In Harry Potter, is Professor Snape good or bad?

Question

Most people would probably think that Snape is terrible, evil, and a death eater. But what if he isn't? And also, I wonder if there's a possibility Snape loved Lily, therefore he hated Harry, because he was James's son, not his own.

Answer 1

I do believe Snape is good and killed Dumbles only because Dumbles insisted. I believe this conversation is the arguement Hagrid overheard. "Severus, please," was not Dumbles begging for his life, but Dumbles begging Snape to fulfill his promise.

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Answer 2

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).

From Snape's memories (in OotP), he has plenty of reason to hate James Potter for himself, and certainly does not act appreciative for Lily's intervention, let alone feel affection for her.

*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 3

I really do think that snape is bad. The only reason that he saved harry's life was because harry's father saved his and he was in "wizard's dept" It was not out of the kindness of his heart. Furthermore, he decived and killed Dumbledore, although he knew that under the protection of Dumbledore he would be safe from voldemort and could become good instead of a death eater.
I do think that snape loved lilly, but being such a social outcast, she did not like him back. But i don't don't think that he wants harry as his own son

Answer 4

I think it is obvious that he liked Lily and resented James for showing him up all the time.

***POSSIBLE SPOILER BELOW***





I also think that Dumbledore asked Snape to kill him to stop Malfoy from being punished by Voldemort when he couldn't go through with the murder on his own. That is how Snape vowed to Narcissa to protect her son, he did that with Dumbledore's instructions. And now Snape's life is in danger and he will end up being a martyr because Harry didn't realise that the 'pleading' look Dumbledore gave Snape was pleasding him to kill him not begging him not to. I predict a whole lot about how much itr cost Snape to kill Dumbledore whom he actually loves etc etc in the last book.

Answer 5

I think Snape was in love with Lilly and he resents Harry because he resembles his father so much and James was so very mean to Snape.

Answer 6

I haven't read all the books,but i've seen all the movies that have been released thus far.
So my conclusion from that so far is that he's character is ultimately caught between good n bad(causing inner conflict and turmoil and confusion),simular to that of darth vader in star wars.There is an outward dark appearance yet a tender love on the inside,which I think wants to free itself from the dark persona and show the true compassionate side of Snape the one who saved Harry,and will ultimately save himself if only he will have the courage to claim it.

Answer 7

I think that he is a death eater and therefore bad. But, I think that he was pushed around a lot by Harry's dad, so it would make sense for him to hate Harry. So I would say he's a good guy in some ways, but mostly bad.

Answer 8

this is the question that's really driving me crazy!
i've decided not to form any theories and let j.k. answer it when i read the book. i cant wait!!

i think its highly possibe that snape had feelings for lily. wasnt something like that implied on one of the flashbacks? i think it was when james was pickin on snape and lily stood up for snape?

Answer 9

i think Snape is good, and probably, he liked Lily, but i dont think that he hated Harry, in the contrary, maybe he cared for him because he is Lily's son

Answer 10

Behold, this is what I've got from my discussion with my best friend, Kami Malfoy:


We all know that Snape has been in such bitter life. Neglected and abused by his parents. Suffered relentless teasing and bullying from the Marauders. Hung upside down in mid-air, humiliated while other students watched. Have an ugly appearance. Unpopular among his colleagues and most students. Alone and lonely, without true friends to support him. (Well, at least he’s still a gifted and powerful wizard in Harry Potter’s world.)

I certainly sympathize with Snape for the many negative experiences that he has suffered through. I doubt that the Marauders had as much influence in his decision to become a Death Eater as his upbringing. Like Draco, he went to Hogwarts with preconcieved notions about blood purity and the value of people with different beliefs. Remember, he knew more about the Dark Arts as a first year student than most seventh year students. That sort of fascination speaks of someone that seeks power for self-protection and/or control of others; which isn't something that would concern a typical eleven year old. Snape was probably tired of feeling helpless and determined to learn all that he could to make sure that he never felt that way again.

Based on what we learned about him during his Occlumency lessons with Harry and in Book 6, I've concluded that Severus had a very unhappy childhood. I imagine that his parents were a darker version of Samantha and Darren Stevens (Bewitched), with his Muggle father being insistant that his powerful witch wife abandon her birthright and deny her magical ability. I can't imagine why a Slytherin witch would marry a Muggle in the first place, or put up with his verbal abuse, but apparently Severus's mother chose to. He grew up in fear, witnessing that abuse and possibly suffering it himself, being that he shared her magical ability and would've had uncontrolled episodes. His mother obviously explained to him that she was a Pureblood and that he was a Half-blood, based on the nickname he chose for himself. He clearly resented his father and identified with his mother, and that is what fueled his fascination with the Dark Arts and made him eager to join the Death Eaters - an organization that hates Muggles, values puritiy of blood, and would make him powerful.

The teasing and bullying that Snape tolerated while at Hogwarts, his unattractive appearance, and lack of friends, must have been frustrating for him. It would cause him to focus on his talents though, giving him motivation to invent new spells and make improvements on potions. He'd want to prove them all wrong, that he was worthy of their respect. I can certainly understand the attraction that he felt that the Dark Arts and Death Eaters offered him. I don't know that I would've made different choices, given those circumstances. Voldemort wasn't revealing his true agenda at the time. He cleverly presented a cheerful false image to students and faculty, and appeared to be a hard-working, highly motivated, rule abiding student. He was a prefect and later Head Boy, while he was gathering student followers to serve him as Death Eaters. I'd probably have gladly joined him, initially thinking that I'd finally found someone that understood my situation and would help me change it; from helpless and ridiculed to powerful and feared. Of course, he is clever enough to discover that Voldemort is actually a sociopath that won't hesitate to torture or even kill his followers if they disappoint him or attempt to leave his service. So, now he is stuck, unable to simply quit and walk away, but I believe that he is looking for a way out. I know I would be. That would mean carefully assisting Harry, so that he could fulfill the prophesy and kill Voldemort, and thus free him of his obligation to him. If he is sucessful, Snape can admit his role in making that possible and finally be acknowledged as the hero he is. If he failed, then everyone knows how much Snape truly hated Harry and he could continue in his role of faithful Death Eater. That would be my plan.