#severus snape anti hero

[impossible3girl]

Some groups in the Harry Potter fandom really get some of their most common used terms wrong.

For example:

Slander: the action or crime of making a false spoken statement damaging to a person's reputation. (Just a friendly reminder to everyone doing their #snapeslander, that with that hashtag you are admitting everything you say is false.)

Villain: Snape (and I would also say Dumbledore) is an Anti Hero not a Villain. He may be cruel and sometimes uses villainous methods but in the overall story he has good intentions, very similar to the one of the main character/hero and gave his live to achive them. Actually James Potter is more arrogant, cruel and selfish when he bullies Snape (and other students) just because he can and harasses Lily just to get her to date him. He might have done some heroic things as part of the order but him sneeking out while he was in hiding and therefor risking not only his but also his wifes and sons life was still very selfish and arrogant.

Here you have a comparison of the two terms:

I just wonder if that is pure ignorance or if they are really that dumb.

[batwingsrosa]

There are characters in this franchise who did not let themselves be bit by a three headed dog to protect a stone or ran through the castle in their nightshirt upon hearing someone scream.

Or agreed to spy on the most dangerous person on earth withoutht gaining anything.

With the prospect of being tortured and killed if they were ever found out.

Who risked being exposed by trying to save Lupins life at the battle of the seven Potters- eventhough they hated that man.

Who ignored forbidden activities their students did so they would not be punished by the deatheaters(,the carrows).

Or who lept out of a window so they wouldn‘t have to hurt his colleagues.

And still Severus remains the most hated.

To quote another post i can‘t find anymore:

„These are not the actions of someone who does not care.“

His actions show, that he cared deeply for the safety of his students and colleagues.

And still he is treated worse that Bellatrix or Barty or Regulus or Draco or Lucius.

When he was the most caring and devoted and human all of all of them.

Make it make sense.

Actions speak louder than words.

[bookwormangie]

Understanding Snape and his character

I've been knee-deep in the Snape debate lately, and I’ve got some thoughts I need to lay out. Snape undeniably did some awful things as an adult, and he’s aware of that—he holds himself accountable and we should too. But his story isn’t just a straightforward tale of good versus evil.

Thinking about Snape, especially after diving into his memories in Deathly Hallows, it’s evident he was trying to make up for his past. When Snape begged Dumbledore to protect Lily and the Potters, it wasn't just a plea for safety—it was a glimpse into his desire for redemption and his need to atone because he knew he fucked up by relaying the prophecy. Dumbledore saw potential in him, not just as a spy, but as someone capable of change and redemption. Lily, the person he loves, being in danger and later dying, saved Snape and forced him to change. She was the catalyst for Snape's redemption arc and that's literally the whole point.

Then there’s Snape’s upbringing—a life marred by abuse at home and relentless bullying at school. That kind of trauma leaves deep scars; it molded Snape into a bitter and vindictive person. I can’t help but sympathize with him. He wasn’t born an asshole; circumstances shaped him that way. His journey from an abused home life to a bullied youth, to a Death Eater, and eventually to an antihero is a stark reminder of the complexities of human nature. It frustrates me to no end that people shower sympathy on abused characters like Harry, who turned out kind, yet refuse to extend the same empathy to Snape, who emerged bitter and vindictive—something so painfully realistic. Their situations were fundamentally different; Harry had a whole support system and was rich as fuck, but Snape had none and was living in poverty. Comparing them is unfair and misses the point entirely.

So when I see debates reducing Snape to a mere villain or hero, good or evil, I can’t help but feel we’re oversimplifying a deeply layered character. You can dislike Snape all you want, but painting him out to be something he's not, simplifying his character, and completely shitting on him is such an insult and a wrong interpretation of who he truly is. Snape’s morally grey journey through darkness and redemption is a testament to human struggle and growth. To truly understand Snape is to grasp his tumultuous path and his relentless quest to reconcile his actions with his conscience—a journey that resonates with the complexities of real life.

[moonlightdancer26]

Me when I remember that Snape would’ve not only been much happier in life but would have so many less tiring debates about him if he had just remained a loyal Death Eater instead of defecting and sacrificing himself for a world that hated him while getting nothing in return:

[princesspuffle8]

Then we have our half-blood prince, Severus Snape, and well he’s a unique case.

