Harry Potter: Why Snape’s redemption arc still divides fans after all these years

People can't forget Snape, even after the Harry Potter sequels are already over. Some say he was a secret hero who fought against Voldemort to protect Harry. Others think he was just a mean teacher who liked to bully his students. So, what’s the truth?

Was Snape really a hero? Or was he just too evil to ever be forgiven? Honestly, he was a mix of both. Being a complicated guy, Snape always makes people debate about him to this day. His story is built on the gray area in between. And this grayness is what makes him the most complex and, at the same time, the most interesting character in the Harry Potter series.

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Harry Potter: Why Snape’s redemption arc still divides fans

Snape's two lives

The biggest aspect of Snape's life is that he lived two lives at once in Harry Potter. On the outside, he was a strict, irritable teacher. At Hogwarts, students were afraid of him, and sometimes even teachers didn't want to be easy on him. He was always full of discipline and harsh words.

But behind this mask, another life was going on. Snape was a double agent. He pretended to be loyal to Voldemort, but in fact, he secretly informed Dumbledore. This work was very dangerous. Voldemort would have killed Snape if he somehow found the truth. So, in fan theories, Snape was incredibly brave.

However, a big question remains. Was he really doing good deeds selflessly? Or was he doing all this out of guilt to correct old mistakes? For some, he is a true hero, while for others, he is just a man suffering from guilt.

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Snape's harsh nature

The biggest complaint about Snape is his cruel behavior. Throughout the series, he is seen regularly insulting students. Repeatedly belittling Neville, mocking him in a state of fear - these scenes make the audience uncomfortable. He even makes harsh comments to the talented Hermione. And towards Harry Potter, he always showed coldness and hostility.

Many Harry Potter fans feel that as a teacher, his duty was to be there for his students, but instead, he took out his anger on them. So no matter how great he was, there is no justification for treating students this way. Critics ask - Harry, Neville, and many others were also suffering? But were they being cruel? So why would Snape get this excuse?

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Snape's sad past

People feel sorry for Snape because of his past, as he grew up in a sea of sorrow. Even at school, children made fun of him for his old clothes and his behavior. He had a friendless life. Snape naturally became tough from the heart. Supporters understood that behind his cold attitude and harsh nature, there was a sadness hidden. Therefore, according to supporters, Snape's hard life changed him in this way.

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Snape and Lily

The most emotional aspect of Snape's story is Harry Potter's mother, Lily Evans. Snape loved her since childhood. But Lily chose James in the end. Yet until Lily's death, and even after that, Snape's love never ended. This love forced him to protect Harry. Although he did not openly love Harry, he protected him for Lily's memory.

Many fans believe that this is Snape's true humanity. Despite such a great loss, he retained an undying love for Lily. But others say that it is an unhealthy addiction, so that Snape could never move on from Lily. And he became more bitter. So the question remains, was this love truly pure, or selfish?

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Big surprise

Everyone kept talking about Snape because of that huge surprise at the end. For years, people thought Snape was helping Voldemort. Everything he did looked super suspicious. But then, at the end, the truth shocked. Snape was actually helping Dumbledore to protect Harry!

People started to see Snape in a whole new way. While this twist was the best moment for some, many have not been satisfied with it. According to them, everyone suddenly forgave Snape for this one incident. But can all these years of cruelty really be erased in an instant?

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Is Snape a hero?

Now the question arises, is Snape really a hero in the Harry Potter series? Those who consider him a hero say that he repeatedly put his life at risk. Surviving a terrible wizard like Voldemort by deceiving him is not an easy task.

In the end, he even gave his life in this battle. His heroism was silent, unspoken, and that makes him even greater. But critics say that being a hero requires not only great sacrifices, but also daily behavior. Snape has hurt students, humiliated them. Are these actions heroic? So to them, he has never been a true hero.

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Comparing Snape to others

Another area where controversy arises is when Snape is compared to other characters. Harry Potter was kind and brave despite losing his parents. Neville gradually became a brave leader despite repeated failures. They all suffered, but they were not cruel. So why Snape?

Critics say this comparison makes him look worse. But supporters suggest that everyone deals with suffering differently, and Snape's life shows that when a person is in deep sorrow, they can become naturally bitter. It is realistic.

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So, throughout Harry Potter, Snape definitely confused fans. He is sometimes mean, but then he does brave things that no one could generally imagine at once. He can be selfish, but he also gives things up for others! A question always arises. He’s grumpy most of the time, but how on earth is he so loyal compared to others?

We must say that in Harry Potter, we have good guys and bad guys, but Snape is the most memorable.

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