Predicting Snape's Motives (character analysis part 3)

Severus Snape was sorted into Slytherin house for a reason. Slytherin house is described as the sanctuary for the ambitious and cunning, sometimes a place for the pureblood and the haughty. We know Severus isn't a pureblood -- Tobias Snape appears to have been a Muggle, and Severus once used (for reasons to be discussed later) the nickname "Half-Blood Prince". He can seem quite haughty at times, but there is an insecurity lingering just below the surface. He's definitely cunning, managing to stay alive after publicly leaving the Death Eaters... managing to reenter the fold while remaining a member of the Order of the Phoenix, spying on both sides.

And what about ambition? There's loads of it. You don't join two opposing teams and play them against each other (and consequentially put yourself in harm's way) unless you have some serious goals... that require info from both sides to meet them.

But let's go back a bit.... Severus is a young wizard of mixed-blood. He takes up this nickname, a play on his witch mother's maiden name and his mixed heritage. The trio later assume he chose the name to play up the wizarding side of the family, not like he's the "prince of the half-bloods", but why would someone trying to play up the wizarding side even bring any attention to the "half-blood" part? He probably wouldn't have been popular in Slytherin for his heritage, so I don't think this would be a name he used freely. It might even be a name given to him by another student and he just liked it. Personally I think Lily Evans came up with the nickname for him. The trio might have it backwards. What if Severus chose to use the name, perhaps only secretly, as a reminder of his heritage... and as a reminder of his main goal -- to be a champion for the wizards and witches of mixed or Muggle heritage?

When Harry takes that first trip on the train to Hogwarts, he reads the Chocolate Frog card for Albus Dumbledore. He seems more impressed by the moving picture than by the info given for wizard. Imagine eleven-year-old Severus first reading or hearing about Albus Dumbledore, most famous for his 1945 defeat of the dark wizard Grindelwald. How would this impress upon Severus? Then he's at Hogwarts, with the venerable Albus Dumbledore as headmaster. Snape starts to wonder how this wizard managed to defeat Grindelwald. He might start to think Dumbledore has lost his touch....

Oh, my. I have to stop what would have been a particularly long-assed post. I've been tainted by the chapter titles. My predictions haven't changed due to anything I've seen. However, I'm a bit weirded out by actually having seen what I've now ... seen....

Basically, what I want to get across is that I think Severus Snape (for whatever reasons, like a desire for fame or recognition) has developed a plan to defeat Voldemort. The biggest flaw in his plan is that Voldemort ended up choosing one of Snape's enemies as the target. Snape might feel indebted to James even if there was never a Life Debt. So it's bad news if you've triggered something that will lead to your "saviour's" death. Add to this that Snape probably really did like Lily, and he wouldn't have wanted her to die. To add insult to injury, Snape now has to rely on the abilities and shortfalls of his enemy's son to carry out his wish: Voldemort's defeat. And this child will grow up to hate Snape, not just because of Snape's involvement in the Potters' deaths, but also because Snape must treat Harry badly to maintian his cover. This makes it particulary difficult for Snape to train Harry or give him important info. Harry will almost instinctively rebel against anything Snape says or does. Harry will continue to despise Snape and trip him up every chance he gets until Snape's facade finally falls away... or Snape gets killed trying to make Harry realize where Snape's really coming from.

Maybe more on this later, but the book is arriving so soon I might not be able to get my muddled thoughts together in time for an even vaguely cohesive post.... (sigh)

Character Analysis: Severus Snape (part two)

The first part of my analysis is about the definitions of the name. I continue now with some possible historic origins for his name.

Two major historical people come to mind: Lucius Septimius Severus and Severus Sanctus Endelechus.

Here is the basic entry for Severus Sanctus Endelechus in the Catholic Encyclopedia:

"Christian rhetorician and poet of the fourth century. It is possible that his true name was Endelechius and that he adopted the other names after his conversion to Christianity. In the manuscripts of the "Metamorphoses" of Apuleius, the subscription of the corrector and revisor, Sallustius, declares him the pupil at Rome in 395 of the rhetorician Endelechius in the forum of Mars (which is the forum of Augustus): "in foro Martis controversiam declamans oratori Endelechio". This rhetorician is certainly identical with the poet. He was probably of Gallic origin. He was a friend of St. Paulinus of Nola, who dedicated to him his panegyric of Theodosius and even owed to him the idea of this work. We are in possession of Endelechius's "De morte boum", an idyl in thirty-three Asclopedian strophes, in which the shepherd Bucolus explains to his companion Ægon that he is sad because his flock are dying of contagion. Tityrus enters leading his flock which remains healthy amid the epidemic. He explains that this miracle is due to the Sign of the Cross made on the forehead of the animals, whereupon Ægon and Bucolus decide to become Christians. This little poem is chiefly interesting because it shows the resistance of paganism in the country and the means by which Christian preaching sought to overcome it. It was discovered in an unknown manuscript and published by P. Pithou in 1586. Riese reprinted it in the "Anthologia Latina" (2nd ed., Leipzig, 1906, n. 893)."

