This is about one of the greatest fictional characters of all time, the character who demanded us to think that men are neither black nor white but shades of grey. Played by Alan Rickman in the movies and in my head, this character makes you think, a lot. My own thoughts about the guy were constantly evolving not only as the books released, but also a good decade after the series ended. A really complex character, he was central to one of the greatest love stories ever told.
He was born to a Muggle father Tobias Snape and witch mother Eileen Prince in a Muggle neighborhood. The very village where our hero’s mom, Lily Evans was born. He was born poor, and had parents who neglected him. It is quite possible that he was physically and/or mentally abused. His parents were constantly fighting, and his Muggle father did not really like anything magic. He didn’t really have friends back then, not even among muggles it seems. Though he was quite talented magic wise.
He bonded with Lily, and they became best friends for years to come. Though Snape and Lily had their differences, they remained friends. It would have been a welcome change for Snape, after all the fighting at home, and the emotional and possible physical abuse at home, to be at Hogwarts, surrounded by magic, and to have a person he could call a friend. Though it is quite possible that Snape made friends other than Lily, she was probably the only one who understood him, and the only person he opened up to. She even came to his defense when James Potter bullies him. Even after all that life had dished out to him, Snape was doing fine, and had a pillar of support in Lily for some time.
He was the oddball at school too. He was bullied incessantly by the cool boys James and Sirius. And he was friendless. And he was poor too. But he was talented. All these factors meant Snape was quite lonely with the exception of Lily Evans. In his later years, he started dabbling in the Dark Arts, which lead to a huge event in his life: Lily’s breakup.
His separation of ways with Lily was the breaking point in Snape’s life. This was the point of no return. Lily chose the good side, but more importantly for Snape, she chose James Potter. His mortal enemy. He was probably bitter about it, but he never stopped loving her. And he probably never told Lily how he felt about her, and that must have hurt him even more.
It is very well known that he bullied students, had a soft spot towards his own house, and an outward hatred of Harry Potter. He never missed a chance to denigrate Harry in private or public. But when Harry needed protection from Quirrell, Snape didn’t shirk his responsibility. He did teach Harry Occlumency, neither fully nor well, but he did, when he could have refused to do so. All the while doing the Dark Lord’s bidding. Or rather appearing to the world to be doing so. Dumbledore really took advantage of poor Snape.
Dumbledore was a cunning wizard, mind you. He got people to do things with the least possible explanations. People got hurt, but Albus did not care. Snape was one of the biggest fish he caught. He played Snape perfectly, knowing his weakness. He gave Snape instructions on how to kill him, what to do after Dumbledore dies, and how to help Harry Potter get the sword of Gryffindor, and lastly what Harry must do if he is to kill Lord Voldemort. In return Snape got nothing! No information as to why he was asked to do so many dangerous instructions. The Prince’s Tale shows how surprised he was at the task he was handed. He has full right to be mad at Dumbledore, heck, the entire world. Doesn’t he deserve to know the truth? Did he ever get one?
Going over all his actions and decisions and behavior, I think it is safe to say that he did not have many friends. Does he count Dumbledore as a friend? His relationship with Dumbledore seems one of an employer and an employee. Dumbledore seems to help Snape, but is it because he considers Snape a friend? I guess not. So who is a friend of Snape? This is where it gets grey since we don’t really know much about him outside of his interactions with Harry and Dumbledore. His Death Eater pals? I don’t think Snape and his pals would meet for a cuppa, and discuss feelings, do you? We have eliminated his colleagues, Death Eaters, Lord Voldemort, and Dumbledore from his possible friends. He is known to live alone, and he seems to have a business only relationship with the Malfoys. What if he had no friends at all? Snape has been through a lot in his life, has endured a lot of suffering too, and without any sort of support system or guidance, or even an outlet for his grief. Is it too much to think he might have been depressed, and that explains some of his bitterness towards students and colleagues? How deeply was he in love with Lily that he somehow managed to stay sane, and help the Boy Who Lived? Can you imagine the mountain of guilt he was living under? Losing his best friend to his worst enemy, passing on information that got her killed, having to protect her child who reminds him of his love and hatred at the same time. Did he show any remorse? I think that is why he turned spy on Voldemort. But that does not alleviate his pain right? All this pain stuffed deep inside, never to see the light of day…
Every time he looked at Harry, he would be reminded of the two things he loved and hated the most at the same time: Lily’s green eyes and James Potter. Can you imagine how much that would have ached him? All the years of love and hurt, and devastation. Somehow he managed to turn his loss into an intense desire of revenge that asked an infinite amount of courage from him. Now that I reflect back, not many wizards and witches could have made that choice. We can see witches and wizards unable to protect their own families and this guy managed to keep the most wanted man alive for 7 years, being right under the nose of the Dark Lord, or maybe the slits!
Snape wasn’t a good person. He had a rough life, with next to no guidance, no friends, never expressed his feelings and desires, and yet did something so supernatural that I am forced to rethink this character. For me, he will be one of the heroes of Harry Potter. Neither fully black, nor white, but grey. He will always be remembered fondly by all Potter fans.
Always.
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