My Snape Essay -- At Last!

[rj_anderson]

sheryll has kindly given me the go-ahead on this, so I am very happy to present to you my Convention Alley paper in its entirety. (Well, except for the footnotes, but if anybody wants them, let me know and I'll send you the Word document.) Anyway, here goes:

"A Deeply Horrible Person": The Unlikely Redemption of Severus Snape
R.J. Anderson

Many readers of the Harry Potter books regard Professor Severus Snape as an unrepentant sinner with little or no chance for redemption. However, the books themselves suggest that what Harry perceives about Snape is seldom the whole truth and that there may be a rational basis behind even Snape's worst-seeming behavior. As the textual evidence in Snape's favor is presented, his positive relationships with more obviously "good" characters such as Dumbledore and McGonagall are considered, as well as the significant moral choice he made to leave Voldemort's service and join the Order of the Phoenix. In light of J.K. Rowling's observant Presbyterian background and the self-admitted importance of her religious beliefs to the development of the series, the influence of Christian theology on Snape's character arc is examined, and a few suggestions are made about Snape's fate.

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Since the first volume of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series was published in 1997, readers of the books have been divided in their opinions of the character of Severus Snape. Is the potions master at Hogwarts truly as Harry perceives him, a cruel, tyrannical man whose sole pleasure lies in persecuting those weaker than himself? Is he, as it sometimes appears, a reprobate--the kind of hardened and unrepentant sinner who feels no need for forgiveness and has no hope of receiving it? Many readers of the books do regard Snape in this way, and whether they loathe his nastiness or find it entertaining, they do not expect any better from him in the future.

Other readers, however, take a different view of Snape's character, persuaded that he is not as bad as Harry imagines him to be. Drawing on various hints and clues scattered throughout the Potter books, they argue that Snape's actions and motivations are seldom as straightforward, or as petty, as they might at first appear. Though to Harry he may seem a villain, there are nonetheless positive aspects to Snape's behaviour, and even moral and spiritual depths to his character, that suggest he is not beyond redemption.

But even if the latter view is correct, what would it mean within the context of the Potter books for Snape to be redeemed? Must his personality be dramatically transformed, through some crisis or miracle, into a kinder, gentler incarnation--perhaps more like Harry's favourite Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Remus Lupin? Or does his author have something more complex and even--surprising as it might seem--theological in mind?


The Sins of Snape
It is difficult to romanticize Snape, much less nominate him for sainthood, if one has been paying attention to the books. By now Rowling has made it quite clear that he is not an attractive man, either in appearance or in personality. Even before Harry knows anything about Snape or has reason to dislike him, he describes the potions master as a "teacher with greasy black hair, hooked nose, and sallow skin," whose gaze rests upon Harry--an eleven-year-old boy he has never met before--with a cold and implacable hatred.

Nor does Snape improve upon further acquaintance. As Harry attends Snape's potions classes and observes him at various other school activities, it soon becomes clear that Snape is quick to judge others, harbours deep and abiding grudges, and frequently laces his remarks with sarcasm or outright verbal cruelty. He routinely threatens and belittles Harry and his friends, including the hapless Neville Longbottom. He often shows favouritism to the students of his own Slytherin House while unjustly taking points from Gryffindor, the house to which Harry and his friends belong.

If this were not enough evidence of Snape's faults, the fourth book of the series reveals something even worse about him--that in his youth he swore allegiance to the evil wizard Voldemort and received his Dark Mark, becoming one of his feared Death Eaters. Although Snape eventually switched sides and became a double agent, it is plain that he still possesses many of the same unpleasant traits that he displayed while in the Dark Lord's service. Even Snape's own creator has described him in interviews as "a very sadistic teacher" and "a deeply horrible person," and reminds us that though we may be tempted to feel sorry for him, we "shouldn't think he's too nice."


Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness
Nevertheless, even though Snape's dark history and present unkindness toward Harry and his friends may be well established in the books, J.K. Rowling is evidently not prepared to let either her characters or the reader dismiss him as a two-dimensional villain. From the beginning of the series she has dropped broad hints that Harry's understanding of Snape's actions and motives is limited at best, at times dangerously incorrect, and that there is more, much more, to Snape's character than meets the eye. In fact, the climax of the very first volume in the series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, actually hinges on the revelation that Harry has been mistaken about Snape--so much so that he is shocked and unprepared when he meets his real enemy. It's an important lesson, but not one that Harry finds easy to learn, and, as the series progresses, we encounter several more examples of his misreading people and events in a similar manner.

Harry's unreliability as a narrator is seldom if ever malicious: rather, it is the product of his youth and idealism, which causes him to regard those who show kindness to him--people such as Hagrid and Remus Lupin--as reliable, while unsympathetic people such as Snape are regarded with suspicion and incredulity. Thus it comes as a shock even to the reader when, in the chapter of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix entitled "Snape's Worst Memory," we learn that all the spiteful, exaggerated-sounding descriptions Snape has given Harry of his late father James Potter--his arrogance, his excessive pride in his Quidditch skills, his persistent rule-breaking for no better reason than his own amusement--are in fact the literal truth. We are further dismayed when in a subsequent chapter of the same book, James's old friends Sirius Black and Remus Lupin not only confirm the accuracy of Snape's memories on this point, but are unable to offer Harry anything more than feeble excuses and a quick change of subject in response.

