Perseus Evans theory

[olivierfouquet2000]

No: HPFGUIDX 88200

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "kronaeb" <Kronae at h...> wrote:
> I've been enjoying the Snape-y speculations lately but has anyone 
> taken out the old "Perseus Evans" theory for examination since OoP?
> (In brief- Severus Snape anagrams into Perseus Evans. Remember 
> Perseus from mythology? He killed the Medusa with 'snakes' for hair 
> and fell in love with Andromeda.)
> 
> I remembered it again while reading OoP when Sirius came up with a 
> cousin called 'Andromeda'. Of course there's the Lily Evans and Mark 
> Evans possible connection as well. This could just be a major JKR red 
> herring but does anyone else have thoughts on this perhaps turning 
> into part of a future plot?
> ~Kronae

Now  me, Olivier

You know, I have a little problem with all the anagrams theory (Cornelius Fudge, 
Severus Snape, Drooble's Best Blowing Gum are all anagrams). The thing is, some 
studies have been made on the frequency of anagrams in French, and the conclusion 
are absolutely definite, a complete name (surname plus family name) is usually an 
anagram, and most exceptionally not an anagram. I don't know if similar investigation 
have been made in English, but I am rather confident that the same result would hold, 
considering how close these languages are. So it would be surprising if names in HP 
turned out NOT to be anagrams, the fact that they are is the expectation.

Now for a strange argument to support the fact that Severus Snape is just Severus 
Snape. In CoS, Tom Marvolo Riddle being Lord Voldemort was a nice anagram. The 
French translator dutifully modified Tom Riddle's name to fit the anagram and was 
even able to translate a bit of the meaning (Tom Riddle becomes something like Tom 
Random). Yet he has modified Snape's name to Rogue (so that the potential anagram 
is ruined). I surmise that if Snape's name had been a crucial clue, JKR would have 
advised translator not to modify it.

But of course she could have kept this piece of info for herself, and Snape could be a 
lost Evans. I wonder how the French translator would then come out of the quagmire 
he would be in.

Best wishes for 2004,

Olivier