Severus Snape
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Harry Potter character | |
|---|---|
 Alan Rickman as Severus Snape. |
|
| Severus Snape | |
| Gender | Male |
| Hair colour | Black |
| Eye colour | Black |
| House | Slytherin |
| Parentage | Half-blood |
| Allegiance | Unknown (Double agent: Death Eaters / Order of the Phoenix) |
| Actor | Alan Rickman (Adult), Alec Hopkins (Teenager) |
| First appearance | Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone |
Severus Snape is a fictional character in the Harry Potter series of novels by J. K. Rowling. His first appearance was in the book Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, published in 1997.
A powerful and gifted wizard, Snape's abilities include potion-making and dueling. He is skilled in Occlumency, the art of shielding one's thoughts from others, and in the companion art of Legilimency, reading the minds of others. He possesses a ruthless and cunning wit, is rarely caught off guard by any comment or insult, and often leaves his verbal combatants with little to say. He is also gifted in nonverbal spell casting and spell invention.
Snape's physical appearance is that of the classic villain of Western literature: thin, "hook-nosed", with "long, greasy hair", and clad in forbidding black robes "like an overgrown bat".[HP1] Snape hates Harry Potter and treats him with undisguised loathing from the moment he meets the eleven-year old in his class. Harry Potter intensely dislikes and distrusts Snape for his chequered past and the animosity Snape displays towards him.
According to timeline information from the author and from within the books, Snape was born January 9, c.1958, and attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from c. 1969 to c. 1976. In c. 1981, he began teaching in Hogwarts as Professor of Potions and became Head of Slytherin House before the events of the first book, set in 1991. In 1996, Snape was appointed Professor of Defence Against the Dark Arts after years of lobbying for the position.
Snape is one of Rowling's most complex and intriguing characters. The development he has undergone over the span of the series, as well as his ability to be both intensely loathed and adored by readers, has caused him to be regarded as one of her best. Rowling has described him as "a gift of a character".[1]
In the Harry Potter films, the character is played by actor Alan Rickman.
Contents |
[edit] Background
Severus Snape was born to Tobias Snape, a Muggle, and Eileen Prince, a witch, making him a half-blood wizard. The youthful Snape is described as having a "stringy, pallid look", being "round-shouldered yet angular", having a "twitchy" walk "like a spider" and "long oily hair that jumped about his face". According to Sirius Black, as a first-year student at Hogwarts, Snape knew more hexes and curses than most seventh-years, although his bookish demeanour and unattractive appearance made him an outsider and object of scorn. He also had a fascination with the Dark Arts. Snape's classmates included James Potter and Lily Evans (Harry's parents), Sirius Black (Harry's godfather), Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew.
After Harry glimpses three memories in Snape's mind during a botched Occlumency lesson, Harry gets the impression that Snape was neglected by his parents. In the first, a boy is crying in a corner while a hook-nosed man shouts at a cowering woman. In the second, a teenager is sitting alone in a dark bedroom shooting down flies, and in the third, a girl is laughing while a scrawny boy tries to get on a bucking broomstick.OP Ch.26
[edit] Snape and the Marauders
Snape suffered relentless teasing and bullying from James Potter and Sirius Black, much as Dudley Dursley and Draco Malfoy bully Harry. Discovering this causes Harry to question his previous hero-worshipping view of his father and feel sympathy towards Snape. In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry learns that Sirius tricked Snape into going to the Shrieking Shack, where Lupin was confined during his transformations into a werewolf. Snape could have been killed had James not intervened, although Severus believed that James only warned him to avoid expulsion from Hogwarts, not from any attack of conscience. Nevertheless, Albus Dumbledore suggests that Snape is still influenced by the power of this debt to James. Sirius tries to explain James's behaviour by claiming that Snape's interest in the Dark Arts naturally offended James, and although James acted idiotically at age 15, he grew out of his bullying ways. Remus concedes that although James may have stopped bullying others, he continued to bully Snape during his final year at Hogwarts while dating Lily, even though she disapproved.OP Ch.29
Much of Snape's disdain for Harry seems to stem from this constant rivalry and strife with James. Snape invented a number of spells, one or more of which James learned and used against him in public during their fifth year. Snape was hung upside down in mid-air from a Levicorpus spell and humiliated while students watched. Lily defended Snape while James was tormenting him, professing her detestation of James, whom she would later marry. Despite Lily's help, an angry and humiliated Snape insulted her, calling her a "filthy little mudblood". Harry discovers this information by sneaking a look at some of Snape's own memories placed in the Pensieve during Occlumency lessonsOP Ch.28.