Severus doesn’t do promise rings, when he says always he means forever and he isn’t one to beat around the bush about that. But he’ll tell you it’s a promise ring even though it’s really a wedding band and he already has the partner band secretly picked out. He wears his around his neck, hidden under his shirt so you don’t know.

It’s a pretty band that has leaves in it, with green stones, his favorite color. The leaves match his band and it reminds him of the old laurels that they would give Roman muggles when they won tournaments and prizes… and you are his prize. He enjoys the irony in it since his name is the same as Severus like one of the emperors.

Oh and he secretly put two charms on it. A protection charm that is a very strong defensive charm against dark magic and well a tracking charm so he can know where you are and find you in case of an emergency. He thinks it’s sweet, but knows that may not translate right so he doesn’t tell you this. Just about the defense charm. Not the second one.

[the-most-faithful]

New day, new discussion on tiktok.

they are obviously talking about Snape, his is not love for Lily, he is just an abuser who wants to possess her.

Voldemort, are you?

Because the only person in the entire saga who is truly convinced of this is the dark lord. If you think of him as a psychopath who kills people out of boredom, I would ask myself two questions

I'm not saying that, man, the canon says that.

They don't talk about the Canon? So what are they talking about? Flowers? Potatoes? Oh but of course just look at what Snape does. And what does he does?

Which book have you read? Lily and Severus have been best friends for years. Lily herself says it. He's not trying to push her away from her friends, who is doing this is James constantly bullying Severus so he can have free time with Lily.

Why is the fact that Snape asks for mercy for Lily always made out to be something wrong, morbid and obsessive? Would you have preferred Snape not to care, to let the whole family die? I would like to remind you that Snape is the only reason why Lily's sacrifice could have made sense, if Snape hadn't asked for mercy for her there would have been no boy who lived, all the Potters would have died. But hey let's keep saying Snape is just a morbid, abusive, obsessive boy.

[abybweisse]

Hello there, I'm really interested in your theories so there's something I wanna discuss about ^^

Is Undertaker really that evil? I mean it's really hard to tell what kind of trope he is bc never in my life I've seen a character that is THIS morally gray or complex which makes me very fascinated by his character, what do you think? 🤔

Undertaker evil?

I don't think he's truly evil, just so desperate that he's making some very questionable -- sometimes downright objectionable -- decisions.

Even Yana-san says he's not the villain. He's like an antihero but as an antagonist, instead of as the protagonist. It's like he should really have his own main story, but it's been set to the side. Hopefully we'll get some major flashbacks from him, so we can get into his POV for a little while. Even though he's done some terrible stuff, I hope the backstory we get for him isn't just his cinematic records... though I don't expect him to survive the series. 😢 (Kind of like Snape in HP.)

Somewhere, I also have old posts about literary archetypes, and I discuss the one he fits best. Soul: Creator. But, if you search my blog for "archetype", this and other posts on that topic will come up. Keep in mind that each archetype has its own strengths and weaknesses; the Soul: Creator archetype includes the weaknesses of perfectionism... while still coming up with bad solutions... and I see Undertaker doing this, as he's trying to create and perfect these most advanced bizarre dolls.

[kitchen-box]

You know when I said I would update on the dark sides reaction if Harry was pining on Voldemort.

Yeah, I only meant Snape.

Only to make things clear here

Harry has s crush on Voldemort in every form

Quirell? The most beautiful man EVER with a pretty sick turban too bad it hurts when he looks at it for too long

Diary Tom? That's basically canon

Ginny while possessed by diary Tom? Harry is veeery confused why he notices Ron's sister is pretty only sometimes

Snake Voldemort? I mean, I heard the Victorian era women used to want to have really white skin so they marinated it in powder. And he is OLD. So maybe he saw his mother put it on and he liked it so he decided to recreate the look??? Who cares?! It's the '90, for Merlin's saggy tits... Is Harry a monster fucker??

