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Harry Potter and Hamlet

colemamy View Member Profile	Nov 17 2005, 09:51 AM Post #1
Just Through the Brick Wall Posts: 6 Joined: 10:09am July 9, 2005	OK, I know if is a bit of a stretch, and I haven't read Hamlet in a long time, but I was thinking about a comparison between Severus Snape (the Half-Blood Prince) and Hamlet (the Prince of Demark). One comparison that came to mind was Hamlet being sane but faking being insane and Snape being really good/bad (depending on your point of view) and faking the other. This brings up a few other thoughts, such as: has anyone ever loved Snape?, is there any relation between the murdured king and the fake king in Hamlet and Dumbledore and Voldemort is Harry's world?, and others. I know this is out there, but please discuss. (Please be kind, it's my first time for beginning a thread.)

Replies (1 - 4)

va32h View Member Profile	Nov 17 2005, 09:58 AM Post #2
Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes' best customer Posts: 1,045 Joined: 1:34pm January 29, 2005	QUOTE One comparison that came to mind was Hamlet being sane but faking being insane and Snape being really good/bad (depending on your point of view) and faking the other When we studied Hamlet in school, one of the questions we discussed was whether Hamlet "faked" his insanity so well, that he actually drove himself insane. Interesting idea - could Snape be acting the part of villain so well that he has become one.

Witherwings View Member Profile	Nov 17 2005, 11:44 AM Post #3
Assistant Stargazer to Firenze Posts: 1,092 Joined: 12:37pm July 16, 2005 Location: I want to be a part of it ... New York, New York	I think this is a good idea for a thread, colemamy. Hamlet was always my favorite of the forced-to-read-Shakespeare-in-school works, but I haven't read it in years. (But I am quite familiar with the German film version from MST3K, though that's another discussion.) JK did say in an interview that Snape had "known love" shudder, but who knows how deeply, if it was reciprocated, if it was romantic or familial, etc. Whichever side Snape is playing for, one thing is for sure: he is a very complex person. Think about it: if he turns out to be "all bad", he was able to fool DD, a mindreader for all practical purposes, into thinking he was good....a major accomplishment! Mustn't he have some good qualities in order to "play good" so convincingly? And if he turns out to be "all good", then how can he explain his continued mistreatment of Harry & his friends? Clearly he has a venomous dark side either way, and possible a lighter side as well. Hmmm... could it be that Snape has played a part so well that he has "become" the part? Interesting idea, but just as I believed Hamlet to have been just as sane by the end of the play as at the beginning, I think Snape has always been aware of who he is and what side he's on. Look at him being grilled by Bellatrix at Spinner's End. Not a flinch...not a moment's hesitation. This is a self-assured and self-possessed person. To have fallen for his own act wouldn't be Snape's style. The major difference between the Half-Blood Prince and the Prince of Denmark is that we were allowed to see into Hamlet's mind. He shared his tortured, conflicted thoughts and fears with us. I would give anything right now to read about Snape's inner thoughts, but we have yet to have the opportunity, except for that one accident when Harry caught a glimpse of his worst memories. That's really nothing compared to Hamlet's soul-searching soliloquies and constant running commentary about his decisions and indecisions. How about it, fanfic writers??? Give us a Hamlet-like play about Severus!!!!! -------------------- I called it - June 2007

third_libra View Member Profile	Nov 17 2005, 01:54 PM Post #4
Being Eaten by the Pea Soup Posts: 26 Joined: 3:17am July 11, 2005 Location: I live in a state of denial...	It's interesting to ask "is Snape is playing the part, and, if so, has he played the part to the point where he has actually become evil"? Really, until Rowling presents us with the 7th book, we'll never know. The fact that we haven't really caught a glimpse of Snape's inner thoughts means that, in order to answer this question, we're basically just fumbling in the dark. For reasons that people have mentioned in other threads about Snape, I am a "firm believer that Severus Snape is good". Thus, I must say that I do believe that he is acting the part. It stands, then, that I also believe he has not become the part. However, that doesn't mean that things will always turn out well in the end, and I cite Hamlet as an example. If you agree that the Prince of Denmark was still acting towards the end, it must be observed that any plans he may have had to topple his evil uncle fell apart. He ended up killing his mother, his friends, and causing the death of his love interest. If Snape truly IS acting, then let us hope that he still has things under control, as, given the sensitive nature of his role, and the power/individuality of the people he is associated with, the house of cards that he is building may come tumbling down. -------------------- Worker bees can leave Even drones can fly away The Queen is their slave

Witherwings View Member Profile	Nov 17 2005, 02:55 PM Post #5
Assistant Stargazer to Firenze Posts: 1,092 Joined: 12:37pm July 16, 2005 Location: I want to be a part of it ... New York, New York	QUOTE(third_libra @ Nov. 17 2005,13:54 ) For reasons that people have mentioned in other threads about Snape, I am a "firm believer that Severus Snape is good". Thus, I must say that I do believe that he is acting the part. It stands, then, that I also believe he has not become the part. However, that doesn't mean that things will always turn out well in the end, and I cite Hamlet as an example. If you agree that the Prince of Denmark was still acting towards the end, it must be observed that any plans he may have had to topple his evil uncle fell apart. He ended up killing his mother, his friends, and causing the death of his love interest. If Snape truly IS acting, then let us hope that he still has things under control, as, given the sensitive nature of his role, and the power/individuality of the people he is associated with, the house of cards that he is building may come tumbling down. I believe Snape is "good" (by that I mean in the anti-Death-Eater camp) too and I also believe that even "the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry". Just because Snape is still acting is no guarantee that his drama will have a happy ending. Perhaps he was so dedicated to his role (as a villain) that he carried it on far too long, and now Dumbledore is dead and Snape's lone defender is gone. I still think Snape knows what he is doing, but he is playing a very tricky game as you say, third_libra, and his house may tumble in the end. Perhaps already has? -------------------- I called it - June 2007

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