Severus Snape: Character Analysis Reboot v.6

[gertiekeddle]

Yickles! Why wasn't I there, too?

[Moriath]

Originally Posted by gertiekeddle

Yickles! Why wasn't I there, too?

So that I could have all the chocolate, obviously.

[ccollinsmith]

It never dies.

[The_Green_Woods]

Hi all, Happy Halloween!

I'm answering this again. I want to see how much my view has changed over time. And so for what it's worth, here goes.

After reading DH, to what extent do you think is Snape responsible for what happened to the Potters?

I guess he's very much responsible to the extent he took a Prophecy to old Voldy, knowing it would result in the death of a child and it's parents. He was pretty much responsible at that point for that. But the question was, not whether Snape was responsible for taking such a Prophecy to Voldemort knowing or at least guessing with a fair amount of accuracy about what would happen next; it was whether Snape was responsible for what happened to the Potters.

Maybe it's a fine line, but I would go on a limb and say no, Snape was not responsible about what happened to the Potters. Because by the time it came to the Potters as it were, much could have been done, to ensure their safety.

That it was not done, is IMO not Snape's fault.

If it weren't for Snape, would the Prophecy have never reached Voldemort? My feelings about this is why I think Snape was not responsible to what happened to the Potters. I think, Dumbledore would have ensured Voldemort got a hint of this and then events would have played out, similarly or differently, I don't know, interesting though it is to think about - but that Voldemort would have somehow come to know about this I'm certain. Why?

Because, Dumbledore, sent off Snape knowing he'd heard some of the Prophecy, knowing what Voldemort was capable of doing. That point makes what happened to the Potters not Snape's fault IMO.


Do you think Snape's character development arc is complete?

I don't know. Sometimes I feel yes, the ambiguity about him makes him more exciting, more controversial. Being shrouded in secrecy does make him more interesting and almost everything about him can be assessed in different ways. On the other hand that very ambiguity, that wonderful shade of grey has created a sharp divide about him, which after his contributions to the WW and to Harry particularly is sad IMO. Having said this, I don't know if I've answered this question properly.


[*]To what extent are Snape's parents to blame for his later choices and to what extent are they his own responsibility?

They are responsible in the sense that, while young they created an environment that created and formed perceptions which probably continued into his adult life. But as an adult, I guess Snape takes the praise or blame for any act of his.


The rest later.

[mysterious]

Originally Posted by The_Green_Woods

After reading DH, to what extent do you think is Snape responsible for what happened to the Potters?

I guess he's very much responsible to the extent he took a Prophecy to old Voldy, knowing it would result in the death of a child and it's parents. He was pretty much responsible at that point for that. But the question was, not whether Snape was responsible for taking such a Prophecy to Voldemort knowing or at least guessing with a fair amount of accuracy about what would happen next; it was whether Snape was responsible for what happened to the Potters.

Maybe it's a fine line, but I would go on a limb and say no, Snape was not responsible about what happened to the Potters. Because by the time it came to the Potters as it were, much could have been done, to ensure their safety.

That it was not done, is IMO not Snape's fault.

Snape was loyal to Voldemort when he told him what he overheard at the Hog's Head when Trelawney suddenly launched into the prophecy. He was a loyal servant of the dark lord and was at fault. It was this ammunition which resulted in Voldemort firing on the Potters. Although in this day and age we do not blame the gun manufacturer for mass shootings so in a way Snape is also innocent?

Originally Posted by The_Green_Woods

If it weren't for Snape, would the Prophecy have never reached Voldemort? My feelings about this is why I think Snape was not responsible to what happened to the Potters. I think, Dumbledore would have ensured Voldemort got a hint of this and then events would have played out, similarly or differently, I don't know, interesting though it is to think about - but that Voldemort would have somehow come to know about this I'm certain. Why?

Because, Dumbledore, sent off Snape knowing he'd heard some of the Prophecy, knowing what Voldemort was capable of doing. That point makes what happened to the Potters not Snape's fault IMO.

I think you are misremembering chain of events here or just giving too much credit to Dumbledore's ability to anticipate Voldemort's actions. Snape overheard a portion of the prophecy before Aberforth Dumbledore kicked him out. If Albus had known Snape had overheard the conversation he would have done everything in his power to stop this prophecy from making its way to Voldemort. He (Albus) didn't send Snape to Voldemort to tell him what he had overheard at the Hog's Head.

