Psychology of a Hero? SEVERUS SNAPE

Are Snape's feelings for Lily actually love? Is he a hero, villain, antihero, or just a traumatized bully?

Licensed therapist Jonathan Decker and filmmaker Alan Seawright continue their analysis of Severus Snape, looking at how he helped Harry and Dumbledore (and the world), but also terrorized students and others in his life, including those he claimed to care about. They talk about Snape's relationship with Lily Potter (how unhealthy was it??), Alan Rickman's phenomenal performance, Snape's mentor relationship with Malfoy, and some of the differences between book Snape and movie Snape.

Support us!

Cinema Therapy is:
Written by: Megan Seawright, Jonathan Decker, and Alan Seawright
Produced by: Jonathan Decker, Megan Seawright, and Alan Seawright
Edited by: David Sant
Director of Photography: Bradley Olsen
English Transcription by: Anna Preis
Spanish Transcription by: Juan Willems

Connect with us!

[gozerthegozarian]

Everybody to Harry, all the time: "You have your mother's eyes!" Filmmakers: * cast a brown-eyed woman as the mother to blue-eyed Harry * Audience: "You had ONE job!"

[suzzannegabel]

It still gets me when Snape says, "You've been raising him like a pig for slaughter." Alan Rickman was so masterful in that scene. You can see the disgust on his face and hear the quiet outrage in that line.

[LMSPetRescue]

I think Snape saying “you have your mother’s eyes” was so impactful, especially to Harry. Everyone has told Harry that he has his mother’s eyes, but everyone else who said it was closer to his father and said it as kinda a way of saying “oh you’re just like your father but different eyes”, this was the first time someone said to Harry “You’re just like your mother and she was loved too. Not just for being James’ wife, but because she was a wonderful and impactful person who was loved.”

[samijodavis]

Whether Snape is a Hero or Villan? I think Allan Rickman actually said it best: when asked why he always plays villains he said 'I don't play villains, I play complex characters.' I don't think Snape could ever truly fit entirely in either category. He's a man who did very bad things, and very good things.

[feliciamartinez]

I feel like when he says to Harry “you have your mother’s eyes” he’s not just saying goodbye to Harry, he’s saying Goodbye to Lily and is finally letting go of the struggle he’s endured his entire life

[trinaq]

On retrospect, it makes sense for Snape to insult Harry about James, but NEVER about Lily. You wouldn't think too fondly over someone who bullied you, but you would over someone who had been a genuine friend.

[DaniCavenderHandley]

The Snape vs McGonagol battle in the films shows whose side he’s on - he never fights back, and when he knows it’s time to flee he makes sure the last deflected spells take out the death eaters behind him so that she doesn’t have to fight them too

[TheEvertw]

In the books, it is revealed that Snape did indeed come from a broken home, with a drunk as a dad.

[metroidhunter]

Alan Rickman was the *PERFECT* casting choice for Severus Snape. No other person could have portrayed the character so well.

[lforsey]

What always gets me in the movie version pensieve memories is the part where Lily says "Harry, Mama loves you... Dada loves you..." That was the last time anyone told that kid they loved him for at least 10-13 years. The Dursleys hate him, kids don't always recognize when a friend needs to hear that in so many words, so at the earliest it might have come from Sirius or Mrs Weasley. A heartbreaking but brilliant choice by the scriptwriter.

[saraoakley]

When I read the books, I hated Snape until the end of the last book. In the movies I felt for him, Rickman brought a whole new dimension to the character and made him so much more than just a villain.

[michaelkeller]

Personally, I think that in those last moments, Snape FINALLY sees that everybody was right and Harry really, actually is a lot more like his mother than his father, because there is absolutely no universe where James would have done what Harry did in that moment. Kneeling there quietly while he's dying painfully and trying to help him, I think he had a sudden realization that no, this is all Lily and I've been wrong this whole time.

[alarin]

When he says, "Take it, " is a great look into this character. He's dying, he can finally tell Potter everything, unburden his soul, but he does none of it. His first thought is for the mission.

[ChildOfDarkDefiance]

One main theme of the books is Harry's heroes being flawed and wrong and having made giant mistakes. Hagrid was foolish, Sirius was impulsive and reckless and sometimes mean, James was arrogant, Lupin was week and unreliable, Dumbledore was ambitious and manipulative. Harry has to acknowledge that, and forgive them. Snape is the opposite, the perfect balance. He is someone Harry hated, he was cruel and malicious, and Harry has to also see the good things he did. He has to see Snape the abuser, as a human, who was hurt, who loved, and who was very very brave.

[EH]

I think Snape is one of the most “real” characters… he’s villainous and also heroic. People are always a mixture of traits and behaviours - most of us are capable of being villainous and heroic.

[TheCinder]

Snape was a half blood child. His mother was from an old magical family, the Princes. A sacred 28 family. His father was an abusive muggle who hated magic. He went to muggle primary school before going to Hogwarts. His mother died when he was just a boy. Lily lived in his neighborhood.

[MaryAlice]

Snape being from an abusive home is canon.

Can’t remember details but they definitely reference it.

[grantpflum]

This ONE scene at the ponsieve completely redefined Dumbledore. It turned him into one of the coldest, most calculating characters in the entire series. The guy who would do ANYTHING for the greater good.

[Rhianalanthula]

In the books I saw Dumbledore's "Please" more as a plea to Snape to NOT let a pupil (Draco) become a murderer.

[davidEdwardsTalk]

In the movie POA, Snape rushes to protect the three from Lupin when Snape thought they were in trouble, it was that moment I realized Snape was not a villain. The default behavior in times of crisis is revealing.