Last week, the world lost an incredible actor. Alan Rickman (1946-2016) was a renowned actor famous for starring in films like Die Hard (1988), Sense and Sensibility (1995), Alice in Wonderland (2011), and of course, the tales of witchcraft and wizardry he is most famous for. Rickman was an actor of many talents, incredible methods, versatile roles and characters and astounding emotion matched with exceptional skill. In his arguably most iconic role, Rickman portrayed a wizarding professor with a twisted past and an inevitable future of secrets mistaken for betrayal. The aloof and mysterious character portrayed by Rickman was a key element in each storyline of the series. Professor Severus Snape's unwavering and true purpose in the story is not revealed until the end of the seventh and last book and eighth and last movie.
Severus Snape taught readers and viewers many things about love, dedication, truth and the difference between good and evil. In the recent and terrible loss of Rickman in the muggle world, it seems only right to revisit those great lessons by the former Potions Master at Hogwarts. If a reader currently reading this article has found themselves in 2016 and managed to never read/watch/hear the ending of the stories from an absolute fan of "Harry Potter," they should be warned that this article does contain spoilers and they should read at their own risk.
“It may have escaped your notice, but life isn’t fair.”
Life definitely isn't fair. Sometimes, things don't go as planned. Sometimes, the best player doesn't win. However, that doesn't mean abandonment of all hope when plans go awry or even change permanently. Life is unpredictable, so living it that way is the best solution.
"The mind is not a book, to be opened at will and examined at leisure."
Ideas cannot be accessed without thought put into them. Revelations cannot proceed without excessive amounts of discipline in learning. No one can get very far in their goals by leisurely happening through life. Dedication is the exchange for achievements.
"Always."
Always mean what something when it is said. Always keep promises. Always stay true to the things that matter. If not for one's own sake, at least for others that the sentiment has reached.
Through years of reading the books and watching the movies, fans have learned so much from one of the most distant characters ever provided for deep, emotional, full-circle plot revelations.
Alan Rickman was the best actor to have played Professor Severus Snape. Fans of Rickman will always remember his incredible work in film and theater. Potter fans will always remember his work until the very end.