[edit] Snape and Slytherin
Sirius tells Harry that Snape belonged to a gang of Slytherins, including Bellatrix Black, Rodolphus Lestrange, Avery, Wilkes, and Evan Rosier, who involved themselves in the Dark Arts and became Death Eaters. Snape became a Death Eater, but at some point before Voldemort's first defeat, he also became a member of the Order of the Phoenix.
[edit] Interviews with Rowling
In an interview, J. K. Rowling stated that Snape had been loved, but did not specify by whom, or the nature of the love.[2] Rowling has also said, in a response to a rumour that Luna Lovegood is Snape's daughter, that Snape does not have a daughter.[3]
[edit] Role in the series
There is mutual enmity between Snape and Harry almost from their first meeting. During Harry's first Potions class in his first year, Snape throws questions at him that most novices would be unable to answer, and mocks the "famous" Harry Potter for being unable to answer them. During a Quidditch game, Snape appears to be muttering a curse that wildly shakes Harry on his broom. It was actually Professor Quirrell (in league with Voldemort) working the curse on Harry, while Snape was attempting to protect him. Although Harry mistakenly suspected that Snape was trying to steal the Philosopher's Stone, he retains lingering feelings of suspicion even after Quirrell is revealed as the real culprit, and their relationship remains tense.
Snape relentlessly antagonises Harry, calling him "a nasty little boy who considers rules to be beneath him".[HP4] He taunts Harry during lessons, ridiculing his work and giving him frequent and often unjustified detentions and other penalties. Snape's harsh treatment is often extended to Harry's friends, while Slytherin students are treated more favourably. Although Snape has repeatedly tried to have Harry expelled, he has also saved Harry's life on several occasions.
Snape's expert skills are used in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban to brew Wolfsbane Potion for Remus Lupin, the current Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. Snape attempts to apprehend Sirius Black, who he believes responsible for James, Lily and Pettigrew's deaths, and acts to defend Harry from the dangerous fugitive. When Black escapes, Snape rightly accuses Harry of aiding him.
At the end of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Dumbledore attempts to convince a disbelieving Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, that Voldemort has returned. As proof, Snape willingly shows Fudge the renewed Dark Mark on his arm. Dumbledore subsequently sends Snape on a secret mission. By the time of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Snape has rejoined the Death Eaters to spy on Voldemort.
In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Dumbledore has Snape teach Harry Occlumency, the protection of one's mind from outside intrusion or influence. Snape is extremely skilled in both Occlumency and reasonably so in its companion art of Legilimency, the discerning of thoughts and feelings from another's mind; both proficiencies undoubtedly useful in his work as a spy. The sessions are made difficult by their mutual hostility and end permanently when an outraged Snape discovers Harry watching his (Snape's) memories stored in the Pensieve.
In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Bellatrix Lestrange and Draco's mother, Narcissa Malfoy visit Snape at his ramshackle house on Spinner's End street, located in a nearly deserted Muggle slum. Snape swears an Unbreakable Vow to Narcissa that he will protect Draco, help him complete Voldemort's task, and finish the task himself if Draco fails. At Hogwarts, Snape is finally appointed to his coveted teaching post, Defence Against the Dark Arts. Replacing him as Potions instructor is Horace Slughorn. One day, Hagrid overhears Snape arguing with Dumbledore, saying that Dumbledore took "too much for granted", and that there was something that he was no longer willing to do. Dumbledore insists that it was agreed and must be done.