The rest of the horcruxes? They really are veeery pretty. Even more than that 100 karate necklace on the teli that aut Petunia was dropping hints to wanting

P.S.:'words' are thoughts ;'words' are Parseltongue also words are actions and gestures but you get that from context already

Anyways, to get back on track with Dark Side *coughs* Snape *coughs*

I want to make memes featuring Snape having meltdowns from to much stress from this bullshit.

So I am going to make memes

First year

Harry *staring at Quirell*: singh's audibly

Snape, begining to feel uncomfortable: glares to establish dominance

Harry, startled, not knowing what else to do: waves awkwardly

Quirell, also startled: waves back

Harry, lovestruck: giggles and accidentally spills his drink over Ron

Ron, who has the emotional range of a spoon: annoyed gremlin noises

Snape, recognising that look anywhere: drops his fork

Dumbledore, literal genius, watching the whole time: confused headmaster noises

Second Year

Snape, bringing potions to the infirmary because Harry bloody Potter and co. decided to fight a basilisk and there are literal petrified children (in this day and age): 'How the fuck did I get here?'

Harry, who doesn't have glasses and is high af, seeing Snape walk past his bed: Wanna hear about the really pretty boy I killed??

Snape: stops walking and stares at Harry

Harry, still high on some kind of medical fairy dust: He had a really handsome face. It was too perfect now that I think about it. That should have been my first sign that he was Voldemort trapped in a diary

Snape having an urgent need to sit down: tears up from stress

Harry 'I one mistook Dumbledore for a snitch' Potter: Well not really Voldemort, 16 year old him, but it was Voldemort so I said Voldemort. Anyways you should have seen his eyes. They were really pretty. Like I would have joined him if he asked me to, just so I could look at his eyes forever...

Snape, sits down on the foot of Harry's bed: Shhh, shhhh. Oh, would you look at the time? It's time to shut the fuck up and go to bed.

Snape: tucks Harry into bed and pat's his cheek semi- lovingly

Snape: It's also time for a bottle of fire whiskey. Ruffles Harry's hair in hope he'll finally go to bed and not tell him how handsome the Dark Lord is

Harry, not really understanding what is going on but this man is nice even if he is blurry so he'll do as the nice man asks: okay

Harry: Can you also gime me a kiss?

Snape: Ask Albus

Harry: Okay, who's Albus??

Snape: ...

Snape: Just go to bed before anyone gets hurt

Harry: Who's gonna get hurt?

Snape, full bullshitting mode at this point: The pretty boy you killed

Harry: le gasp

Harry, very seriously: Plot twist

Snape, also very seriously, nodding in agreement: Fucking plot twist

[robynqueenofstuff]

CHARACTERS WHO ARE LIKABLE BECAUSE OF HOW DESPICABLE THEY ARE

[lovesickdeadsims]

So I’m waiting for my default skins to update to continue my legacies and in the meantime I’m playing in CAS. I did a rewatch of all the Harry Potter movies with my boyfriend, who watched only the first one back in the day, and of course I fell into the HP seasonal (or in my case yearly) loop. I’m a basic bitch and of course my favourite character is Snape. So I made an unwashed, teen Severus in the Sims 4. I tried to stay faithful to the book’s description, ‘cause we all know Alan Rickman was voted one the 100s sexiest man of all time.

Unedited pics.

[snapeysister]

Listen up,

I found the perfect song for Severus in a Severitus-framework (or any other relationship, for that matter) amongst the latest hit charts 😄 It's "ANTI HERO" by Taylor Swift. I'm listening to it in a loop now and the pictures accompanying each line with Severus' life circumstances according to this trope just keep popping up in my head. I'll try to note them down according to lines, since I cannot draw comic art that well (or that much). How I wish someone would do that for me

Just listen!!!

"It' me, hi, I'm the problem, it's me

At tea time, everybody agrees

I stare directly at the sun but never in the mirror

It must be exhausting always rooting for the anti-hero.."

[chemicalwildflowers]

part 1 of trying to create the Anti-hero cast on picrew

Lily, Severus, Petunia

(picrew used)

[picklesonjupiter]

People who hate Snape in everything including fanfiction bother me because they can't separate canon and fanon. They'll read one fic where Severus is likable, and they'll enjoy the fic but always put a disclaimer of "I hate Snape, but he isn't bad in this fic".