Clearly, even those Harry trusts are not always trustworthy, and though their intent may be sincere, the information they give him is often misleading or incomplete. This is especially true, it seems, when the information is about Severus Snape. After the revelations of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, for instance, can anyone take seriously the suggestion of Lupin in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban that Snape hated James Potter because he was jealous of his Quidditch skills?

Another factor to consider when weighing the evidence against Snape is that while J.K. Rowling may describe him as "horrible," she has nevertheless endowed him with the most intriguing and dramatically exciting backstory of any of the adult characters in the books. Indeed, Snape's background is so important to the denouement of the series that Rowling routinely avoids talking about it in interviews--even such apparently simple questions as what Snape might see if he met a Boggart (i.e., his worst fear) and what his Patronus would look like are impossible for her to answer because it would "give so much away." By now even those readers who dislike Snape cannot help being curious as to why he switched sides in the last war against Voldemort, or what sort of work he is doing for the Order of the Phoenix at present.

Yet Rowling is not satisfied with merely making Snape interesting, it seems--she wants us to feel at least a little bit sorry for him as well. In the most recent Potter book, she reveals some of Snape's most painful childhood memories, in such a way that the reader can hardly help but feel sympathy for what he has suffered. Though Rowling naturally cannot approve of Snape's unsociable behaviour and harsh teaching methods, she still portrays him as a human being, not just a spiteful caricature. As such, it would seem that the negative-sounding comments she has made about Snape in interviews are, while not factually inaccurate, at least somewhat misleading as to her intentions for his character.


Justifying the Wicked?
In addition to Snape's heroic and pathetic qualities, which prevent the reader from dismissing him too readily as a stock villain, there are hints within the context of the Potter books that Snape's faults may not always be as grave, nor his cruelty as egregious and irrational, as Harry thinks. This is especially true when the information supplied in book five about Snape's relationship with James Potter is taken into account. How differently Harry's first Potions class in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone reads, for instance, when one is aware that Snape is testing Harry to see if he is like his father James, and finding his worst suspicions apparently confirmed--a mistake that Harry continues to make, albeit unwittingly, in his dealings with Snape throughout the books.

Much has been made of Snape's nastiness to young Neville Longbottom, as well, and not without justification: yet in his very first potions class, Neville's ineptitude turned a simple curative potion into a mixture so corrosive that it melted holes in people's shoes, and sent Neville himself to the hospital wing. If potion-making is such a dangerous art even in the beginning stages, Snape's irritation with Neville's persistent inability to follow instructions becomes a little more understandable--the boy is not only endangering himself, but his fellow students as well. Furthermore, Snape is not the only Hogwarts professor who finds Neville exasperating, even to the point of making humiliating comments about his ineptitude in front of the whole class--consider the following incident in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, where a much more generally liked teacher does the same thing:

'Longbottom, kindly do not reveal that you can't even perform a simple Switching Spell in front of anyone from Durmstrang!' Professor McGonagall barked at the end of one particularly difficult lesson, during which Neville had accidentally transplanted his own ears onto a cactus.

Snape's treatment of the eager, bookish Hermione Granger is similarly harsh at times, but again there are other considerations. It may make Hermione feel good to display her prodigious knowledge in front of her peers, but if Snape allows her to answer all his questions, the other students will learn nothing. Furthermore, it is interesting to note that as a young student Severus appears to have shared Hermione's obsession with studying and getting all the answers right--is it possible that by rebuking her for her "know-it-all" behaviour, he is attempting to prevent her following the same dark path of pride and ambition that he did?

Even the worst example of Snape's cruelty to Hermione--where Snape responds to the magical disfigurement of the girl's front teeth with the comment "I see no difference"--may not be as gratuitous as it seems. Snape makes that remark in the presence of Draco Malfoy, the son of Snape's chief patron within Voldemort's inner circle. If Snape is really acting once more as a spy in Voldemort's camp, as many have surmised (and Rowling herself implies in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix), it is vital that he maintain the illusion of sympathy with Voldemort's cause. As such, he cannot afford to let the son of Lucius Malfoy imagine for one moment that Snape has any sympathy for Muggle-born students, such as Hermione--especially not when those "Mudbloods" are best friends with Voldemort's greatest enemy, Harry Potter. The remark is still hurtful to Hermione, of course, and the fact that Snape makes the retort so readily indicates a genuine nastiness in his temperament. But it is quite possible that he would have said nothing, and kept the uncharitable thought to himself, had Draco not been involved.

