If Snape was always on Harry's side, why was he always mean to him? He was always hoping to send him home, get him expelled or punished. I am wondering if JK decided at the last minute to have Snape be a good guy.
2007-08-02 13:07:59 · 23 answers · asked by Jen 4 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
It was the relationship between Lily and Snape. Snape was in love with her but she married the man who tormented him during his Hogwarts years. Also, Harry was always like his father or so said everyone except his eyes and blah blah blah. The point is, maybe JK Rowling did decide last minute to make him the good guy but she made him the good guy in the most brilliant way. If it was last minute, it was GENIUS.
2007-08-02 13:13:29 · answer #1 · answered by nocries121 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
He didnt like Harry because he was the son of James Potter, the man that stole the woman he always loved--Lily Evans. Furthermore, he didn't like him because he was the reason Lily had died. After all, Lily could have lived if she had moved aside and given Harry to Voldermort. Like Dumbledore said: Snape only saw what he wanted to see. Snape wanted to see an arrogant boy that was the replica of James Potter. Consequently, that's what he saw. Such emotions can sometimes get the best of people, which would explain why Snape was always trying to get him punished or even expelled. Nevertheless, moments before his death he asked Harry to look at him. Snape wanted to look at Harry's eyes before dying, because they were Lily's eyes. It was in moments like this when Snape remembered that he wasn't only James Potter's son, and that he had promised Dumbledore to spy on Voldermort in the hopes that Harry would one day defeat him.
JK has said several times that Harry Potter came fully formed on a train ride back in 1990, and that she has had the last chapter written for a long time. I do not believe that she decided to make Snape a good guy at the last minute.
2007-08-02 20:18:18 · answer #2 · answered by cargentina0102 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Snape wasn't purely good or purely evil. He exists in that gray area where he has his flaws, but is essentially a good person. I believe JKR had it in mind for Snape to be a "good guy" all along.
Remember, we have seen Snape from Harry's eyes all along. Harry knew his dad hated Snape, so Harry naturally continued to dislike Snape. Snape of course did not make things easier, but Snape had a lot of demons to struggle with in his life.
Also, looking at Harry reminded him of his nemesis, James Potter (who stole his Lily away) and Lily, because Harry has her eyes. This made Snape all the more bitter and sad, but Snape handled those emotions by being "mean" to Harry.
Snape was on Dumbledore's side...if that meant helping the son of James Potter and his love Lily Evans, then so be it.
2007-08-02 20:23:46 · answer #3 · answered by Melissa L 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think he was "mean" to him because he looked so much like James, who was "mean" to Snape. The only thing about Harry that was like his mother (who Snape loved) were his eyes. It must have been difficult for Snape to look at Harry every day and not be reminded of how Lily chose James over him, and to think that Harry should have been a child of Lily and Snape...of course, that would be getting way too into Snape's head for most people!
And, remember, as long as Harry was "home", Voldemort couldn't touch him, so sending Harry home was ensuring his safety.
2007-08-02 20:12:52 · answer #4 · answered by Johnna L 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No he used to always see a bit iforget that he used to think that harry is a reincarnation of james(who was a jerk)
and it was too much for snape because harry mirroring james made him recollect who stole away lily from him
so he was angry that harry was turning out as james
and he was not showing any sympathy to harry because he was voldemort's follower(actually appeared to be)
and if harry showed even an ounce of tryst on snape
then voldemort would have asked snape to use that trust to get something from harry
or even kill him
or lay him into a trap
then of course snape's identity would be revealed
2007-08-03 02:27:27 · answer #5 · answered by neha t 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, Snape is consistent throughout the series. He absolutely hated James Potter but loved Lily (Evans) Potter. Harry was the image of his father except for having his mother's eyes.
So Snape always was torn between hate and love in interacting with Harry. Aside from that, I don't think that Snape every really wanted to teach, he was at Hogwarts for tactical reasons (in order to play the double agent).
That said, he had all the qualities of a great teacher except one: he was more interested in terrorizing students then in seeing them succeed.
wl
2007-08-02 20:47:59 · answer #6 · answered by WolverLini 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because Harry reminded Snape of his father, James. Snape always loved his mother, Lily so he vowed to protect Harry, but he couldn't get past how much Harry looked like James so he was never kind to Harry. Snape was basically jealous. He pushed his jealousy of James (and that hatred) onto Harry. I think part of it too was that Snape felt that if Lily had married him instead of James, Lily's baby wouldn't have been so much like James (for obvious reasons).
2007-08-02 20:19:56 · answer #7 · answered by Rahrah 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, I could see Snape helping and caring about what happened to Harry Potter from the first book. You have to recall him saying that spell to help Harry on the broomstick in the first book. And know that Snape wasn't really "nice" to Harry because it was Lilly he loved and only protected Harry for her.
I know Snape was a good guy and I miss him.
2007-08-02 20:12:51 · answer #8 · answered by MindStorm 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
He had to take care of him...he was ridden with guilt over Lily's death but Harry was so much like James...the man who won Lily that of course Snapes hated him.
Of course Rowling planned Snape to be Dumbedores man from the beginning. He trusted Snape and you can't fool the Head Master.
2007-08-02 20:58:06 · answer #9 · answered by librarylady93562 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It was because Harry reminded Snape of his father James, whom Snape loathed and lost Lily to.
2007-08-02 20:45:07 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