[memyslfnI]

Author Bio

Towerdweller has been a fan of the Harry Potter series since just before the publication of Prisoner of Azkaban. When not re-reading books 1 through 6, he loves to cook, hike in the mountains of Utah, and listen to music. Of course, with an iPod, Towerdweller can listen to Jim Dale’s narrations while cooking or hiking. Professionally, he is a marketing manager with a national bank. This is Towerdweller's second essay published in Scribbulus. His first essay, Dwelling on Dreams, can be found here.

[memyslfnI]

Abstract

Cutting through the controversy to get at the heart of the issues surrounding Severus Snape’s actions in the Harry Potter series, this essay looks at how one character goes from “Half Blood Prince” to “Potions Master” to Headmaster killer. The question as to Snape’s loyalties and motivations are discussed in terms of his actions and deeds.

You can read this essay here.

This post has been edited by AnguaTLC: 25 January 2008 - 08:23 PM

[Hedwigger7]

Thoughtful essay, Towerdweller, and very nicely presented. A question however, what is the purpose of Snape being evil within a literary context? ie, we already have supreme evil in LV. What is Snape's purpose in the series if its just to end up flatly evil? To prove that Dumbledore was completely hoodwinked? Or that Harry was always right?

[towerdweller]

For the stories to be successful, Harry needs other antagonists like Snape (and I would also include Draco, Umbridge, and others too) because the main villain in the series (Lord Voldemort) is too far removed from the day-to-day events at Hogwarts.

Throughout the series, Lord Voldemort is presented as the ultimate evil. However, as a villain he is physically distant from Harry in all but a few, albeit key, scenes in one or two chapters each book. Voldemort is altogether absent in book 3, with the possible exception of the constant reminders that people fear him and the attribution of Sirius Black’s deeds to the service of the Dark Lord. Even JKR has said, “Harry-Snape is now as personal, if not more so, than Harry-Voldemort.” It needs to be if the reader is ever going to understand that evil comes from the choices and actions people take.

In my opinion, Shape is showing us the human side of evil that we may never get from LV – no matter how many trips Harry makes into the Pensieve. Snape shows the results of acting on jealousy, holding onto grudges, and giving into hatred. These negative emotions scar the soul and can lead to heinous acts if not checked. Even at the end of HBP, Snape hasn't been able to overcome his hatred of James Potter.

I also think there’s a lesson for Harry in all of this too; Harry is holding onto his hatred for Snape and will need to let go of it in the end. If Snape turned out to be good, Harry’s forgiveness couldn’t be complete. An evil Snape sets up Harry to be able to perform another heroic act -- mercy.

I don’t think that DD was completely “hoodwinked” either. Yes, DD trusted Snape, but the trust wasn’t blind or absolute. DD needed to trust Snape, otherwise the latter couldn’t have had a second chance to prove himself as “good.” DD didn’t (or at least the books don’t reveal that he ever did) share any suspicions with Snape about LV’s Horcruxes. DD never let Snape know the full contents of the Prophecy either. DD also kept Snape from teaching DADA for fourteen years, and we still don’t know the real reasons for that change in DD’s stand.

We already know that Harry isn’t always right. However, Harry has an unwavering moral compass and is a terrific judge of character. What is so wrong about Harry finding out that what his gut always told him about Snape was correct?

Meanwhile, neither Snape’s nor Harry’s stories are compete. There is still another book that will undoubtedly answer a variety of questions and possibly give Snape another chance at redemption.

[Prongs Patronus]

I think there is also the implication that Evil is on-going; it will not disappear if/when Voldemort is vanquished.



Snape has, wittingly or unwittingly, also given Harry a standard of magic to which to aspire. Harry May truly begin his honing of his talents from this necessity.



PP

[Arianhrod]

I think there is also the implication that Evil is on-going; it will not disappear if/when Voldemort is vanquished.

I agree. It might be 10 years, or 50, or 100, but eventually some other Dark Lord will rise up to take LV's place. The battle between good and evil is ongoing and eternal, and like Moody says, "Constant viligance" is required to recognize it and keep it in check.

I really liked this, towerdweller. So nice to see the other side of the coin--the possibility that Snape could very well be evil.

[Snitch2006]

Just when I thought I had made up my mind about Snape........

Great essay! Now I have to re-think Snape all over again!

[towerdweller]

Thanks for the kind remarks.

I agree with the prior posts that evil won’t be eliminated with the conclusion of the current war in the Wizarding World. Evil and the Dark Arts always will be in conflict with good. Nature requires balance, and good cannot exist without evil. Just as we love our heroes, they wouldn’t be such without any villains.

[Arianhrod]

And evil can't exist without good...talk about dualities. When one side gains the upper hand, the other springs up to fight back. It's a constant seesaw between the two. Evil can never be banished forever.

[benhassara]

Just to further the present point. Evil and Good cannot exist without eachother because then there would be no basis for comparison. Without one, how do you know that what is present is Evil or Good? Without the direct contradiction, comparison is impossible.