysteries of what to come pop up at every corner.
Then Snapes. It's almost as if Harry will never escape an antagonist where-ever he goes. Yet the reasons why are not clear at this time.
Already Snapes gives the impression of a cruel life growing up and now is in a position of "power" and can exact a belated sort of revenge against those who made his life miserable, against their children as it were. This already speaks volumes about Snapes' character.
We begin to worry for Harry at this point.

Good dissection Guns.

I was beginning to wonder at the delays but now glad to see the dissections are picking up again.

[Zahir]

I initially read HP#1 aloud to my fiancee, and this chapter was too fun. Loved doing a "Snape voice" (which turned out very very similar to that of Alan Rickman) and totally convinced her that Snape was THE villain of the piece. Heh heh. She wasn't easily fooled, either. She figured out the ending of Sixth Sense!

A couple of interesting traits in Harry show up here, all rather positive if sometimes problematical. One is that he's got a nicely curious mind. He doesn't simply accept that Snape hates him, but wonders why. Likewise, he picks up on Hagrid having something to hide. The Gameskeeper almost certainly knows how much Snape and James loathed one another, and that Snape had at one time been a Death Eater.

It is also nice that Harry immediately thought to bring his friends together. Relationships are an interesting dynamic to see, and the one surrounding Harry is remarkably complex and realistic. Even at age eleven, he's showing signs of generosity, openness (which helps make him pretty hopeless at Legimens) and leadership. This also indicates another factor in Harry's personality--his loneliness. At this point, recall, he only has two friends in the entire world.

[Cameraman Jenn]

About the Hagrid invitation. I think that it's a "special privelege" and it's because Hagrid has already established a relationship with Harry after rescuing him from the Dursleys and finding out for himself the apalling way that they kept all of the magical world from Harry's knowlege. I think Hagrid is trying to help him fit in and make sure he's doing ok. Also, Harry feels comfortable enough with Hagrid to question him about Snape and Snape's loathing of Harry. Hagrid doesn't quite instill confidence with his response.

Nice work Guns.... love all the references to you being right. I guess that humble pie is still fresh enough to eat some more....

[A Gunslinger]

About the Hagrid invitation. I think that it's a "special privelege" and it's because Hagrid has already established a relationship with Harry after rescuing him from the Dursleys and finding out for himself the apalling way that they kept all of the magical world from Harry's knowlege. I think Hagrid is trying to help him fit in and make sure he's doing ok. Also, Harry feels comfortable enough with Hagrid to question him about Snape and Snape's loathing of Harry. Hagrid doesn't quite instill confidence with his response.

Nice work Guns.... love all the references to you being right. I guess that humble pie is still fresh enough to eat some more....

*cuts fresh piece o' pie for his galpal Jenn-eroo*

Would you like that with a cool scoop of "I told ya so?"

[storm]

Nice work Guns!

...I love how this chapter sets the stage for the relationship b/w HP and Snape for the next 6 books. If there is one thing Jo did flawlessly, it was that relationship. Some in the minority *giggle* believed that Snape reaked of awesomeness, but only in the very end of the series did we see just how awesome. This chapter was pivotal IMO.

[Cameraman Jenn]

Well, let me say my piece on Snape. Snape is a mean, petty and selfish asshole. He is NOT a nice guy. He went out of his way to make Harry's life more difficult than it had to be. He purposefully made Harry miserable EVERY chance he could get. He helps Harry at the VERY END. ONLY WHEN HE KNOWS that he is dying and Harry is about to die does he give Harry a break. Sorry. Snape may have been on the side of good in the end but he was a cruel bastard all of the rest of the time.

[storm]

You are correct on all points...but I think that those who like the anti-hero (this is a TC forum after all) wanted to find something good in Snape b/c he was too brilliant, too trusted by DD...there had to be a reason why he was beyond reproach. W/O getting too crazy here (we can start another thread if you'd like), Snape was hero for those who were never popular, never liked. He had one real friend, she married his mortal enemy and he was shamed into protecting her son...if you strip away the grandiose nature of his insults, you see that if he weren't as strong or as brave as he was, long ago would he have given into madness.

[Menolly]

W/O getting too crazy here (we can start another thread if you'd like)

Why? The chapter is titled The Potions Master. And compared to the dissectons of SRD's books, these threads are barely posted in.

Feel free to talk Snape all you want here. I know we said in the dissections themselves we would try to avoid referencing later books. But I think in the follow-up discussion it should be OK. If anyone disagrees, LMK.

