Echoes of Machiavelli and the Godfather in Snape

[inkling108]

No: HPFGUIDX 138290

I have not posted for a while because I have been rereading and 
ruminating quietly on HBP (now on third readthrough).  However, 
while surfing the web the other day I came across an essay that I 
think will definitely be of interest to the debate on Snape's 
motives.  Those who believe he is out for himself may especially 
want to check it out. It's called Machiavelli's Prince Severus and 
is found here:

http://Tazmy.blogspot.com/2005/07/machiavellis-prince-severus-few-
years.html

I won't repeat it all here (it really is worth a read) but the gist 
of it is that the events in HBP bear similarity to the a story in 
Machiavelli's classic study of power politics, The Prince.

He tells of one Severus Septimus, emperor of Rome, who came to power 
by eliminating the two men who stood in his way.  One of them was 
called Albinus.  Severus temporarily allied himself with Albinus in 
order to defeat the other leader, Niger.  But it was all a trick and 
as soon as the opportunity arose he had Albinus killed.  Of Severus, 
Machiavelli says:

"I want to show briefly how well he knew how to act the part of both 
a fox and a lion."

If you want to read the original story, The Prince is available 
online, though in a different translation than the one cited in the 
essay.  The story is found toward the end of Chapter 19:

http://www.ilt.columbia.edu/publications/Projects/digitexts/machiavel
li/the_prince/chapter19.html

Now this may be a heck of a coincidence.  However, we know that JKR 
is a student of history and the classics.  We also know that the 
choice of a name for a character can be significant.  IIRC, she has 
said that there is a reason why Hermoine has the same name as the 
herione of A Winter's Tale.  So I think it is quite possible that 
she named him Severus with this story in mind.  The similarity of 
Albinus to Albus is pretty wild too (they both mean white).

Also the fact that Snape declares himself a prince, rather than, 
say, a king or a lord, like his supposed master, Voldy.

So maybe Severus is in the end on the side of Severus alone.  There 
are a few other things that point in this direction.  For example 
all of the books with the exception of POA have a scene at the end 
where Harry confronts the villian and the villian goes into a 
maniacal rant.  HBP is no different, and yes, I do think Snape is in 
full nasty mode (as discussed in a recent thread) when Harry 
confronts him.  But notice one important difference between this and 
the scenes in the previous books.  In all the other scenes the 
villian proclaims his devotion and service to Lord Voldy (to his 
future self in the case of Tom Riddle).  Snape never mentions Voldy 
once.  It's all about him, Severus: "I, the Half-Blood Prince!"

Furthermore, if Snape is trying to lay the groundwork for becoming 
ruler of the magical world, it is in his interest to cultivate and 
obligate influential friends.  This may explain his willingness to 
help the Malfoy family.  The scene at Spinner's end is reminiscent 
of the opening scene of the Godfather, with a desperate supplicant 
distressed about the fate of their child  who believes the Don is 
the only one who could help.  Snape displays unusual kindness to 
Narcissa, offers her a drink, hears her out, says, maybe I can help 
you.  No promise of service is demanded in return, as Snape is not 
in a position to truly play the Godfather yet. But I think an 
obligation is implicit in the situation.  The Malfoys owe him one 
now, a big one.

In keeping with the sly fox Snape would be the theory that Eggplant, 
Alla, Valky and others have put forth about why he did not deliver 
Harry to the Dark Lord -- he wants Harry to do the dirty work of 
getting rid of Voldy so that he can take over with clean hands.  
Very Machiavellian, don't you think?

Anyway, read the essay if you have time, and kudos to Tazmy for 
seeing the connection!

Back to the book,

Inkling