Snape in love? SNapes loyalities?

[zehms at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 142572

Bart wrote:
> I am among the ones who believes that Snape killed Dumbledore at 
> Dumbledore's request.  Snapes sniping at Harry might be considered 
> gloating, but, if there was a purpose behind it, there were two:

> 1) To convince Harry that Snape is loyal to Voldemort, so that 
> Voldemort cannot find out otherwise from breaking into Harry's mind.
>
> 2) To FINALLY convince Harry that he needs to develop his Occlumancy
> skills.

> ...I've tried to figure out what COULD cause it, and came to a 
> conclusion:  Snape was in love with Lily Potter.



This message board is new to me, but I have participated in all the Barnes and Noble discussions and in the Leaky Cauldren discussions, and I can tell you that many fans, I included, think that Snape's repentance after revealing the prophecy to LV was because of his feelings towards Lily.

I think JKR has brilliantly written the role of Professor Snape, particularly in HBP. After HBP I think those who think that Snape is, and has always been, a death eater; and those who think Snape is loyal to Dumbledore can effectively argue their side with canon support. I think the character of Snape will be an issue debated until put to rest in book 7, and that is bloody brilliant on JKR's part!

Snape in Love?

Was Snape "in love" with her, I don't know...and I know many fans cringe at the thought, but what would sway DD's opinion about Snape more than a repentance story based on 'love'?  

I know many fans point to Snape calling Lily a "filthy little Mudblood" in OOTP, however, I would suggest as socially inept as Snape is he was acting out as a elementary school child who has a crush on a little girl, calling Lily a name to deflect the fact that he 'likes' her.

My belief about the reasons behind Snape's repentance began after OOTP, particularly with 'Snape's Worst Memory'.  I wondered why this particular scene was so horrifying for Snape, it appears he and James dueled and sparred quite a bit, IMO Snape was horrified to have his underpants revealed to one person present...Lily.  To be embarrassed in front of Lily was one thing, then to have his pride injured as she tried to 'save' him was another.  

In HBP my suspicions were further aroused as SLughorn constantly praises Lily's potions work, at first I thought the praise a deflection away from the real HBP, then I began to think that JKR was making a connection between Lily and Snape, both geniuses at potions.

My suspicion is further aroused when DD is reluctant to tell Harry the truth behind Snape's repentance, in HBP DD appears to be contimplating telling Harry why he has trusted Snape all these years, but then he decides against this action.  

IMO DD could have believed that Harry could not grasp that Snape cared for Lily, more likely he felt he would be betraying Snape's trust to tell Harry Snape's most guarded secret....DD may have felt that only Snape can reveal this to Harry.

I can think of no better reason for DD to accept Snape's repentance that Snape spinning a tale of 'love'.

Snape's Loyalities?

I think Professor Snape is JKR's most complex character. I think Snape has become a perpetual red herring throughout the series (and after book 6 this trend continues), primarily because even when he saves or helps Harry, Hermione, Ron, or a member of the order his demeanor is so, well repulsive. His loathing of a character we all love, Harry Potter, makes Snape as a character difficult to like, on top of that he is rude an hurtful to Hermione, and he relentlessly torments loveable Neville Longbottom-quite truthfully he is VERY EASY TO HATE.

Snape's behavior, his prejudices, in conjunction with the fact that he was (and to some still is) a death eater has made Snape an easy target to vilify.

JKR has let us take a small peek into Snape's past in OOTP- Snape's Worst Memory. His upbringing is definitely one which inspires pity, the fact that he was an outcast, ugly, greasy and possessing the same bad temperament we witness in the series, made him a target for ridicule by his worst enemy James (and Sirius, Lupin, and Pettigrew), this of course caused me to pity him a little, until he called Lily a filthy mudblood, that is.

Despite JKR's peek into Snape's background, I do not pity him much, nor do I like him, but since book 1 I have trusted him. Why?    Because Dumbledore has always trusted him.

I have no love for Snape; In book 3, I was so angry at him when he wouldn't listen to Sirius and Lupin's explanations; In book 5, I hated the way he tormented Sirius; I was angry that he didn't help Harry to become a better occludes.  Also in book 6, I was distraught that it was he who for all appearances killed Dumbledore in HBP. However, I think Snape can indeed be redeemed by JKR. 

In Book 7 I just want to know how Snape earned Dumbledore's trust, I want Snape to be worth Dumbledore's sacrafice, but most of all I want Dumbledore to be right! If Snape was always a traitor, then Dumbledore has been played a fool, and that is a wretched way to end Dumbledore's life-as a great wizard who in the end has been "hoodwinked" by a repulsive character like Snape.

I think JKR can turn our opinion  by showing us exactly how Snape earned Dumbledore's trust and maybe we as readers can, like Dumbledore, pity and regain trust of Snape once we learn the reason (did it have to with Love for Lily?). 

But the most important way Snape can be redeemed is if we discover that Snape has indeed always been loyal to Dumbledore, perhaps we would discover this just as Snape gives his life to protect one of our beloved characters.

My opinion is that despite his faults I think Snape has always tried to be of service to Dumbledore, and he continues to follow Dumbledore's plan, which we will learn more of in book 7. I believe because Dumbledore trusted him with his life.

I hope Dumbledore was right to trust Snape.

I think he is neither as good as Dumbledore, nor is as evil as Voldemort; I believe it was Lupin who said we cannot classify wizards into death eaters and non-death eaters, there are shades of grey.

I think JKR has done a brilliant job conveying the complexity of Snape's character, and I think she will effortlessly bring the story full circle.


szehms