Originally Posted by The_Green_Woods

[*]To what extent are Snape's parents to blame for his later choices and to what extent are they his own responsibility?

They are responsible in the sense that, while young they created an environment that created and formed perceptions which probably continued into his adult life. But as an adult, I guess Snape takes the praise or blame for any act of his.

Snape was always oppressed at home (by an abusive father) and at school (by the Marauders) and so it was natural he gravitated towards someone (Voldemort) who encouraged him and cherished his skills. His parents played the role of pushing him towards his early life as a death eater. However, it was his love for Lily and her kindness against all odds that changed him to be the guardian he became towards the end. I wouldn't attribute any of that to his absentee and abusive father and victim mother.

[ccollinsmith]

Originally Posted by mysterious

Snape was loyal to Voldemort when he told him what he overheard at the Hog's Head when Trelawney suddenly launched into the prophecy. He was a loyal servant of the dark lord and was at fault. It was this ammunition which resulted in Voldemort firing on the Potters. Although in this day and age we do not blame the gun manufacturer for mass shootings so in a way Snape is also innocent?

Lol I see what you did there with the emojis. 😂

Much as I appreciate Snape, though, I don’t see him as innocent. In fact, I don’t think he sees himself as innocent of Lily’s death. It’s his regret over his actions imo that leads him to agree to Dumbledore’s offer to protect the boy. Snape was so distraught that he wanted to die. Dumbledore gave him a way forward.

I’m not going to pretend that Snape was kind to Harry, but I do think he wanted to do something to redeem the horrible choices he’d made in his youth. In order to want to redeem them, though, he had to realize they were horrible choices. I personally doubt he would have agreed to take on Dumbledore’s task if he’d thought himself innocent.

I hope that makes sense. 😄

[Sereena]

Originally Posted by ccollinsmith

Lol I see what you did there with the emojis. 😂

Much as I appreciate Snape, though, I don’t see him as innocent. In fact, I don’t think he sees himself as innocent of Lily’s death. It’s his regret over his actions imo that leads him to agree to Dumbledore’s offer to protect the boy. Snape was so distraught that he wanted to die. Dumbledore gave him a way forward.

I’m not going to pretend that Snape was kind to Harry, but I do think he wanted to do something to redeem the horrible choices he’d made in his youth. In order to want to redeem them, though, he had to realize they were horrible choices. I personally doubt he would have agreed to take on Dumbledore’s task if he’d thought himself innocent.

I hope that makes sense. 😄

Yeah, I thought this was the whole point of his character His motivation is not that difficult to understand, IMO. However, I think that what The Green Woods was saying was rather if we as readers should consider him guilty or innocent of the Potters' deaths. To which I say that while he was definitely an accessory there, ultimately these deaths should be on Voldemort's conscience and his alone.

[ccollinsmith]

Originally Posted by Sereena

However, I think that what The Green Woods was saying was rather if we as readers should consider him guilty or innocent of the Potters' deaths. To which I say that while he was definitely an accessory there, ultimately these deaths should be on Voldemort's conscience and his alone.

Okay. Not guilty of their deaths (he didn’t decide to kill them and he tried to prevent it), but his choice to deliver the prophecy (i.e. to do Voldemort’s bidding) does make him indirectly responsible in part. Or as you say, an accessory.

[Drusilla]

^ yes, an accessory to murder is what I'd consider him too. His remorse was specifically over having caused Lily to become a target, but what if the couple Voldemort chose to attack had been the Longbottoms? There's nothing that indicates he would feel bad about being an instrument in the deaths of a family including a baby, he only felt bad because it was Lily.

[purplehawk]

Originally Posted by Drusilla

^ yes, an accessory to murder is what I'd consider him too. His remorse was specifically over having caused Lily to become a target, but what if the couple Voldemort chose to attack had been the Longbottoms? There's nothing that indicates he would feel bad about being an instrument in the deaths of a family including a baby, he only felt bad because it was Lily.

Snape was a mangled character. His hatred of James led to his abuse of Harry throughout the series. And Neville! I personally gave up on Snape in PoA and never changed my mind about him. How Harry could forgive all that and name one of his kids after Snape is beyond me to fathom.

[wickedwickedboy]

It is understandable. Snape is a very interesting character and gives rise to many opinions.