The Free Dictionary gives some info about Lucius Septimius Severus:

"Severus (Lucius Septimius Severus), Roman emperor Severus or Septimius Severus (Lucius Septimius Severus) (sĕptĭm`ēəs sēvē`rəs), 146–211, Roman emperor (193–211), b. Africa. He was campaigning in Pannonia and Illyria when the emperor Commodus (Lucius Aelius Aurelius Commodus). was murdered. His successor, Pertinax (Publius Helvius Pertinax), lasted three months before he too was assassinated. The Pretorian guards arranged the succession of the weak Didius Julianus (Marcus Didius Salvius Julianus). With the empire in disarray, Severus marched on Rome. Proclaimed emperor, Severus went to the East to overthrow Pescennius Niger, the governor of Syria, who had also been proclaimed emperor by his legions. Severus defeated (194) the pretender. He took (196) Byzantium and subdued the rebellious Arabs of Mesopotamia. Returning to the West, he defeated (197) Clodius Albinus, another pretender, in Gaul and, returning eastward, attacked and expelled (198) the Parthians from Mesopotamia. In 208, Severus went to Britain. From there he harassed Scotland, but he died at York before completing his plans for a large invasion. Severus built a strong army, increasing the number of legions while eliminating the large commands that had been common for Rome, thus protecting himself against being overthrown while he protected Rome. He ruled with vigor and, when he found it useful, a calculated cruelty. Caracalla succeeded him."

I wish to point out the fact that not only is there a Lucius (Malfoy) mentioned in the Black family tapestry, but there is also a Septimus (Weasley) in the same tapestry. It's not at all surprising to see her use the last name, Severus, for yet another character... and it wouldn't surprise me either if Severus Snape is a relative of the Blacks, through his mother's side of the family, the Prince line.

The interesting thing here... well, there are a few interesting things here. Lucius Septimius Severus (let's call him LSS) defeated someone named Pescennius Niger in 194. Niger means "black", and the spring of 1994 is when Severus Snape confronts and almost defeats Sirius Black. He was so close to getting Sirius "kissed" by a dementor, but he (and Fudge) failed because Harry, et al. had set Sirius free. Sirius Black isn't killed until 1997, and Severus Snape gives Bellatrix Black the credit.

LSS defeated a man named Clodius Albinus back in 197. Albinus means white, just like Albus. It was the spring of 1997 when Snape confronted Albus Dumbledore on the Astronomy tower. Watched by Harry, Draco, and some DE's, Snape appears to kill Albus with a Killing Curse. Personally I think the death scene is rather suspicious. Dumbledore is definitely dead, and Snape must have landed the fatal blow, since Snape's still alive (Unbreakable Vow would have killed him otherwise), but I just don't think the Killing Curse was strong enough to do the job. I think Snape had to levitate Dumbledore and send him over the tower to complete the task.

Back in 196 LSS had subdued some rebels, so what could Snape's parallel action have been... to subdue Narcissa and Bellatrix in the summer of 1996? Narcissa was acting particularly rebellious agianst Voldemort, Bellatrix was anti-Snape. The show-down at the Department of Mysteries happened in 1996, so maybe he subdued the Death Eaters by alerting the Order that Harry and friends had gone to the Ministry of Magic?

LSS leaves to travel east and attacks the Parthians in 198. Then he goes to Britain 10 years later (208) and bothers Scotland but dies in York...I think it was in 211. Perhaps JKR wouldn't be able to follow the exact same timeline, but what could the Parthians become in Snape's life.... The Order of the Phoenix? The Death Eaters? And what about LSS planning a campaign in Britain but dying before he can launch it? Will JKR have Snape die in York?

Caracalla was one of LSS's sons. Snape has no daughter (JKR says so), but what about a son? Or what about a chosen heir, if he has no children? Ah, that's where I want to go into all sorts of wild thoughts about Theodore Nott, but I'll hold myself back and not go into it....

Another historical figure is Severus of Avranches:

Memorial: 1 February
Profile: Born to a poor peasant family. Shepherd in his youth. Priest. Monk. Abbot. Bishop of Avranches. In his later years, he resigned his see and returned to monastic life.
Born: at Cotentin, Normandy, France
Died: c.690 of natural causes; relics at Rouen, France
Canonized: Pre-Congregation
Patronage: against fever; against migraine; drapers; fever; hatmakers; hatters; migraine; milliners; silk workers; weavers; wool manufacturers; wool weavers
Representation
bishop with a horse nearby

Character Analysis: Severus Snape (part one)

First, let's look at his name: Severus Snape.

Severus means "strict, stern, severe".