Though Snape may deal harshly with his students at times, his concern for their safety appears to be genuine: when the news of Ginny Weasley's abduction was reported, for instance, Snape "gripped the back of a chair very hard." Similarly, his opposition to Remus Lupin's appointment as Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher was not based merely on jealousy and personal dislike, as it at first appeared; rather, Snape appealed to Dumbledore with the argument--sound even by Lupin's own admission--that Lupin's lycanthropy made him a potentially fatal threat to the Hogwarts staff and students. Indeed, considering that Lupin was so careless as to forget to take his Wolfsbane potion on the night of the Shrieking Shack incident, and nearly did kill someone as a result, Snape's concern appears to have been justified.

Speaking of the Shrieking Shack, the scene in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban where Snape confronts his old enemy Sirius is perhaps the most unflattering moment for Snape in all the books to date. Given that Harry--and the reader--know Sirius Black is innocent of the charges against him, it is difficult to muster any sympathy when Snape shows no willingness to listen to reason, and flies into a ranting, spitting rage when Harry and Hermione try to persuade him otherwise. However, one must consider that Snape has heard none of the evidence in Sirius's favour, nor has he any reason to believe that there is such evidence. He was not present when Remus Lupin explained the truth about Scabbers/Pettigrew, and in fact only entered the room in time to hear Lupin's account of the near-deadly prank Sirius had pulled on Snape in their fifth year--a story which, in itself, does nothing to exonerate either Black or Lupin, indeed quite the opposite.

Therefore, as far as Snape knows when he reveals himself to the others in the Shrieking Shack, he is facing a mass-murderer possessed of magical powers at least equal to his own, aided and abetted by another strong wizard who may turn into a ravening werewolf at any moment. Alone, he is attempting to capture these highly dangerous criminals--who also happen to have been responsible for making his life miserable when he was in school, attacking him without provocation and inflicting public humiliations on him that he will never forget. Already his emotions--triumph, anger, and no doubt a healthy dose of fear--threaten to overwhelm his better judgment, and his best hope is to deal with the situation quickly. But then three of his students--none of them more than thirteen years old, and none of whom have any right to be there in the first place--keep trying to distract him, insisting that he should listen to the criminals Black and Lupin, and calling him "pathetic" for not doing so. No wonder he loses his temper.

Even at the height of provocation, however, Snape's actions toward the trio are amazingly restrained. Though he shouts at both Harry and Hermione, and threatens to make Harry move out of the way if he will not do so voluntarily, he never lays a hand on any of the children. Even after the three of them knock him out and leave him--for all he knows--at Black and Lupin's mercy, he still gives them the benefit of the doubt: as he tells Minister Fudge a couple of chapters later, the children must have been bewitched by Black and therefore were not responsible for their actions. If Snape's vindictiveness toward Harry were really boundless, he could easily have pressed criminal charges: instead, he excuses him and his friends from suspicion.

Much more could be said about various other incidents in the books which appear to represent gratuitous cruelty or selfishness on Snape's part, but may also bear a more charitable interpretation. None of which is to say that Snape is not capable of genuine pettiness, or that a harsh and vindictive spirit is not truly part of his nature--but the point is, he does usually have some logical basis for his actions, and there are times when he could be much nastier, yet refrains.


A Man That Hath Friends Must Shew Himself Friendly
The books also suggest to us a possibility that Harry would no doubt find surprising--that far from being universally hated, as Ron Weasley claims, Snape has positive, perhaps even friendly, relationships with a number of people at Hogwarts. His most significant ally is of course Dumbledore, who not only appointed Snape as potions master and head of Slytherin House, but routinely calls on him for assistance in times of crisis. Indeed, if McGonagall is the deputy headmaster, Snape appears to be third in Dumbledore's line of command. This unusual position of responsibility given to a junior member of the staff, coupled with Dumbledore's repeated assertions that he trusts Snape and the implication that he has sent Snape back into Voldemort's camp as a spy, suggests that Snape has earned a significant place in the headmaster's esteem.

Snape's relationship with Minerva McGonagall, a generally well-liked character in the books, is also interesting. As heads of rival houses, one might expect there to be hostility between them--but the books give no evidence that this is the case. Not only do Snape and McGonagall cooperate readily together in Dumbledore's service, as has already been noted, but the only indications we have of disharmony between the two involve an ongoing Quidditch rivalry, a sporting disagreement such as even best friends sometimes have. Where Quidditch is not involved, however, the two display very similar reactions when Harry and his friends are caught in some misdemeanor. Not once do we see Snape angry at the trio when McGonagall is not, or threatening them with punishment when McGonagall is unwilling to follow through.

Perhaps the most telling moment in the relationship between Snape and McGonagall occurs at the end of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, when McGonagall returns from her stay in hospital and is greeted by Snape with unusual eagerness: 'Professor McGonagall!' said Snape, striding forwards. 'Out of St Mungo's, I see!' That "striding forwards," coupled with the uncharacteristic bit of small talk (it is not like Snape to state the obvious) seems to indicate that Snape is happy to see McGonagall, and in his own restrained way welcoming her back to Hogwarts. It is not at all the kind of behaviour we would expect if Snape disliked McGonagall, or she him. Indeed, the scene they enact a few paragraphs later--with McGonagall awarding Harry and his friends fifty points each so that Snape can take ten away at the end--plays out like a game between the two of them, and Snape's grumbling is a mere token.

