Blog Post #2: Snape and Forgiveness

*First and foremost: SPOILER ALERT, please don’t read any further if you haven’t read the 7^th book. I don’t want to ruin anything for you!

If I could, I’d like to introduce a bit of a new theme that I’ve noticed this time around while reading the series: forgiveness. I’ve never noticed just how much emphasis was put on trust and forgiveness between characters as I’ve read. Surprisingly (or not) I think that the character who most exemplifies these themes is Severus Snape. There are lots of other themes that can obviously be connected with his character such as traumatic experience, good v. evil, death and empathy. Those will be briefly incorporated by I’d like to emphasize trust and forgiveness.

From book one; we’ve always been suspicious of Snape. We have been conditioned by Rowling to never become too comfortable with our opinion of his character because most likely, there will be a twist. We’re constantly contemplating: can Snape be trusted or not, is he good or bad? There is an ongoing battle between Harry and his superiors (specifically Dumbledore) as to whether or not Snape is a ‘good guy’ and can be trusted. Very importantly: Dumbledore trusts Snape, and he says it many, many times. As the series progresses our opinions fluctuate accordingly.  In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, we get our first glimpse of Snape’s childhood. When Harry breaks through Snape’s mind at Occlumency lessons, we see Snape as a child, cowering in a corner while a couple who are presumably his parents are arguing quite violently. This instantly gives us a pang of empathy for Snape, we start to realize that there is a reason he is the way he is. In the same book Harry also finds out how terribly his father and godfather had treated Snape. Harry struggles with his feelings about what he sees. He absolutely loathes Snape for the way he treats him, but at the same time he can empathize with Snape because he too has constantly been a victim of bullying growing up. We also see here, that Snape has never been able to forgive James and Sirius, even after their deaths.  

Then in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, our worlds are shattered. Just when we think Snape may actually be good and trustworthy (he’s part of the order, risked his life being a double agent, and attempted to help save Sirius): Snape kills Dumbledore who had trusted and defended him all this time. Our ongoing dilemma on whether to trust Snape or not, whether he is good or evil, is confirmed. He is untrustworthy and definitely a ‘bad guy’.  We can’t show him empathy, and he certainly can’t be forgiven, not after this.

But wait, then Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows comes along. We’re all still so hurt and mad about Snape’s betrayal that there is no way he can redeem himself. However, once again there is a twist. Snape is killed by Voldemort and on his death bed gives Harry his memory. Harry sees that Snape has been good all along. He has been deeply damaged by his childhood, he has been brave, and never forgave himself for being the direct result of the love of his life, Lily’s death. He was always on Harry’s side (even though he was mean) and he was being loyal to Dumbledore when he killed him. This is a huge revelation for Harry and the reader which can also be tied into the ‘coming of age’ theme. Harry realizes the truth and forgives Snape for all of the things he had blamed him for up to this point. This is a becoming moment for Harry because that is a very mature thing to do. Snape’s character and his relationship with Harry show how important trust and forgiveness is in life and the series.