by Kamille Pierog

Created on: August 26, 2008   Last Updated: February 19, 2009

The characters created by J.K. Rowling are incredibly diverse. Each has their own story and their own history to tell. Despite all of the individual stories of each character, they are still wound tight together. The histories that Rowlings has created for each character relies and wraps around the histories of each and every other character. It would be impossible to separate them. Although, Harry is an incredible character, the reader need not wonder at his motives or actions. The same can be said for the majority of the characters in the Harry Potter series. There is one character though in which the reader is left questioning his motives. That character is Severus Snape.

The character of Severus Snape is so incredibly complex that to simply state friend or foe is a difficult decision. Throughout the entirety of the story the reader is left to wonder what exactly Snape's true motives really are.

In each story more of Snapes character and history is revealed. In the first novel the reader is left heavily thinking along side Harry. There is no denying that Harry feels that Snape is a foe. This is even despite the fact that Snape was one of the professors protecting the Philosopher's Stone. Nothing can make Harry change his mind about Snape. Harry cannot even be deterred by Dumbledore, despite his constant insistence that he infinitively trusts Snape.

As more and more of the story unfolds the reader is constantly driven to wonder at the true mental stability of Dumbledore as well as Harry himself. Rowling has done an immensely fabulous job of misleading the reader regarding Severus Snape.

At one time the reader will feel the same sense of urgency that Harry feels regarding Snape. The next moment our trust is led back to Dumbledore and his cool-headedness in the face of the enemy. We are left wondering if perhaps Harry is simply an overemotional teenager, that perhaps Snape is indeed a man to be trusted.

Once it is discovered that Snape is indeed a member of the Order of the Phoenix, our hackles are raised yet again. What good could possibly come of this? Knowing that Snape is also passing information to Lord Voldemort can only leave the reader feeling that Snape is indeed a foe of Harry's.

It is difficult for Harry to trust Dumbledores word regarding Snape. This is understandable considering the circumstances of Harry's life. Perhaps if Harry had trusted Dumbledore completely events might have played out much differently. Quite possibly Harry would have fallen as victim rather than victor. In the end Snape was a friend. Although, it would be good for the reader to remember that the actions of Snape were not necessarily for love of Harry himself. Rther his loyalty to the cause was because of Snapes love for Harry's mother. Ultimately he chose to act in a way that cleared his consciouses, allowing good to reign over evil.

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