The other staff at Hogwarts also appear to have no difficulties with Snape. Whenever the trio questions Snape's loyalties in front of Hagrid, for instance, the half-giant is quick to defend him. Also enlightening, yet seldom noted even among Snape's defenders, is the moment in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone where Quirrell admits to Harry that he, not Snape, had hexed Harry's broom during the Quidditch match, but that "All the other teachers thought [Snape] was trying to stop Gryffindor winning, he did make himself unpopular..." If Snape's apparent guilt made him unpopular with the rest of the staff, that implies that he was not, in fact, notably unpopular among them until that point. The solidarity that the staff show with Snape in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, when he challenges the vain and pompous Professor Lockhart to prove himself by rescuing Ginny Weasley from the Chamber, also appears to bear this out.

The most positive indication of Snape's social life, however, is his prominent role in Dumbledore's secret resistance organization, the Order of the Phoenix. Fred and George Weasley describe Snape's reports to the group as "top secret," and his visits to 12 Grimmauld Place are attended by a great deal of anticipation and interest among the other members of the Order:

The gloomy hallway below was packed with witches and wizards, including all of Harry's guard. They were whispering excitedly together. In the very centre of the group Harry saw the dark, greasy-haired head and prominent nose of his least favourite teacher at Hogwarts, Professor Snape.

Whether or not Snape is liked by the Order members (other than Sirius, that is), we are not told, but his reports are treated as highly valuable, and he appears to hold a considerable degree of respect and trust among them.

It is not that difficult to imagine that at least some people might be able to get along with Snape. He does, after all, possess a number of attributes that make him at least somewhat likable: a sense of humor (albeit a dry and mordant one), a refusal to whine about his underprivileged background or otherwise make excuses for himself, and a commitment to duty that makes him willing to help and protect even those he hates--as shown by his efforts to save Harry's life in the first book and teach him Occlumency in the fifth, to make the Wolfsbane potion for Remus Lupin, and to inform the Order when Harry claimed Sirius Black was in danger.


Greater Love Hath No Man
Snape's most obvious positive qualities, however, relate to his work outside Hogwarts as a double agent. Many fans cite the end of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, where it is first revealed that Snape is an ex-Death Eater who turned spy against Voldemort "at great personal risk," as the point at which they developed a new appreciation for Snape. The revelation that he was willing to risk his life--and Rowling only knows what else--in order to do the right thing elevated Snape to a new level in many readers' sympathies.

This unexpected show of moral bravery on Snape's part becomes still more effective in light of the revelations about Remus Lupin--a much more personable and well-liked character--in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. There, we discover that as a Hogwarts student Remus disapproved of the selfish, bullying ways of his friends James and Sirius, but was too afraid of losing their friendship to stand up to them. As such, he merely averted his eyes when the others ganged up to attack and humiliate the young Severus Snape, even knowing that Snape had done nothing to deserve it. When Harry confronts the adult Lupin and Sirius with what he has learned, Lupin's response is weak, and he soon changes the subject: it is evident that his happy memories of the late James Potter are more important to him than addressing the wrongs done to the still-living Snape.

Meanwhile, the youthful Severus is presented to us as a miserable loner no better off than the lycanthropy-afflicted Lupin--indeed possibly worse, as it seems that Severus never experienced love or acceptance even by his own family. The memories of Snape's childhood that Harry glimpses during their Occlumency lessons are, like his own childhood memories, filled with abuse and mockery.

This being the case, the "gang of Slytherins who nearly all turned out to be Death Eaters" that Snape joined later in his school career must have been the closest thing to friends he had ever known, and their acceptance surely meant a great deal to him. Yet in the end, unlike Lupin, he found the courage and moral integrity to turn his back on his companions and do the right thing, though he had not a single friend on the other side to welcome him. If, as Dumbledore says in book two, "It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are," then the choice Snape made then, and continues to make as he gathers information on Death Eater activities for Dumbledore and the Order, says a great deal in his favour.


The Sanctification of Severus
Nevertheless, even if it is true that Snape's motives are not always as selfish as they seem and that he has done some genuinely moral things along the way, many of his sins and faults still remain. Can we really conclude that Snape is a "good" character, when so much of what he does and says is still nasty? Why should we believe that his repentance is genuine, or that Dumbledore is right to trust him, when in many ways he continues to act like a Death Eater?

In many other works of juvenile literature, Snape's persistent bitterness and cynicism would indeed be proof that he would "go bad" before the series was over. There is reason to believe, however, that J.K. Rowling has something different in mind. As C.S. Lewis--one of Rowling's all-time favourite authors--wrote in his book Mere Christianity:

When a man who has been perverted from his youth and taught that cruelty is the right thing, does some tiny little kindness, or refrains from some cruelty he might have committed, and thereby, perhaps, risks being sneered at by his companions, he may, in God's eyes, be doing more than you and I would do if we gave up life itself for a friend.... We see only the results which a man's choices make out of his raw material. But God does not judge him on the raw material at all, but on what he has done with it.

