It's more like he's afraid of him and absolutely doesn't want to take any chances.
I think Snape is definitely afraid in that scene. It comes across not so much in his words as in his body language. Especially at the end of the scene, when he backs out of the room without taking his eyes of Lupin. Snape is, quite literally, unwilling to turn his back on Lupin.
I think that fear is exactly what leads Snape to bait Lupin about his dependency, as a way of asserting some measure of control in the situation. He's signalling to Lupin, "I'm not afraid of you. I know your secret and I control the access to the medicine you need, so dont' get uppity with me." But it doesn't work, because he is afraid, and Lupin isn't. Or at least, Lupin can appear as if he isn't.
This is one of my favorite scenes in the book, because it reveals so much about each character without explicitly saying anything, especially when you reread it knowing what the real situation is. It's all about psychological interplay. Technically, Snape should have the upper hand in the situation: he knows a secret Lupin is desperate to keep; he can send Lupin back to unemployment and poverty with a few words, while Lupin has no power to do anything to Snape except annoy him. Instead, Lupin totally has the upper hand because of his self-possession and emotional control. Lupin can, and does, push Snape's buttons; Snape can't push Lupin's, however much he tries.
Anybody who says JKR isn't capable of subtlety or complex characterizations should be smacked upside the head with a copy of PoA.
And is it just me or does "I was just showing Harry my Grindylow,' " sound extremely suggestive?
God, yes! I half-expected Snape to respond with "Is that what they're calling it these days?" But I suppose you can't say that in a children's book. :-P
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Date: 2004-05-08 09:24 am (UTC)I think Snape is definitely afraid in that scene. It comes across not so much in his words as in his body language. Especially at the end of the scene, when he backs out of the room without taking his eyes of Lupin. Snape is, quite literally, unwilling to turn his back on Lupin.
I think that fear is exactly what leads Snape to bait Lupin about his dependency, as a way of asserting some measure of control in the situation. He's signalling to Lupin, "I'm not afraid of you. I know your secret and I control the access to the medicine you need, so dont' get uppity with me." But it doesn't work, because he is afraid, and Lupin isn't. Or at least, Lupin can appear as if he isn't.
This is one of my favorite scenes in the book, because it reveals so much about each character without explicitly saying anything, especially when you reread it knowing what the real situation is. It's all about psychological interplay. Technically, Snape should have the upper hand in the situation: he knows a secret Lupin is desperate to keep; he can send Lupin back to unemployment and poverty with a few words, while Lupin has no power to do anything to Snape except annoy him. Instead, Lupin totally has the upper hand because of his self-possession and emotional control. Lupin can, and does, push Snape's buttons; Snape can't push Lupin's, however much he tries.
Anybody who says JKR isn't capable of subtlety or complex characterizations should be smacked upside the head with a copy of PoA.
And is it just me or does "I was just showing Harry my Grindylow,' " sound extremely suggestive?
God, yes! I half-expected Snape to respond with "Is that what they're calling it these days?" But I suppose you can't say that in a children's book. :-P