Returning to Hogwarts after a search for one of Voldemort's Horcruxes, Harry and Dumbledore see the Dark Mark in the sky over the astronomy tower. Dumbledore asks Harry to fetch Snape, when Draco Malfoy suddenly arrives. Harry is already concealed under his Invisibility Cloak, but Dumbledore immediately acts to prevent him taking any action, by paralysing him with a spell. Draco intends to carry out Voldemort's orders to kill Dumbledore, but Dumbledore manages to persuade him not to. They are interrupted again by the arrival of some Death Eaters and Snape. When it is clear that Malfoy will not kill Dumbledore, Snape uses the Avada Kedavra curse, causing Dumbledore's body to fall from the tower. (Contrary to considerable fan speculation, Rowling has confirmed that Dumbledore is definitely 'dead'.[4]) Snape, Malfoy, and the Death Eaters rush from the castle, pursued by Harry (released from his magical paralysis after Dumbledore's death). Harry's attempts to attack Snape are ineffective; Snape easily blocks every spell and even taunts Harry by pointing out the mistakes he makes when fighting magic. However, he becomes enraged after Harry calls him a coward and attacks with spells Snape had created (just as Harry's father once did). Snape is injured by Buckbeak before disapparating into the night with Draco and the Death Eaters.
[edit] The Half-Blood Prince
In the sixth book in the series, Snape becomes the new Defence Against the Dark Arts instructor. His vacant Potions position is filled by Horace Slughorn, a retired Hogwarts teacher who previously taught the subject. Slughorn lends Harry an old Potions textbook that is filled with the jottings of a highly talented former student. The notes include a variety of hexes and jinxes seemingly invented by the student, as well as substantial improvements to the book's standard potion-making instructions. It is signed, "Property of the Half-Blood Prince". The notes greatly bolster Harry's performance and impresses Slughorn, who declares he has inherited his mother Lily's outstanding Potions ability. Whoever the Prince might be, Harry believes he is a better teacher than either Snape or Slughorn.
Outraged by Harry's easy (yet fraudulent) success in the subject, Hermione investigates the possible identity of the Half-Blood Prince and suspects it may be former Hogwarts student Eileen Prince. Harry is ambivalent about the Prince's identity, although he is convinced that the student is male. In a fight with Draco Malfoy, he uses the Prince's spell marked "For Enemies" and is horrified that it causes vicious slashing wounds. Snape arrives and heals Draco's wounds and then interrogates Harry about the source of the Sectumsempra spell (from Latin; meaning literally, "always cut").
Harry knows that at least two of the spells were used by Snape and his father during their fifth year, which is confirmed by Remus Lupin. Because the handwritten spells have numerous corrections, Harry is convinced the writer invented them. During his flight from Hogwarts, Snape confirms to Harry that he is the "Half-Blood Prince".
The nickname was derived from Snape's mother's maiden name of "Prince" and from his father having been a Muggle, making Snape a "half-blood". Some in the wizarding world, especially those among Voldemort's followers and in Snape's own Slytherin House, consider this to be a defect or inferiority. Harry suggests Snape chose this title to "play up the pure-blood side". This is logically questionable: the title would, to a Death Eater, merely be a reminder of Snape's disreputable paternity. It is also unknown if the Prince family were, in fact, Purebloods, as Harry believes. Harry even forgets that he had earlier cited this claim to being a Half-blood as proof that the Potions text's previous owner had not been a budding Death Eater, as Hermione seemed to imply.
When questioned by Harry, Remus Lupin says he knew nothing about the name, despite being Snape's classmate. It is unknown when Snape took on this nickname. Given that Lupin does not recall the name, it is probable that Snape did not use 'Half-Blood Prince' openly while at school (even to his Slytherin friends).
[edit] Loyalty
Snape's ultimate loyalty is one of the most significant unresolved issues in the Harry Potter series. Both followers and opponents of Voldemort think Snape is working as a double agent on their side. Both Dumbledore and Voldemort are masters of Legilimency, with which they can detect deceit, but Snape is accomplished in Occlumency, which allows him to lie undetectably. Dumbledore says on several occasions that he trusts Snape completely, while Voldemort trusts him enough to include him in some of his most important plans.