You can dislike the canon character and love the fanon character. Fanfiction is there to change canon. You can make the characters whatever you want them to be, also Snape is one of those characters who are easy to redeem if they have a character growth arc. I enjoy writing about his character because in canon he wasn't given a good redemption arc just like Draco. Any character can be likable if you look for the enjoyable aspects about them.

Also, it's alright to love morally gray characters and it's also alright if you don't like them. What I need you to understand is that you shouldn't bully a person for the characters they like.

I like canon and fanon Severus Snape, and maybe you don't and that's alright as long as you don't make me feel like shit for liking a character you don't like.

[adiarosefandoms]

Severus Snape: Screen Vs Book

I was never the biggest fan of Severus Snape, don’t get me wrong, as a character, I LOVED him. I had never experienced anything like him before and so I was utterly fascinated and am still fascinated in breaking him down. But he was a bad person who unfairly punished Harry for his father’s actions, caused Hermione to burst into tears, and traumatized Neville so much that the thirteen-year-old boy whose parents were so mad they couldn’t recollect him, his greatest fear was Severus Snape. Book Severus Snape is a captivating, puzzling character who saved the wizarding world, as well as a major bully and a cruel man whose actions are not excused by his (admittedly sad), unrequited love of Lily Potter. Movie Severus Snape is a bit more of an enigma. We didn’t get all those little scenes of Snape picking apart every student that’s not a Slytherin until they felt like nothing or worthless. We got bits of him picking on Harry, occasionally calling Hermione an insufferable know-it-all, but none of it is to the level in the book. In the end, the amount of good displayed in the movies outweighed the amount of bad he did. In the movies, I would assign him the title of anti-hero.  The Harry Potter books and movies are the same stories, but they have differences, and you pick and choose your canon, even subconsciously, including if you repress one of the mediums. And just because you see him more as an anti-hero doesn’t mean you haven’t read the books, or you don’t love them. Same as how seeing Snape as a bad person doesn’t mean that you don’t love and appreciate the movies. I think it’s similar to Ron how the character didn’t get enough well-used screen time so people who only saw the movies couldn’t appreciate him on the same level as the rest of the Golden Trio. And how movie Ron may eclipse how you feel about the character and Romine ship. In the end, I think Severus Snape does both good and bad things, and depending on the material your thinking of, or the canon Snape in your head, he can be considered a villain or an antihero. And neither interpretation is wrong. There are two things I know we can all agree on though and those are: Alan Rickman is the best Severus Snape we could have ever gotten. And whether you think he’s a hero, villain, or antihero, you can’t deny that he is one of the most fascinating characters within the HP universe.

Villain Therapy: Severus Snape by Cinema Therapy, explains this very well. They break down character, relationship, and family dynamics in movies and do it in a very entertaining way.

[rewritingcanon]

What would you say are your more controversial opinions about the hp characters?

ohhhh okayyy. i feel like my opinions on a lot of the characters aren’t controversial because i dont feel super strongly towards anyone in any negative light but here are some i could think of at the top of my head:

i’m glad the malfoys faced more extreme backlash after the second wizarding war. a lot of people in the fandom seem to be very sympathetic towards draco and scorpius for getting dogpiled with the brunt of it (which yeah, it sucks, especially for scorpius) but the prejudice makes complete make sense to me. if i was someone who didn’t know scorpius’ character, and had someone from my family get killed in the second war due to death eaters or something— seeing the malfoys still be wealthy and walk around freely without any jailtime, i would be bitter too. they’re hated on but they’re still one of the richest families ever, so they’ll live LOL

another anon has asked about this and i haven’t responded to them yet but when i do i will link it here for my reasons. basically: the best character in the cursed child is harry potter. i think the way they wrote his character and ptsd carried the play. it was def his story, not albus’.

i do think dumbledore has some aspects of him that may be considered morally gray, but mostly i dont think he is. he does everything for the good of the world, and his complete selflessness leads him to sacrifice anything for it— even himself and the people he loves, when necessary. i completely understand why people wouldn’t agree with his methods though.

