Since this column is called Spinner's End, and I have welcomed "all things Severus" to
our discussions, I have decided it is time to take another look at the inscrutable Potions-cum-DADA
Master. The comments in the Chamber
of Secrets forums that The Snape Question has generated are quite fascinating. Like everyone
else, I have tried to work out what is driving this most intriguing of Potterverse characters and
what might explain his actions and attitudes throughout the series. Scott Andrew Walker's recent
and excellent editorial, Dumbledore's
Iron-Clad Reason gave me a bit of a shock, as I had already put an enormous amount of work
into this article, and I thought for a moment that he had beat me to the punch. However, while
our ideas overlap and use much of the same evidence, I have a slightly different theory to posit.
What follows is a compilation of many of my own theories and several others that I have heard
bandied about, but don't know exactly where they started. I have tried to weave theories together
to see if I could arrive at a lifeline for Severus Snape - a history of events, attitudes and desires
that would make the disparate pieces of his life add up. I thereby offer a look at the possible
psyche of Severus, from his prologue to the Marauder Era through his actions (and Dumbledore's) in
HBP. This is more a narrative than editorial. While I believe it to be backed by canon, there
are other explanations for Snape's behavior that could also be backed by canon. I have attempted
to string together the 'dots'
of fact that we have to arrive at one possible story of the life of Severus Snape. There are as
many other potential stories as there are fans and writers. Nonetheless, it explains several
burning questions, including whose side Snape is on, and why he does what he does. It is a major
read (I'm serious - I have broken my own record here, which is saying something), so grab a
Firewhiskey or a pumpkin juice, depending on your age and tastes, put your feet up and enjoy.
Without further ado, I give you The Psyche of Severus: A Drama in Five Acts.
(Due to the lengthy nature of this piece, the discussion threads will be divided into
two separate parts. The first link will be for discussion of the Prologue - Act II, and the
second link will be for discussion of Act III - Epilogue. Please pay close attention that you
discuss your ideas in the correct locations.)
Int'l Harry Potter Day - 15th Anniversary of Battle of Hogwarts
May 2nd, 2013 Victoire Weasley B-day
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May 15th, 2013
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