I'm totally in agreement on not appreciating the Comedy Drunk Routine that Rowling always slips Trelawney into. There is nothing funny about alcoholism, especially in the prescence of kids.
Alcoholism is a fairly big problem in Scotland (http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2005/12/15105006). When one is raised in a cultural environment where heavy drinking is considered quite normal, and anyone who can't keep up with the others or handle his/her booze intake is often considered a figure of fun, it makes sense for that attitude to crop up – however unintentionally – in one's creative endeavors. Such may well be the case with Rowling (but without knowing her personally I couldn't say for sure).
Slughorn likes to come and tell people how brilliant Harry is at Potions. He says only a few have such an ability, that "even Severus" apparently failed to measure up to Harry's sainted mother.
I saw Slughorn's comment as suggesting that "even Severus" was impressed with Lily's abilities, NOT that her skills were superior to his. Remember that Slughorn is aware of Severus next to him, and invites him to join the conversation:
Slughorn: "Some credit must go to you, of course, you taught him for five years!"
Snape: "Funny, I never had the impression that I managed to teach Potter anything at all."
:D
Professor Snape admits to "acting". Still, we don't know if he's saying this to appease Draco or because he means it.
Oh, I think he means it. "It is an act that is crucial to success...Where do you think I would have been all these years, if I had not known how to act?" This statement is BRILLIANT, because it's a play on the word act (acting as thespian talents and acting as making decisive moves) and because even as he lets Draco in on his act, he never mentions who he acts on behalf of.
What a Player! <3 Sign me up for that super-sekrit Snape community, peeps!
...if this is used as proof that Professor Snape was clearly in love with Harry's mother...
Well, how is "love" being defined? What sort of "love" are we talking about here?
I can imagine Severus as a horny teenager, wanting a piece of arse and figuring it would humiliate James if it was Lily's arse he got a piece of. (Looking at how the teenagers interact in HPB, I can totally see Rowling writing that scenario with a straight face!) Perhaps Severus & Lily indulged in game-playing & mindfucking the way Ron and Hermione do, with a bit of opposing-House tension thrown in the mix – since Snape's far smarter than either Ron OR Hermione, such exchanges would at least be delightfully snarky on his end. (Wouldn't it be interesting if Lily "pulled a McLaggen" on Snape with James Potter and found she couldn't get out of it?)
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timeasmymeasure
Fashionably Late.
Date: 2005-12-18 12:25 am (UTC)Alcoholism is a fairly big problem in Scotland (http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2005/12/15105006). When one is raised in a cultural environment where heavy drinking is considered quite normal, and anyone who can't keep up with the others or handle his/her booze intake is often considered a figure of fun, it makes sense for that attitude to crop up – however unintentionally – in one's creative endeavors. Such may well be the case with Rowling (but without knowing her personally I couldn't say for sure).
Slughorn likes to come and tell people how brilliant Harry is at Potions. He says only a few have such an ability, that "even Severus" apparently failed to measure up to Harry's sainted mother.
I saw Slughorn's comment as suggesting that "even Severus" was impressed with Lily's abilities, NOT that her skills were superior to his. Remember that Slughorn is aware of Severus next to him, and invites him to join the conversation:
Slughorn: "Some credit must go to you, of course, you taught him for five years!"
Snape: "Funny, I never had the impression that I managed to teach Potter anything at all."
:D
Professor Snape admits to "acting". Still, we don't know if he's saying this to appease Draco or because he means it.
Oh, I think he means it. "It is an act that is crucial to success...Where do you think I would have been all these years, if I had not known how to act?" This statement is BRILLIANT, because it's a play on the word act (acting as thespian talents and acting as making decisive moves) and because even as he lets Draco in on his act, he never mentions who he acts on behalf of.
What a Player! <3 Sign me up for that super-sekrit Snape community, peeps!
...if this is used as proof that Professor Snape was clearly in love with Harry's mother...
Well, how is "love" being defined? What sort of "love" are we talking about here?
I can imagine Severus as a horny teenager, wanting a piece of arse and figuring it would humiliate James if it was Lily's arse he got a piece of. (Looking at how the teenagers interact in HPB, I can totally see Rowling writing that scenario with a straight face!) Perhaps Severus & Lily indulged in game-playing & mindfucking the way Ron and Hermione do, with a bit of opposing-House tension thrown in the mix – since Snape's far smarter than either Ron OR Hermione, such exchanges would at least be delightfully snarky on his end. (Wouldn't it be interesting if Lily "pulled a McLaggen" on Snape with James Potter and found she couldn't get out of it?)