[storm]

Its cool with me...i just wasn't sure what the protocol was on dissection threads (been MIA for a few months with clinicals, trying to get re-oriented).

[Menolly]

As I think this is the first time a dissection has been done on a non-SRD series here on the Watch, I'm pretty confident we can play it all by ear.

[A Gunslinger]

Well, let me say my piece on Snape. Snape is a mean, petty and selfish asshole. He is NOT a nice guy. He went out of his way to make Harry's life more difficult than it had to be. He purposefully made Harry miserable EVERY chance he could get. He helps Harry at the VERY END. ONLY WHEN HE KNOWS that he is dying and Harry is about to die does he give Harry a break. Sorry. Snape may have been on the side of good in the end but he was a cruel bastard all of the rest of the time.

Snape was apetty jerk to be sure...but a misunderstood petty jerk. The tradegdy of Snape was that he let his unrequeited love enforce his natural propensity toward selfishness. Only too late did he figure out that forgiveness was the key.


I love Snape.

[Cameraman Jenn]

You are so gay for Snape! That's one of the reasons I lurve you so much Guns!

[A Gunslinger]

check out "The Mancrush"!

[Cameraman Jenn]

I lurve you Guns, I really really do.

[A Gunslinger]

I blush!

[Stubby Boardman]

Well, let me say my piece on Snape. Snape is a mean, petty and selfish asshole. He is NOT a nice guy. He went out of his way to make Harry's life more difficult than it had to be. He purposefully made Harry miserable EVERY chance he could get. He helps Harry at the VERY END. ONLY WHEN HE KNOWS that he is dying and Harry is about to die does he give Harry a break. Sorry. Snape may have been on the side of good in the end but he was a cruel bastard all of the rest of the time.

I totally agree with you on Snape. You see in this chapter how cold and cruel Snape is along with his knack for holding a grudge against Harry for no reason other than being James' son.

And yes he only helps Harry at the very end and what a coincidence that Harry just happened to be in the shack under the cloak at that time. If he wasn't, those memories would have died with him.

When you sit and think about it...all this foolishness is because of a woman..Lilly.

[A Gunslinger]

Well, let me say my piece on Snape. Snape is a mean, petty and selfish asshole. He is NOT a nice guy. He went out of his way to make Harry's life more difficult than it had to be. He purposefully made Harry miserable EVERY chance he could get. He helps Harry at the VERY END. ONLY WHEN HE KNOWS that he is dying and Harry is about to die does he give Harry a break. Sorry. Snape may have been on the side of good in the end but he was a cruel bastard all of the rest of the time.

I totally agree with you on Snape. You see in this chapter how cold and cruel Snape is along with his knack for holding a grudge against Harry for no reason other than being James' son.

And yes he only helps Harry at the very end and what a coincidence that Harry just happened to be in the shack under the cloak at that time. If he wasn't, those memories would have died with him.

When you sit and think about it...all this foolishness is because of a woman..Lilly.

Is there a better reason? If so, I'd LOOOVE to hear it!

You see, girls are nifty. So speaks Guns, so speaks the cosmic truth.

[Zahir]

For the record, I agree that Snape is a mean and selfish man, one who abused the power he had over children--a despicable trait.

But...

There was more to him than that. And when you begin to understand his past, it is easier to understand the reason for his appalling behavior. Simply, this is what happens to someone when as a child they are denied love. Individuals still have choices, but consider this. We make many of our most important life choices, developing many of our most fundamental emotional and behavioral habits at a time when we are least competent to do so. To some extent, it is raw luck whether we guess right or not. Snape made terrible choices--but who was there to teach him anything else?

Well, there was someone. But by then it ultimately proved too late.

And while we're at it, let us again remember that Snape led a lonely, unhappy life. For all the sins he ever committed, he was indeed punished. Look at his life, at the day-to-day experience of regret and boredom and loneliness that was Snape's existence and methinks you'll find him deserving of pity.

Condemn him for the viciousness he practiced.

But forgive him for the reasons he did it.

Then remember...

Spoiler

just how much good he did, and at what personal cost. It would be "neat" if people were all-good or all-bad, or if admirable people always did the right thing and despicable ones did the wrong. But life isn't like that.

[A Gunslinger]

Severus Snape is perhaps 1 of 3 or 4 of the most complex characters written in modern lierature.

There is something of a classic baby-boomer in Snape in that as a generation (like Snape), their own self-interests and limitations have led to repercussions born of excess. Yet, they (and our beloved Severus) also are aware enough of the "big picture" to provide support, even if too late, to their "higher angels".

I love Snape.

*guns bats his eye lashes and sighs*