Severus Snape, one of the key characters in the Harry Potter book series by J.K. Rowling, is a complex and intriguing character who plays a significant role in the story. His feelings for Lily Evans, Harry Potter’s mother, are an important part of his character arc, and his relationship with her is explored throughout the series. In this essay, I will discuss whether Snape was in love with Lily in the books, and provide evidence from the text to support my argument.
To begin, it is clear from the books that Snape had strong feelings for Lily from a young age. As children, they were friends and bonded over their shared love of magic, but their friendship was strained when they began attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Lily was sorted into Gryffindor, while Snape was sorted into Slytherin, and their different house affiliations put a strain on their relationship. Despite this, Snape continued to be infatuated with Lily, and his feelings for her only grew stronger as they got older.
One of the key pieces of evidence that Snape was in love with Lily is his reaction when he found out that she had started dating James Potter, who was Snape’s enemy at Hogwarts. In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Harry has a vision of Snape’s memories, which shows Snape’s reaction to hearing the news. He is shown crying in a classroom, and he begs Lily to reconsider her relationship with James, telling her that he can protect her. This scene is a powerful indication of Snape’s feelings for Lily, and it suggests that he was deeply hurt by the news that she was dating someone else.
Another piece of evidence that supports the idea that Snape was in love with Lily is the way he behaves towards Harry throughout the series. Harry is the son of Lily and James, and Snape has a complicated relationship with him. At times, Snape is cruel to Harry, but at other times he shows him kindness and tries to protect him. This behaviour can be seen as a reflection of Snape’s feelings for Lily – he sees Harry as a symbol of the love he lost when Lily chose James over him.
There are also several moments in the books where Snape expresses his regret about the choices he made that led to the end of his friendship with Lily. For example, in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Snape tells Dumbledore that he is filled with remorse for causing Lily’s death, and he asks Dumbledore to help him protect Harry. This moment is significant because it shows that Snape is still haunted by his past mistakes, and that he is willing to do whatever it takes to make up for them.
However, it is important to note that Snape’s feelings for Lily were complicated, and not entirely pure. He was a member of the Death Eaters, the followers of the dark wizard Voldemort, and his actions as a Death Eater ultimately led to Lily’s death. Snape’s love for Lily was intertwined with his guilt over his role in her death, and his desire to make up for his mistakes. This complexity is reflected in Snape’s character arc, which is one of the most fascinating and well-developed in the entire series.
In conclusion, there is strong evidence from the books to suggest that Snape was in love with Lily. His feelings for her were deep and complex, and they played a significant role in his character arc. While his love for Lily was tainted by his involvement with the Death Eaters, it was also a driving force in his decision to ultimately switch sides and fight against Voldemort. Snape’s story is a powerful example of how love can both inspire and complicate a person’s actions, and it is one of the most compelling elements of the Harry Potter series.