Those words could easily have been written about Severus Snape. Though he may be verbally nasty to Harry and his friends, and guilty of petty acts of vindictiveness toward them (such as threatening Neville's beloved toad, or "accidentally" smashing Harry's Invigoration Draught before it can be marked), he also shows restraint and even a degree of mercy at times when he could take full advantage of their weakness. Considering what we now know about Snape's background, even this degree of self-control is remarkable, and it is likely that Rowling means us to give him at least some credit for it.

Unlike C.S. Lewis's Narnia series, which Rowling counts as one of her early inspirations, the Harry Potter books are not allegorical. In fact, they are scrupulously devoid of overt religious references. However, Rowling has dropped hints that her beliefs as an observant member of the Church of Scotland do play into the development of the series, in fact to such an extent that she prefers not to talk too much about those beliefs in interviews or else "the intelligent reader, whether 10 or 60, will be able to guess what's coming in the books." Given the emphasis Rowling has put upon Snape's role in the series to date, there is good reason to believe his ultimate fate is a significant part of her secret, theologically influenced plan for books six and seven.

Christian doctrines are not absent from the earlier books of the series, either. Already the Potter books display a measure of biblical influence, given the importance Rowling places on love--particularly sacrificial love--and mercy as powers beyond even the scope of magic. Dumbledore's God-like role in the early books has diminished as he displays more fallibility, but some parallels still persist, including his ongoing habit of welcoming outcasts and sinners and giving them a second chance. The latter is particularly significant in the life of Snape, who is both sinner and outcast. As Lewis wrote:

We must ... not be surprised if we find among the Christians some people who are still nasty. There is even, when you come to think it over, a reason why nasty people might be expected to turn to Christ in greater numbers than nice ones....Christ said 'Blessed are the poor' and 'How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom,' and no doubt He primarily meant the economically rich and economically poor. But do not His words also apply to another kind of riches and poverty?...If you have sound nerves and intelligence and health and popularity and a good upbringing, you are likely to be quite satisfied with your character as it is....You are quite likely to believe that all this niceness is your own doing: and you may easily not feel the need for any better kind of goodness....It is very different for the nasty people....If they make any attempt at goodness at all, they learn, in double quick time, that they need help.

The story of Snape's "conversion" from his Death Eater past to his current status as ally and servant of Dumbledore may as yet be untold, but the fact that such a dramatic change in his life and allegiance did occur invites comparison with a famous Biblical figure, the apostle Paul. Indeed, many fans have picked up on the similarities between the two: an early novel-length fan fiction story about Snape was entitled The Long Road to Damascus--an allusion to the incident recorded in Acts 9 where Paul was spectacularly converted to Christianity.

Speaking of his life before conversion, Paul described himself as "a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man," who hated Christians and attempted to wipe them out because of "ignorance and unbelief." Substitute "Muggles" or "Mudbloods" for "Christians" in the verse, and it could easily be a description of the Death Eater Severus Snape. But, as Paul went on to explain, the fact that a man like him could be redeemed means that there is hope for everyone:

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.

We have as yet no record of Snape's feelings about being accepted by Dumbledore and welcomed into the Order of the Phoenix after he confessed and repented of his Death Eater crimes. But given the respect and obedience Snape consistently shows toward Dumbledore even when the latter's behaviour tests his patience, it seems probable that deep down, he harbours a similar sense of gratitude.

The story of Severus Snape's redemption is, however, not yet over. He repented, was forgiven, and now plays an important role in the fight against his former master, Voldemort, but in Harry Potter's eyes, as well as those of many others, he has yet to prove himself. Like the apostle Paul when he first converted to Christianity, Snape's past sins and present faults make him a target of suspicion and mistrust among his allies: only time and the next two books will tell to what extent Snape's character may be vindicated. It does seem, however, that Rowling has important plans for him in book seven, as witnessed by her response to a questioner who remarked that there seemed to be an "important kind of redemptive pattern" to Snape:

He, um, there's so much I wish I could say to you, and I can't because it would ruin [it]. I promise you, whoever asked that question, can I just say to you that I'm slightly stunned that you've said that and you'll find out why I'm so stunned if you read Book 7. That's all I'm going to say.

Many have speculated that Snape will die heroically in some way while trying to help or save Harry. This may or may not be true, but it does seem clear that Rowling means for Harry and Snape to resolve their mutual hostility and come to some sort of understanding before the books end. Indeed, the Occlumency lessons in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, which made both of them aware of the other's underprivileged and abusive upbringing as well as clarifying the reasons for Snape's hatred of Harry's father, James, may well prove to be a big step in that direction.

