Professor Snape is GOOD!?

Question

I think Professor Snape will actually turn out to be one of the good guys. How many of you agree with me? why or why not

Answer 1

I agree! I base my opinions upon my own understanding of the characters and JK Rowling's style and symbolisms, and also the analysis on dumbledoreisnotdead.com which has recently become www.beyondhogwarts.com. When I first discovered it, it was a lot of fun to read; like being in a literature class for the fantasy genre.

Mostly, as they say, since Dumbledore trusted him, I do, too. Plus, the fact that Snape is such a smooth talker seemed more that it was being put to use when he was deflecting Bellatrix and Narcissa and even Voldemort than any time he was talking to "the good guys." You know, it just seemed like he was scheming with his whole "lying in wait at Hogwarts" speech.

He seems like he is bitter and miserable, but he has never seemed aggressive towards Dumbledore. When he "killed" him (I also believe Dumbledore is not truly dead), there was no relish or revenge in it, the way one would kill someone he or she truly hated. And when it comes right down to it, he has protected his students, even the ones he is not nice to.

Answer 2

This is a confusing question. Many hints point to Professor Snape as being good and bad. Most people immediately think of bad as the Half-Blood Prince's beginning included a meeting with Professor Snape claiming to being a total supporter of the Dark Lord. However, he can also be good because of his quest to stop Professor Quirrel in the first book. I hope this helps

Answer 3

I will trust Snape.
Despite his dislike of Harry, he has tried to protect him several times in the series, has defended Hogwarts, has risked his life acting as a double -agent, and has protected and helped even Professor Lupin, whom he has every reason to hate.
A question one needs to ask oneself when considering the "killing" of Albus Dumbledore, is , is Snape a powerful enough wizard to perform the Killing Curse? Consider that Snape's specialty is Potions, not verbal or wand magic. His secondary specialty is mental magic. He is capable with a wand, adequate at verbal magic (remember the trouble he had protecting Harry from Voldemort's curse during the first Quidditch match?).
Consider next the elaboreate theatricality of Dumbledore's "death". Readers and watchers have seen the Killing Curse work at least twice before. It is instantaneous, and drops the victim in a heap in a second. In the case of Dumbledore, the headmaster is thrown over the parapet by the power of the "curse", saving the enemies the trouble of confirming his death on the spot.
Finally, there is the curious exchange between Snape and Dumbledore just prior to the casting of the curse. Dumpledore pleads with Snape. Is he begging for his life to be spared, or is he pleading with Snape to carry out the exceedingly hazardous plan of death deception, which could easily have become a catastrophe for Harry, Snape and Dumbledore if it was detected. For the same reason, why was Harry frozen in place? So he could witness the "Curse", and not get in the way of the deception.
For these reasons, I believe that in the final volume, Snape will rise further in Voldemort's estimation, giving Snape a chance to continue his double-agent work, and give vital help and information to the Order of the Phoenix. He may even end up sacrificing his life for Harry's sake, or be instrumental in saving Harry's life or that of one of his friends at a crucial moment.

Answer 4

This is my opinion:

Snape is Snape. He is beyond that sort of simplistic categorization, IMHO. I do believe he is not as evil as he appeared at the end of HBP. It would take too much space to really go into this in detail, but consider this:

It is well known that Snape played the double-agent prior to the death of Harry's parents, and there is no reason to believe he wasn't still a double agent on the anti-Voldemort side. Why then did he bind himself to the success of Draco's mission and then actually kill Dumbledore?
My answer: Dumbledore knew that destroying Slytherin's ring had fatally wounded him and Snape knew so too. Therefore he allowed himself to be bound to Dumbledore"s death, a death he knew was imminent and against which he knew Dumbeldore had taken precautions to ensure that his death would not derail the anti-Voldemort movement.

Now, on the other hand, if Snape has turned coats; why did he not kill Harry* or disable him and take him helpless to Voldemort? JKR made it clear that Harry is no match for Snape as a wizard (yet). If you look at Snapes "taunts" at Harry and put them into anyone else's mouth, they're very good advice on what Harry needs yet to learn to fight strong adult wizards on anything like equal terms.
My answer is that Dumbledore at some point shortly after Harry was orphaned made Snape take an unbreakable vow to protect Harry. This fits in perfectly with Snape's actions toward Harry in the books thus far. Yes, Snape is a mean SOB to Harry, but that is Snape's personality, and he didn't vow to be nice to Harry after all.

My conclusion is that in Book Seven, Snape will act covertly and eventually overtly to aid Harry, that he will likely live, and that Harry will be just as in the dark over Snape's motivations as when Harry entered Hogwarts. (BTW, the above is why I don't think Harry will die. If I'm right, then Snape dies too if Harry dies, and Snape is the ultimate survivor).

*My reading of the prophecy is that there is no requirement that either has to directly kill the other, just that one no longer lives, so I think Snape certainly could have killed Harry and talked his way out of it afterwards

Answer 5

I've read the sixth book snape is the half-blooded prince and he tries desperatley to kill harry potter but instead kills proffessor dumbledor

Answer 6

I'm not totally sure but I think he has to be at least partly good for Dumbledore to have ANY reason to trust him........ Dumbledore's smarter than Snape.

Answer 7

I do. J K Rowling has said that snape WILL redeem himself in the last book!!!

Answer 8

NO absolutely not. He did put the unforgivable curse on dumbledore remember? Even if he turns out good later, I am not sure I will agree with him. I'll hate him always,no matter what

Answer 9

If he is good ... he will be one of the guys JKR said will be killed in Book 7.

For Harry to be the hero, a good guy that close to Voldemort will have to be killed off before the final battle.

Are you really wanting him to be good?

Answer 10

It's terribly confusing...
Honestly, i have no idea. I'm still holding a firm grudge against him for killing off Dumbledore. But you never know...JKR is quite good at leading us on.