james potter isn’t a sunshine character he’s a dickhead. fans of him made him a golden retriever character to be more palatable for modern times. i like him the way he is: an asshole and then less of an asshole 👍 this is what true stanning looks like

pansy parkinson is racist and out of all the female side characters, developing HER is so questionable from fandom

harry had questionable descriptions about a lot of male characters to make people think he could be a little 🏳️‍🌈 there was bill, there was sirius, there was cedric. but draco is not a part of that list. harry was not feeling draco whatsoever throughout the series but drarry shippers cling to that one ‘obsessed’ line

furthermore, harry rejecting draco’s offer of friendship wasn’t a sad or a ‘what if’ scene. draco was being a classist piece of shit and harry didnt want to fuck with that, there isnt any way in any timeline he wouldve accepted draco’s friendship.

slytherin sucks just generally lol. people want so bad to pluck anti-heroes out of a series that was written specifically with the mind to make all the characters suck.

hermione and ron’s drama isn’t as toxic as people make it out to be. yes, this includes the time hermione sent birds after him. people act like its the end of the world but she was tackling puberty and the end of society soooo i give her a pass to tweak out.

mostly every harry potter character has horrific names. like literally mostly everyone. even the name harry potter 🙁

movie romione wasn’t that bad LOL

severus snape’s ‘redemption’ or whatever was so ass. he bullies kids for five years and then everything is chill because… true love? on harry’s mum? are you kidding me 💀

weasley family angst goes hard but people (especially percy stans and some ron&ginny stans) acting like they’re the most toxic family to walk the earth make me want to rip my hair out and eat it. molly loves her kids guys shes not evil. jesus.

genuinely trying to think of more but i can’t right now…. maybe i will reblog and add to it. i feel like most of my opinions aren’t that controversial though 😭

[parindablog]

One reason I believe Severus Snape is controversial is because of the genre of literature he is placed in. He is complicated but not at all the only or the most complex literary character out there. But the problem is he is placed in a children's novel, particularly in a school, which is a symbol of childhood and the most important and formative stage of growth. If same character was placed in a more adult scenario and surrounded by adults than children, people would be able to understand or digest it better. I mean look at the fanbases of other anti heroes, eg : Walter "Heisenberg" White. People are emotional about children and their own childhoods. By bashing Severus they feel like they're protecting their own childhood selves. That they're protecting their own childhoods from the vengeance of a bitter human being. Which is absolutely 100% understandable.

But there is only one problem. Many people speak of empathy but very few understand that empathy is the ability to understand and share another person's feelings and experiences from their perspective. I do not think that the real challenge of empathy can be exercised with people you already want to understand. The strength of your empathetic ability is shown when you are able to digest the truth of somebody who you have absolutely no kind feelings for. Do you have what it takes to allow your mind to put your self in the situation of a person you do not have sympathy for? Do you have what it takes to allow your self to experience the pain that belongs to someone who you do not want to listen to? Do you have what it takes to provide understanding where no such kind of understanding is expected to be provided? Do you have the humane nobility that such a daunting task requires? And finally, do you have what it takes to forgive (no, not forget), truly forgive, someone who you consider unforgivable?

Snape is character that challenges my humanity. Am I as good as I think I am? Am I a good judge of character? Am I capable of generosity and kindness, even in face of the most unkind situations? How much love do I actually carry in my heart? Am I capable of bravery even in the face of tremendous isolation and rejection? Am I able to understand and dissect my past in a way that will be helpful for me in present day? Am I capable of empathy? How much can I absorb the pain of others in order to fully understand them? Or am I destroying something or someone, perhaps even myself? Am I strong or am I playing the role of someone strong? Am I allowed to have a moral high ground so high I myself find it difficult to reach it? Or am I allowed to sin or make mistakes but then be given the right to move on from them? Am I capable for forgiveness, and if yes, to what extent?

Characters like Snape should not make you hateful. They teach you about possible flaws in your own personality, by making you aware your hidden side. They bring out the worst in you and then challenge you by suddenly holding up a mirror.

I am not even half the tortured, bitter soul Severus was. And I think a reason why Harry forgives Severus is because in the end he knew, that sometimes life deals you cards that you do not wish to play but rather topple the whole table over. Except you cannot. So you keep playing. Silently.