In any case, there seems to be hope that the unlovely, unlikable-seeming Severus Snape will someday prove himself--or at least, that he will be given a fair chance to do so. After all, for Rowling to treat his character otherwise would contradict not only the spirit of the books so far, but the principles of the Christianity she claims to espouse, and indeed the words of one of her favourite Christian authors:

If you are a poor creature--poisoned by a wretched upbringing in some house full of vulgar jealousies and senseless quarrels...nagged day in and day out by an inferiority complex that makes you snap at your best friends--do not despair....You are one of the poor whom [Christ] blessed. He knows what a wretched machine you are trying to drive....One day (perhaps in another world, but perhaps far sooner than that) He will fling it on the scrap-heap and give you a new one. And then you may astonish us all--not least yourself: for you have learned your driving in a hard school.

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Bibliography

Abel, Katy. "Harry Potter Author Works Her Magic." familyeducation.com. Summer 1999. http://familyeducation.com/article/0,1120,22-9966,00.html.

de Bertodano, Helena. "Harry Potter Charms a Nation." Electronic Telegraph. 25 July 1998. Archived at http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/quickquotes/articles/1998/0798-telegraph-bertodano.html.

Holy Bible, New International Version. Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 1986.

Lewis, C.S. Mere Christianity. Glasgow: Fontana Books, 1977.

Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. London: Bloombury, 1997.

------. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Vancouver: Raincoast, 1999.

------. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Vancouver: Raincoast, 1999.

------. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Vancouver: Raincoast, 2000.

------. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Vancouver: Raincoast, 2003.

------. Interview with Stephen Fry at the Royal Albert Hall. 26 June 2003. Archived at http://www.quick-quote-quill.org/articles/2003/0626-alberthall-fry.htm.

------. "J.K. Rowling Live Web Chat." World Book Day Festival. 4 March 2004. http://www.worldbookdayfestival.com/2004/jkrowling_chat.html.

------. Interview with Christopher Lydon on The Connection. WBUR Boston Radio. 12 October 1999. Archived at http://www.hogwarts-library.net/reference/interviews/ 19991012_TheConnection.html.

Morrighan. The Long Road to Damascus. Fiction Alley: Schnoogle.com. http://www.schnoogle.com/authorLinks/Morrighan/.

Wyman, Max. "'You can lead a fool to a book but you can't make them think': Author has frank words for the religious right." Vancouver Sun. 26 October 2000.

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So, what do you all think?

Comments

[misbegotten.livejournal.com]

A fascinating argument, and very well presented. I would have been interested to see you expand on the subject of Snape's "petty acts of vindictiveness" (re: Harry's potion), for I think that despite the minor quality, it is these things that make Snape thoroughly unlikeable to some readers rather than his history as a Death Eater or Harry's biased interpretations of Snape. Snape's resort to childishness -- particularly when he is already master of a very sharp tongue -- demean his role as an authority figure and teacher. Being nobbled by a teacher is a fundamental betrayal, even moreso to Harry who expects such behavior from the Dursleys, but views Hogwarts as his refuge. The fact that Potter alone can force Snape to act on his bitter impulses rather than simply making a waspish comment is understandable, in my view, but I suspect some readers take such an interlude as evidence that Snape's treatment by Harry is justified.

I particularly liked the way you deconstructed the scene in the Shrieking Shack. It is too easy as a reader to forget, with the general narrative in hand, that Snape doesn't know what the rest of the players in that scene do.

I pray that Snape's redemption does not come at the cost of his life. Darn Rowling for making me care so much. ;)

[em-meredith.livejournal.com]

A very interesting read. Sometimes when we're reading the books it's hard to remember that we're getting everything through Harry's eyes, and that children see adults they don't like as evil. It's all so black and white to them, and it's a credit to Rowling's writing that Harry's interpretation influences our thinking so. I think my favorite line in OotP was the one about how not all unlikable people are Death Eaters (and, which, sadly, I can't remember verbatim right now).

[kerravonsen]

Cool!

[persephone-kore.livejournal.com]

I think I very much appreciate the idea that Snape is redeemed, just still obnoxious.

Regarding your follow-up post, I rather hope there will be somewhat more reconciliation than just a cease-fire, though I don't know how likely it is.

I'm fighting a tendency while I read, however, to grind my teeth at some of the segments -- not the Shrieking Shack ones, particularly, but some of the others regarding his classroom behavior. I suspect this is not actually your fault; I used to find these reasonable and interesting if not necessarily entirely convincing in all cases, but I've since gotten deeply frustrated with some people who seem, at least to me, to be of the opinion that Snape is almost never at all in the wrong and when he is it's not only understandable but justified. (I can go with understandable.) And probably Harry's fault, at that. I suspect there are certain threads I should just stay away from....

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

I'd like to hope there will be a better understanding between Harry and Snape too, but I really can't see it going too deep. I could be wrong, though, and I'd be happy to be wrong.