Snape is a respected member of the Order of the Phoenix, but in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, he kills Dumbledore with Avada Kedavra, the Killing Curse. It is not clear to what extent this was his choice, as his actions were constrained by his Unbreakable Vow sworn to Narcissa Malfoy, which required him to ensure that Draco's task for Voldemort be completed. Draco's task is assumed, though never stated explicitly, to have been to kill Dumbledore. When he finally refuses to do so, it falls to Snape.
In the chapter "Flight of the Prince", Snape rushes Draco and the Death Eaters out of Hogwarts, but he is confronted by Harry. Snape easily blocks every spell Harry hurls at him, and although he taunts Harry over his lack of skills, he also tells him what he does wrong. He also prevents Death Eaters from harming Harry, blocking a Cruciatus Curse, telling the Death Eaters, "Potter belongs to the Dark Lord". His actions towards Harry may be those of an enemy acting under orders, but could also be interpreted as those of an ally.
According to Dumbledore, it was Snape who eavesdropped at the Hog's Head while Sybill Trelawney was interviewed for Divination professor at Hogwarts. During the interview, she fell into a trance, delivering a prophecy regarding Voldemort and a foe that had "the power to vanquish him". Dumbledore says only the first half of the prophecy was heard and reported to Voldemort. This conflicts with Trelawney's account, in which she says Snape is discovered only after she finished the prophecy (which she did not and still does not know she made). Although the prophecy could have been about either Harry or Neville Longbottom, Voldemort identified Harry as the subject and, seeking to kill him, murdered Lily and James Potter. Harry now blames Snape for his parents' deaths, amplifying his hatred and colouring his view of Snape's loyalties. Much of the reader's information about Snape comes through Harry's reactions, and is in turn shaped by Harry's interpretation of events.
In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, in the chapter "The Lost Prophecy", Dumbledore explains that Snape coordinated the rescue of Harry and his friends from the Ministry of Magic. This rescue was crucial to saving their lives during the fight there, where they were outnumbered by Death Eaters; although Sirius Black was killed, this orchestration confirmed Snape's loyalty in the eyes of the Order. However, Snape's delayed warning allowed the Death Eaters enough time to enter the Ministry and almost capture Harry before Order members arrived. Snape explained this delay by saying that he first searched for Harry at Hogwarts before realising where he had gone.
In the chapter of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince entitled Spinner's End, Snape claims to Bellatrix Lestrange, "I have done my utmost to have him thrown out of Hogwarts". When Harry nearly kills Draco Malfoy, Professor McGonagall tells him he is lucky not to be expelled, but Snape merely gives him several detentions. In the chapter "The Rogue Bludger" in The Chamber of Secrets, Hermione Granger needs a diversion in order to steal the necessary ingredients for Polyjuice Potion from Snape's cupboard. When Harry tosses a firework into a cauldron, Snape is furious and threatens to expel the guilty person. Harry later tells his friends that he felt Snape somehow knew it was him. Indeed, Snape may have been using Legilimency on him. Although Snape argues for Harry to be expelled on other occasions, he took no action in this instance.
Dumbledore repeatedly makes it clear that Snape has his full confidence. At Igor Karkaroff's trial, Dumbledore testified that Snape spied on the Death Eaters "at great personal risk",[HP4] while Karkaroff insisted this was untrue. In The Half-Blood Prince, Remus Lupin tells Harry that though he and the Marauders (Lupin, James Potter, Sirius Black, and Peter Pettigrew) had a childhood rivalry with Snape, he trusted that Snape was on the right side. He later explains that this was only because of Dumbledore's own belief. Minerva McGonagall also reveals a distrust of Snape, although she adds that Dumbledore always implied he had good reason to trust Snape. Horace Slughorn showed surprise that Snape acted as he did. However, McGonagall effectively changes the subject while characters are still discussing Dumbledore's death and their feelings about Snape, preventing the reader getting more explanation.
Throughout the series, Snape's sinister personality and antagonism towards Harry are in stark contrast with his heroic actions in Harry's defence. Yet in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Snape claims, to Death Eaters Bellatrix Lestrange and Narcissa Malfoy, that his loyalty to Voldemort has never wavered. This history of divided allegiance to both the Death Eaters and the Order of the Phoenix, and his actions in apparent support of both sides, make him one of the most ambiguous and morally complex characters in the series, and, arguably, its only anti-hero.
