Oriflamme wrote:
John, I must thank you. The first time I read one of your articles about Christian Symbolism and heard about your book ‘Looking for God in Harry Potter,’ I was wandering across the net(surfing) for some issue about Snape. I was in a sad mood and this surfing seemed to me an obvious waste of time. Finding Christ in Harry Potter appeared to me like a ‘Sign’ and I do believe in ‘Signs’ in our life. This is a bit ‘pompous’ maybe, but your brilliant analysis helps me to stand the strain.
What about Snape and Christian Symbolism? I like the theory developed by Dave Kopel about Snape as St. Christopher(Reprobus)and I agree that he figures sometimes as a Christ symbol himself (maybe also as a symbol of the Church).
I have a theory about Snape’s childhood. I tried to explain it on the ‘narrative misdirection’ thread (reply 48). My thought is that the young Snape is a victim himself of what could be called a rape of his mind by the Imperius Curse. He walked a long way from wishes of vengeance to the wait of justice with DD(Christ)’s help. But Snape himself, he must help Harry to go further, to forgiveness and mercy(love).
You’re very kind, Oriflamme, and your thoughts and question about Snape are interesting.
I explain in Unlocking Harry Potter that Snape is one of the three Christ figures in the melodramatic scene on the Astronomy Tower and the chase afterwards — and that Snape is a lot more difficult for folks to understand in this role than either Dumbledore or Buckbeak. How is Snape Christ-like?
First, he *is* the Half-Blood Prince. Like it or not, the signature is a pointer to the “Double-Natured King.”
Second, he *saves* Harry’s life from the enormous Death Eater determined to destroy him via the Cruciatus Curse. Only Snape’s invoking the Dark Lord’s instructions causes the near-giant to let Harry loose.
Third, he is much more, perhaps, than those without “eyes to see” can see. Every exchange he has with Harry before being chased off the grounds by the razor claws of Buckbeak/Witherwing are superficially mean-spirited and goading, especially to the child-man who believes Snape has just murdered his mentor. Each exchange, though, on examination is helpful even critical or salutary instruction about what Harry must master in himself and technically in his magic before facing the Dark Lord.
And the whip-like curse that hits Harry in the forehead? Well, if you read Unlocking Harry Potter, you’ll learn why I think Severus is just hitting the switch on Harry’s Horcrux and neutralizing it as a means for Voldemort to monitor Harry’s emotions/perceptions or to survive another destruction of his body. Severus, the master of self-control, doesn’t lose his cool when called a “coward;” he is putting up a show for cover when the Dark Lord explodes about the destroyed Horcrux…
Even if this is way off (as almost all speculation of this sort is bound to be), Severus’ position as the Good Guy surrounded by bad guys who cannot understand who he is until the Evil One is removed — this is a sacrificial part. Snape, taken from afar, is a convincing Christ figure, I think.
I look forward to reading your comments and correction.
What if Snape is not a Christ symbol, but being something of a precursor to Harry, is a symbol of John the Baptist?
First, to pull points from your own and Oriflamme words:
“He walked a long way from wishes of vengeance to the wait of justice with DD(Christ)Äôs help. But Snape himself, he must help Harry to go further, to forgiveness and mercy(love).”
John the Baptist bore a message of repentance of sins, giving the first half the the Gospel message (which one might call “the weight of justice,” perhaps symbolized by Snape’s repentance) that was completed by Christ act of love on the cross.
“First, he *is* the Half-Blood Prince. Like it or not, the signature is a pointer to the ‘Double-Natured King.'”
He is an obvious “Double-Natured King” to anyone paying attention to the symbolism (we’re practically hit up the side the head with the symbolism), but is he a red herring for THE Christ figure in the books? If Harry is a “Double-Natured King” by virtue of his scar Horcrux, then it is something a bit obscured from the readers view, couched as it is in misdirection.