I quite agree about Snape's pettiness -- even if you think that he's picking on Harry to show off for Draco (and thus Lucius as well), there's too much evidence that he's genuinely enjoying it. He does, as JKR says, abuse his power and there is a real element of sadism (though not, I think, in the true sense of the word) involved. And in such cases, he is unequivocally in the wrong. No matter what his reasons may be, no matter how logical his arguments in his own defense (assuming he could be persuaded to make them -- which he wouldn't), that kind of behaviour is not justified. Even when Harry is genuinely being a prat for the sake of being a prat, which happens a lot more rarely (even with Snape) than some pro-Snape and/or anti-Harry readers seem to think.

[persephone-kore.livejournal.com]

I like Dyce's explanation; we have two characters who are flawed, still 'good guys,' and just so happen to "drive each other INSANE." I suppose it's possible they'd dislike each other even without the baggage -- actually, in some ways I wonder if there would be less likelihood of understanding without some of the baggage. (Warning, rambling off the top of my head there.) But it's too much of a puzzle, at least for me at the moment, to try to work out how Snape would have reacted to Harry if he'd never interacted with James... or what his usual teaching style would have been like. If similar, Harry probably still wouldn't like him; on the other hand, if Snape hadn't unfortunately glowered at the same time as the beturbaned Voldemort, Harry might not have spent so long thinking Snape wanted to kill him.

[persephone-kore.livejournal.com]

It also occurs to me that JKR did the reverse (after a fashion) of what a lot of fanficcers have tried. There's been something of a habit in both well-done and not-so-much fanfics of confronting Snape with the fact that he's been imagining Harry's upbringing rather inaccurately, usually in circumstances that also lead to Harry reevaluating Snape.

Instead, in OotP we have some passing delving into Harry's memories, and then Harry getting a gut-shot in the form of a view of one of Snape's. And it goes very, very badly. ;) Well, there's some increased understanding temporarily, but it's hard to convey this while being showered with cockroaches, and later Harry rather lost interest in the subject.

[lesserstorm.livejournal.com]

Thanks for posting this -- it's a brilliant essay. As I never had any expectation of being able to cross the Atlantic to attend the convention, it's nice to catch up online

[(Anonymous)]

Ooooh. Ahhh. Thank you for posting this. Thoughtful analysis of the books deters me from reading bad fan fiction, thus saving me a lot of time.

I didn't quite get what you have been trying to say though...

-Wolf550e

[hedda62.livejournal.com]

Very well done and a fascinating read (and the addendum too).

I like the comparison of Snape to St. Paul, although I don't think you can carry the analogy very far - when Paul was converted to Christianity, it was a new and exciting and dangerous movement, different in essence from the struggle to beat Voldemort and maintain at least part of the status quo in the wizarding world. Dumbledore may have ideas that seem odd to some factions among wizards, but I don't think he's suggesting anything radically new, though there are some possible parallels between the Ministry and the Jewish and Roman governments. (Don't think Fudge is smart enough to be Pontius Pilate, though.)

Anyway, I don't see Snape as anything near as enthusiastic (or prolix) a convert as Paul was - in fact, I don't see him as a "convert" at all, simply someone who's grateful for the chance to realize his mistakes and make up for them. As you said, a very gradual redemption process. But I do hope he has the chance to complete it.

[katiescarlet.livejournal.com]

*hops in via the Daily Snitch*

*applauds*

An excellent analysis. Very logical and thorough. Thanks for posting it!

[meril.livejournal.com]

You make some very good points. I'll have to read this essay again when I'm at leisure to read it all the way through.

Commentary on Snape as seen by Harry and the other kids, as compared to Snape and his relationships with co-workers: He's a horrible teacher. This was so clearly, to me at least, not the profession he would have picked if he had had much of a choice. He just seems to hate kids. He's a jerk in the classroom. But given all that...why do almost all his co-workers seem to have a great relationship with him, and him with them? He's absolutely great when interacting with adults who aren't a) Lupin or Black or b) Defence Against the Dark Arts instructors. If he doesn't have a personal issue with someone, he is at his personal best.

[kerravonsen]

I think part of that is that he relates well with people who are his intellectual peers, but he doesn't suffer fools gladly -- so he's bound to find teaching frustrating, because he's thrust up daily against ignorance and incompetence (and show-offs); it's a never-ending parade of fools. I think this would be the case even if he weren't so nasty; he'd be much better off teaching at the Wizarding equivalent of a university, only I don't think there is one.

[malabud.livejournal.com]

You have said things about Snape that I knew, but could never adequately explain. As a Christian, I see how everything falls so neatly into place with your essay. Snape is not a nice person, nor even a good person, but he does what is ultimately right, no matter the consequences to himself or others. I also love your use of quotes from C.S. Lewis. He said and wrote so many wonderful things. He had a unique way of looking at things that was just brilliant.

Good job!

[shellebelle93.livejournal.com]

Fascinating, Rebecca! *applauds*

[purplerebecca.livejournal.com]

Love this, you've gone over many of the reasons I love this series so much. And I totally agree.