[edit] Character origins and possible influences
Rowling says that she borrowed his surname from the village of Snape in the English county of Suffolk. Severus is Latin for "strict", "harsh" or "severe", and the name may also have origins in the name of the Imperial Roman emperor (Lucius) Septimius Severus, who was known for ruling with both vigour and a calculated cruelty. Rowling has stated that the Snape character was inspired by a hated teacher in her childhood.[5]
In several foreign-language translations of Harry Potter, Snape's name is altered. In French, he is "Severus Rogue," in Italian "Severus Piton," in Norwegian "Severus Slur," in Hungarian "Perselus Piton," in Finnish "Severus Kalkaros" (kalkkaro, rattlesnake),in Dutch "Severus Sneep", and in Russian "Северус Снегг" ("Severus Snegg", "снегг" being an alternation of "снег" - "snow").
[edit] Portrayal in the films
Severus Snape is played by Alan Rickman in all the Harry Potter films. Alan Rickman is one of the few people J.K. Rowling is said to have spoken to about the future direction of his character, perhaps reflecting the importance of Snape's role in the series. [1]
In the film Snape is shown clean-shaven, although he is shown having a greasy beard and a moustache in a drawing by J.K. Rowling. The chapter pictures of the American book editions drawn by Mary GrandPré also show a goatee-like beard.
Snape's personality in the films is generally not as antagonistic as it appears in print. Although he comes across as extremely strict and perpetually suspicious of Harry, Snape rarely exhibits personal hatred for the son of his old rival. He typically does not display any particular fondness for Draco Malfoy, and in fact appears rather irritated with the arrogant young Slytherin in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Consequently, there is less enmity between Snape and Harry. Most of the time Harry seems to regard Snape as a tiresome annoyance—a minor impediment to his constant rule-breaking—rather than an opponent worthy of real detestation. For his part, Snape seems to be genuinely interested in Harry's wellbeing and, above all, the maintenance of order within Hogwarts.
[edit] See Also
| Preceded by Horace Slughorn |
Potions Master 1980 – September 1, 1996 |
Succeeded by Horace Slughorn |
| Preceded by Dolores Umbridge |
Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher September 1, 1996 - June, 1997 |
Succeeded by Unknown |
| Preceded by Horace Slughorn |
Head of Slytherin House 1980 – 1997 |
Succeeded by Horace Slughorn |
[edit] References
- ^ "Rowling on Snape." half-bloodprince.org
- ^ MuggleNet and Leaky Cauldron Interview
- ^ Section: Rumours. J. K. Rowling Official Site.
- ^ "[He Who Was Killed in Book Six] is really dead, JKR Rethinks Title of Book Seven, More from Radio City", news report, The Leaky Cauldron, 2006-08-02.
- ^ J.K. Rowling interview transcript, The Connection (WBUR Radio), 12 October, 1999
[edit] External links
- Snape Character profile from the Harry Potter Lexicon
- Interviews in which Rowling has given information about Snape from accio-quote.org
- Dumbledore's part in his own death Dumbledore Is Not Dead Website
- Snape and the events surrounding Trelawney's prophecy editorial by MuggleNet
- Snape’s loyalties and Dumbledore's death from red hen
- The Lazy Man's Guide to Defending Snape from I trust Snape
- Snape and the Dark Arts from Slytherin Serpent
- Severus Snape Fan Page with lots of information, rumours and interactive pages
| J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philosopher's Stone | book | film | game | soundtrack |
| Chamber of Secrets | book | film | game | soundtrack |
| Prisoner of Azkaban | book | film | game | soundtrack |
| Goblet of Fire | book | film | game | soundtrack |
| Order of the Phoenix | book | film | game | |
| Half-Blood Prince | book | film | ||
| Deathly Hallows | book | |||
| Other books | Other games | |||
| Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them | Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup | |||
| Quidditch Through the Ages | ||||
|
Characters • Places • Spells • Translations • Quidditch • Timeline Films • Fandom • Controversy • Money |
||||