When John the Baptist first came, he was mistaken for the Christ, but he himself pointing to one who would come after him. Since the books are not allegory, this isn’t a 1:1 parallel.
“Second, he *saves* HarryÄôs life from the enormous Death Eater determined to destroy him via the Cruciatus Curse. Only SnapeÄôs invoking the Dark LordÄôs instructions causes the near-giant to let Harry loose.”
If memory serves, the scene only implies that Harry will die (I’m far from sure and may well be wrong) before Snape says something. In light of that and taken as foreshadowing of what will happen to Harry, it is then a figurative death and resurrection, thus mirroring the same element in baptism and serving as a symbol of it.
“Every exchange he has with Harry before being chased off the grounds by the razor claws of Buckbeak/Witherwing are superficially mean-spirited and goading, especially to the child-man who believes Snape has just murdered his mentor. Each exchange, though, on examination is helpful even critical or salutary instruction about what Harry must master in himself and technically in his magic before facing the Dark Lord.”
This exchange, in the context of the previous Snape-saving-Harry scene, could be a foreshadowing that Snape will later give Harry, also serving as a symbol of John the Baptist “preparing the way.”
Now, my points:
1. Snape acted as a prophet of sorts, having bore the prophecy of Harry’s coming to LV without knowing who it would be (the same as John the Baptist). In the Gospel, this role was originally fulfilled by the wise men before Herod, who has the children of Bethlehem slain. Joseph and Mary then went into hiding in Egypt. Harry went into hiding among the Dursleys. Coincidence?
2. Snape, by being a “Double-Natured King” and having “walked a long way…to the weight of justice” and having to “help Harry to go further, to forgiveness and mercy(love),” is a precursor who is “preparing the way” for the work that Harry must finish.
3. The final assistance that Snape renders to Harry will also see the full revelation of Lily’s connection to Snape and open Harry’s eyes, leading to an epiphany and “baptism” as Harry learns to stop hating Snape. And just as Christ’s baptism foreshadowed his own sacrifice, his reconciliation with Snape foreshadows the hate for LV that Harry will have to shed in order to complete his task. Further, it also demonstrates that Harry will have to become fully Christ-like, abandoning his hate, in order to complete his task.
4. Each time Snape has assisted Harry directly, it has come at personal cost (with two figurative deaths; one certain and probable) and three times with mistakan intentions. In PS, his leg is set on fire when Hermione thought Snape was trying to kill Harry and then it is later revealed his was helping him. In PoA, he tries to defend Harry, mistaking Lupin’s and Sirius’s itentions, and is knocked out by Harry (figurative death). In HBP, his veiled but helpful comments as he is fleeing are interrupted by Buckbeak attacking and wounding him (possible figurative death). I believe that these foreshadow the fact that Snape’s assistance to Harry will lead to his death at LV’s hands, mirroring John the Baptist’s death by Herod’s. Bellatrix, who hates Snape, may be the one who informs LV and asks either if she can kill Snape herself or asks for his head, like Herod’s wife requesting John’s head. This then serves at the final straw that pushes Narcissa and Draco over to the light (Snape having been Draco’s protector).
I hope that all makes sense. It is a bit chaotic.
John wrote: ¬´¬Even if this is way off (as almost all speculation of this sort is bound to be), Severus position as the Good Guy surrounded by bad guys who cannot understand who he is until the Evil One is removed — this is a sacrificial part. Snape, taken from afar, is a convincing Christ figure, I think.¬¬ª
This Christ figure surrounded by hate , makes remember me Jesus in the Gospel of John .I donÄôt want to follow the allegory too far , but if Snape is a good guy , he could certainly personify a Christ figure again in the last book.
Jesus concluded by these words:
ÄúWhen the Counselor has come, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will testify about me. You will also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning.¬(John 16.26).
You told us that the song of the phoenix figures the Holy Spirit in CoS. So, donÄôt you think that only the attitude of the Phoenix (or the phoenix as SnapeÄôs patronus) would make Harry change his mind about him?