Harry Potter. Seven books. 69 different languages that the books have been translated into. An estimated 400 million copies sold worldwide. Published in 200 countries. "Harry Potter" is its own phenomenon of fascination.
Generally, the entire Harry Potter "fandom" can agree upon everything. Umbridge? Totally worse than Voldemort. And the deaths in "Deathly Hallows"? Unnecessary. Except, maybe one.
Severus Snape is a character that is still a hot topic of debate, even today. Was he an underrated hero, or a villainous character with some redeeming qualities?
Let’s review the facts about Severus.
As a child, Severus Snape met the young Lily Evans, later to become Lily Potter. She was a young, muggle-born girl that had discovered she had magical powers. They became fast friends, despite Severus growing up on the belief that anyone of muggle-born decent was dirt (hence the term, mud-blood). At one point in their friendship, Severus fell deeply in love with Lily.
Unfortunately for Severus, a few misspoken words had caused an argument between Lily and Severus, breaking their friendship in their fifth year. It also did not help their friendship when Lily began to date Snape’s bully, James Potter. James would constantly pick on Severus, giving him a cruel nickname of "Snivellus" and taunting him with hexes and jinxes. Potter had begun to bully Severus in their very first year at school.
Around his fifth year, Severus, along with some other Slytherin blood-supremists, joined the Death Eaters. He remained a loyal follower until shortly before Lily’s death. By this time, she had married James Potter, and had a son, Harry. Severus became a double agent, loyally following Dumbledore’s orders on how exactly to help manipulate Voldemort and prepare Harry for the ultimate face off. Snape was so completely loyal to Dumbledore that he agreed to kill him. This action would help convince Voldemort that Snape was ultimately loyal to him, and only him.
Eventually, right before Snape died, he revealed to Harry what his true intentions had been along and the fact he had always loved his mother. For so long, fans that had avidly devoured the series, had also debated the hot topic of whether or not Severus Snape was a villain, or a hero. When the final book in the series came out, fans that had believed in Snape cheer valiantly. But some other fans bring up another point. Does Snape's true motivation redeem his actions and brutality to others? I, personally, believe that, while Snape is a hero in and of himself, I do not find his motivation redeems his actions. Perhaps, I am angry with Snape for how he treated Lily when they were children. I do, in fact, think James was deserving of Lily, and Snape was not. James was willing to die to protect Lily and Harry. Snape was willing to kill James and Harry, to save Lily.
What are your thoughts, and why?
P.S.- RIP Alan Rickman, Your portrayal of Severus Snape was exactly as I, among many others, imagined.