The biggest problem with Snape, I think, is that to repent, to be fully 'redeemed' and forgiven, you have to forgive! And he totally refuses to do so. He doesn't see that it is necessary; he holds onto his grudges like his lifeforce depends on it. So he continues hating the Marauders, includes Harry in that hatred, and he continues to be miserable.

I would love to see Snape realizing just how much he has in common with Harry--just how miserable of a childhood they shared, and that Harry is not his father. And I'd love to see him letting go of his hatred of James, Sirius, and Lupin.
I think for this to happen, Harry needs to apologize for his own irresponsible actions. He needs to take the first step Snape will never be willing to take.

Snape will likely never be 'good friends' with any of them, but mutual toleration and grudging respect is where it should go. I'm looking forward to seeing where Rowling will go with this. I hope to see a less miserable Snape at the end of it. *hopes*

How I love this character. ^^

[rose-in-shadow.livejournal.com]

This is a fabulous essay. Thanks so much for sharing, Rebecca.

I need to re-read it in order to get more coherent thoughts, but from a purely formatic approach, it's a well written essay. You have a clear thesis and don't waste time in the body bringing up points to support your stance then fluffing them up with useless space-filling drivel.

This rather reminds me of a book I've been meaning to read, but haven't had time yet other than the front and back flaps of the dust cover. Have you managed to read it yet? It's titled Looking for God in Harry Potter by John Granger. It differs from several other pro-Harry Potter Christians in that Granger has the same educational background as JKR. He actually was converted to liking the series only after reading PoS/SS to tell his daughter why she wasn't allowed to read it ^_^.

[rose-in-shadow.livejournal.com]

Gah! Evil HTML brackets! Sorry about the gratuitous underlining.

[pgoodman13.livejournal.com]

What a lovely and splendid thing this is! I'm quite impressed, Rivkah, and wish now that I could have been there to hear you present it in person.

I must confess that, though I'm not a huge HP fan, I find myself thinking more kindly of Snape, and more critically of the series as a whole. I think I might have brushed things off a little to easily before, not knowing what JKR seems to be trying to do.

Having read this essay, though, I think perhaps I'll reconsider this and go read the books instead of relying on the films.

Thank you.

[sabrinanymph.livejournal.com]

I think I'm going to have to send this link to my Mother. Ever since she's read books one and two, she's given me several odd looks at my continuous fascination with Snape and I think you've explained it much better than I ever could!

This essay explains very well why I love Snape as a character. He truly is, in my opinion, one of the most fascinating adult characters and certainly one of the ones that exists most in the grey areas. I like how you spell out the textual evidence that Snape is probably liked by many of the teachers. Snape often strikes me as a many who would be happier in a lab than a classroom, or perhaps in an administrative position rather than the day to day grind of dealing with inept students. He has no patience for foolishness and therefore he's rather curt and often cruel. I would say it is very likely that his teaching at Hogwarts is a part of his double agent role; it gives him easy access to Dumbledore so that the fact he is in contact with many of the Order members on a day to day basis is not suspicious.

The comparison to Paul is certainly a good one although as someone mentioned above, Paul certainly is a much more enthusiastic convert. On the other hand Paul was not in a position that required him to convince the Jewish leaders he was still on their side!

I'm probably going to have to go home and pull Mere Christianity off the shelf again for the hundredth time. If you will believe it I had never read Lewis before college. Probably 80% of my Christian Beliefs class was bored stiff by Mere Christianity and I was like a child with a candy jar. The C.S. Lewis quotes were well placed and extremely accurate. Perhaps more than any other character in the series Snape's journey strikes me as being one of redemption. The story fascinates me, most redemption stories do I suppose. I'm crossing my fingers for a happy (at least in the redeemed sense) ending. Thank you for sharing this. I wish I could have been there to hear you give it in person, I'm certain it was fantastic!

[tinny]

Thank you so much! This essay is great. I have little knowledge of Christian mythology, but agree vehemently with your conclusion that there is (and will be more) redemption and sacrifice coming for Snape.

You have very well explained why Snape is one of the most intersting characters in the books. And I give you very much credit for not trying to make Snape positive at the expense of logic (which must be a great danger for (us) Snape-lovers). Instead you presented a very well balanced picture.

About the conjectures into the books future storylines:
I don't honestly believe that Harry will die at the end of the seventh book ( - not that you said that, but that rumor was very strong last year, and also matches the sacrifice pattern), but I am convinced that Snape will sacrifice himself for Harry. I read this from your JKRowlings quotes (which I had not heard before) as well.

I guess the happy and friendly ending between Harry and Snape we all wish for must stay in the realm of fanfiction (and rightly so... :)).

[loriel-eris.livejournal.com]

Thanks very much for posting this. You writing, whether fiction or no-fiction/essay, is always a delight to read. And it makes me think. :)

[rickfan37.livejournal.com]

Thanks for this wonderfully incisive and thoughtful essay. I agree completely and you have summarised (on a parallel track, for my interpretation of his redemption is necessarily personal to me) my own reasons for adoring Snape with the passion that I do.