We can also break the name into two different phrases: the English sever us and the Latin se verus. In the first case, we could see it as a plea. Matter of fact, this lends support to the idea that Dumbledore's words "Severus. Severus... please...." were a hidden message for Severus to kill Dumbledore. Imagine interpreting the words as something like "Severus, sever us, please" or "Sever us... Severus, please." Not that Dumbledore would refer to himself in the plural, more like he knows he must be removed from Harry's side, just as all the references to Dumbledore stopping dead and Harry running into him are symbolic for Dumbledore holding Harry back from fulfilling his "destiny"... for Dumbledore being in the way. This phrase could also be a reference to Severus's apparent dual personality. Harry must figure out what Severus's different roles are... and when Severus is switching roles....

The second phrase is particularly interesting, since se verus means "himself true". This goes well with the French version of his name: Severus Rogue. Rogues don't really follow rules, and they generally look out for #1, themselves. The quintessential Slytherin, right? Of course, the meaning of the French word rogue translates best as "arrogant", rather than how we generally define rogue. Dictionary.com gives us a very extensive English definition:

"rogue /roʊg/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[rohg] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation noun, verb, rogued, ro·guing, adjective
–noun
1. a dishonest, knavish person; scoundrel.
2. a playfully mischievous person; scamp: The youngest boys are little rogues.
3. a tramp or vagabond.
4. a rogue elephant or other animal of similar disposition.
5. Biology. a usually inferior organism, esp. a plant, varying markedly from the normal. –verb (used without object)
6. to live or act as a rogue. –verb (used with object)
7. to cheat.
8. to uproot or destroy (plants, etc., that do not conform to a desired standard).
9. to perform this operation upon: to rogue a field. –adjective
10. (of an animal) having an abnormally savage or unpredictable disposition, as a rogue elephant.
11. no longer obedient, belonging, or accepted and hence not controllable or answerable; deviating, renegade: a rogue cop; a rogue union local.
[Origin: 1555–65; appar. short for obs. roger begging vagabond, orig. cant word]
—Synonyms 1. villain, trickster, swindler, cheat, mountebank, quack. See knave."

The Online Etymology Dictionary has this to add:

"rogue 1561, "idle vagrant," perhaps a shortened form of roger (with a hard -g-), thieves' slang for a begging vagabond who pretends to be a poor scholar from Oxford or Cambridge, perhaps from L. rogare "to ask." Another theory traces it to Celtic (cf. Bret. rog "haughty"); OED says, "There is no evidence of connexion with F. rogue 'arrogant.' " Rogue's gallery "police collection of mug shots" is attested from 1859."

Then there is the last name, Snape. There are several meanings of Snape and other words that are related to it:

1. Snape - English and Scottish: habitational name from any of various places in England and southern Scotland, for example in North Yorkshire near Bedale, in the Lowlands near Biggar, and in Suffolk, so named with Old English snæp ‘area of boggy land’. In Sussex the dialect term snape is still used of boggy, uncultivable land.


2. Snape \Snape\, v. t. (Shipbuilding)
   To bevel the end of a timber to fit against an inclined
   surface.


3. related to snipe
   n : Old or New World straight-billed game bird of the sandpiper
   family; of marshy areas; similar to the woodcocks
   v 1: hunt snipe
   2: hunt or shoot snipe
   3: shoot from a concealed position [syn: sharpshoot]
   4: attack verbally, in speech or writing; "The editors of the
   left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker" [syn: attack,
   round, assail, lash out, assault]


4. related to Sneap \Sneap\, v. t. [Cf. Icel. sneypa to dishonor, disgrace,
   chide, but also E. snip, and snub.]
   1. To check; to reprimand; to rebuke; to chide. [Obs.] --Bp.
   Hall.
   2. To nip; to blast; to blight. [Obs.]
   Sneap \Sneap\, n.
   A reprimand; a rebuke. [Obs.]


5. related to snap
   n 1: the act of catching an object with the hands;
   2: any activity that is easy to do; "marketing this product
   will be no picnic"
   3: (football) putting the ball in play by passing it (between
   the legs) to a back [syn: centering]
   v 1: utter in an angry, sharp, or abrupt tone; `"No!," she
   snapped'; "The guard snarled at us" [syn: snarl]
   2: separate or cause to separate abruptly; "The rope snapped";
   "tear the paper" [syn: tear, rupture, bust]
   3: break suddenly and abruptly; as of something under tension;
   4: move or strike with a click;
   5: snap close with a sound;
   6: as of tightly stretched ropes or fingers [syn: crack]
   7: move with a snapping sound;
   8: to grasp hastily or eagerly;
   9: put in play with a snap, of a football
   10: cause to make a snapping sound; of fingers [syn: click, flick]
   11: record on photographic film


6. might make you think of snoop
   n : a spy who makes uninvited inquiries into the private affairs
   of others [syn: snooper]
   v : watch, observe, or inquire secretly [syn: spy, stag, sleuth]

Other language versions of the novels use translation, transliteration, or simply give him a new name. Most play up his cruel behavior or make references to snakes, marshy or boggy land or other water features. I'll probably make a separate post to discuss the names given to him in other languages, besides French.

More about his character later....