I always got the impression that Professor Snape was the quintessential example of the old joke: "Why are academic politics so cut-throat?" (Answer: "Because the stakes are so small"). He's a man who is demonstratably one of the more qualified practitioners of his art (despite his prickly nature, a number of people go to him for potions and the like in the first three books), who has also been teased by his peers for his aloof nature and lack of humor for many years. I got the impression that he became a teacher because he wanted people to respect him and sees the rejection of his application for the Defense Against the Dark Arts chair as more of the same persecution that he's endured for years. He's not evil, just neurotic.
Disclaimer: I haven't read Goblet of Fire yet, so my opinions are only based on the first three books.
Ebony the Black Dragon
aka Draco Draconis Ebenium
known to Harper Press as Aaron F. Johnson
Senior Editor, Living Room Games
www.lrgames.com
Ebony the Black Dragon
http://ebony14.livejournal.com
"Good night, and may the Good Lord take a Viking to you."
Disclaimer: I haven't read Goblet of Fire yet, so my opinions are only based on the first three books.
Ebony the Black Dragon
aka Draco Draconis Ebenium
known to Harper Press as Aaron F. Johnson
Senior Editor, Living Room Games
www.lrgames.com
Ebony the Black Dragon
http://ebony14.livejournal.com
"Good night, and may the Good Lord take a Viking to you."