Prof. Snape?

Question

do you think snape is good or bad?

Answer 1

Snape is Snape. He is beyond the sort of simplistic categorization as "good" or "evil", 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 2

Readers have always been left pondering about who Snape really is. Where do his loyalties lie? One moment, he’s the evil master, always taunting and picking on Harry, displaying his hatred for the boy for the entire world to see. But on the other hand, he had Dumbledore’s unstinting and unwavering trust. Dumbledore had always defended Snape, even against Harry’s many accusations and suspicions. For this reason alone, I have to believe that Snape is actually on the good side.

And I would be bitterly disappointed if Snape turns out to work for the Death Eaters after all. I feel that Snape is the most interesting character that Rowling has created, with his inner conflicts and mysterious past affiliation with the Death Eaters. With every line that Rowling writes about Snape, you would always question his motives, the real meaning behind what he says. He is always to me, an enigma. Dumbledore was no fool. He wouldn't have blindly trusted Snape for nothing. There just HAD to be a SOLID reason for Snape to kill Dumbledore. Maybe Dumbledore's death is a pre-meditated sacrifice for a final victory of good against evil.

Remember when Harry once overheard them both arguing? I suspect that Snape had told Dumbledore of the Unbreakable Vow he was forced to take part in with Draco’s mother. Snape would die if he didn't keep the vow to protect Draco and kill Dumbledore in the event that the boy failed to do so.

And Dumbledore would rather sacrifice himself than to loose the only link the Order of the Phoenix had with the inside workings of the Death Eaters' organization; Snape, the double agent.

Sure, Snape hated Harry's father. But I'd hate it if Snape was simply "getting his own back". Then there'd be no integrity in his character build-up so far.

Answer 3

I think only casual, younger readers think he is bad. When I'm trying to argue with kids that are like twelve they don't understand how he could be good, they just say but killed Dumbeldore. So It's important to understand that there are grey aread and certain characteristics of Snape that can only be appriciated by a more mature person. Some young people might be able to that he is good but it's mostly young kids who think he is bad. You can just listen to thier arguments, they're really childish and not indept. That's why I think the books always manage to shock them. The last time I was shocked in GOF.

Answer 4

GOOD

I think he's good and that he only killed Dumbledore because of the unbreakable vow, and because Dumbledore knew that Snape is more valuable alive than he was.

Answer 5

he's definitely good and always loyal to dumbledore
even though he had a oppurtunity to harm harry in hbp but he didnt. iam sure snape is good

Answer 6

Good.
I think it was just all a plot
but then again you never know
I hope JKR makes a really good twist
I Love the books!

Answer 7

I think he's good. I think that the tension of which side he's really on will be resolved in volume VII, probably with him dying in some very noble way.

Answer 8

Who knows, there's evidence for both ways.

Currently though I will say bad.

But that's probably what JKR wants me to think so I'll be shocked in the last book.

Answer 9

I would like to think he's good. Yeah, he seems good to me, though he certainly has an element of mystery about him, in the movies.

Answer 10

I think he is good, but has so much pent-up resentment that he is one of those people who cannot show their nice side to others.