The Beard

[Kat Macfarlane]

Afraid I can't help you with the Hippogriffies, but I do have a question that has been puzzling me for some time: Where did the idea come from that Snape wore a beard?

I have read and reread the original texts and searched the early depictions of Snape, including JKR's own drawing (http://www.katmac.cncdsl.com/Rowling_Snape.jpg), and nowhere do I find a trace of whiskers. (Quite a lot of hair in the case of the JKR drawing, but a well defined chin and as far as I can tell, no beard.) 

Yes, the American illustrator drew Snape with that silly little Fu Manchu beard, but I've always set that down to personal aberration, nothing to do with the Canon. I thought she missed the mark on quite a lot of things, not just Snape's facial fur.

Certainly the film Snape is clean-shaven and affords us a pleasing view of Alan Rickman's manly jawline.

Does anyone in TOC have inside information that I do not? I have the feeling that many of you are arguing from prior knowledge, and I'd love to know where it's prior from.

Whiskery purrs,

--Gatta


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