Does JK Rowling's Severus Snape Have Celiac Disease?

A Theory on Just What's Wrong with the Most Mysterious Character of the Harry Potter Series

Racheline Maltese
Harry Potter fans have long theorized about just why JK Rowling's most ambiguous character, Severus Snape, is so mean and ugly, other than the fact that JK Rowling knows exactly what a children's book villain should be. Fan theories on Severus Snape have included everything from the mere fact he works with potions all day to liver disease to an assortment of random magical ailments and curses. Personally, I think JK Rowling's Snape is suffering from unmanaged celiac disease. Celiac disease can be used to explain every negative train Severus Snape is described as having, except for, of course, the hooked nose.

Let's look at quotes from several of the Harry Potter books against celiac disease symptoms:

In Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 7, JK Rowling introduces Severus Snape to us as "a professor with greasy black hair, a hooked nose, and sallow skin."

While celiac disease can't explain the nose, celiac disease symptoms do include chronic hepatitis and, if left untreated primary biliary cirrhosis, both of which would cover the sallow skin.

Those with celiac disease also have a difficult time processing fats, especially when continuing to consume gluten. Many with celiac disease report that their skin and hair become less greasy after going on a gluten-free diet.

In Harry Poter and the Philsopher's Stone, Chapter 14, JK Rowling adds to her description of Severus Snape and refers to his "uneven, yellow-ish teeth."

Dental discoloration is a celiac disease symptom predominantly in those who have had celiac since childhood, something I'll argue for in the case of Snape in the next set of quotes. This celiac disease symptom I can also confirm from my own personal experience as well as that of many people on the celiac disease community on LiveJournal.

In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 28, JK Rowling gives us a look at the young Severus Snape and says, "Snape-the-teenager had a stringy, pallid look about him, like a plant kept in the dark."

Due to intestinal ulceration from gluten reactions, thos with celiac disease have a very hard time absorbing nutrients. Those with untreated celiac disease may become malnourished and this can result in anemia, weight loss and delayed growth. Many celiac disease informational sites also just list this as "failure to thrive" - and if that doesn't conform to the description of Severus Snape as a plant left in the dark, what does?

Finally, I don't need to quote JK Rowling's Harry Potter books to remind everyone that Severus Snape is irritable, mean and often arbitrary in his rages. While this can easily be attributed to Severus Snape's role in the emerging conflict of the Harry Potter series, stress, and his horrible students, it can also be blamed on celiac disease - crankiness, irritability and moodiness are considered major symptoms, ones that can be largely corrected through switching to a gluten-free diet. Someone alert the house elves.

Published by Racheline Maltese

Racheline is an actor, writer and director with a journalism BA from GWU; she studied at the Atlantic Theater Company and NIDA. She lives in NYC with her partner and is the author of The Book of Harry Potte...   View profile

  • Celiac disease affects mood, appearance and general health.
  • Sure, Severus Snape might just be stressed out, but he might also be sick.
  • Snape as a celiac isn't any crazier than any of the other Harry Potter fandom theories out there.
Approximately 1 in 100 peopel have celiac disease worldwide.

4 Comments

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  • Jesse 4/6/2009

    Aha... there's nothing wrong with Snape, he just had a rather twisted past.

    Snape might just have sallow skin, be skinny, and have yellow teeth. He looked like he was kept in the dark because he was abused as a child.

    Fully agree with Staci. (:

  • Eli 5/19/2007

    Interesting, I've always been interested in this character's development and this new medical information is particularly interesting to me because I have a relative with celiac disease and she does exhibit some of the symptoms you have mentioned. Although she is sweet, tall, slender and quite lovely (the complete OPPOSITE of Snape). Also, in response to the above post: you'd be surprised that Gollum, the LOTR character, has been "diagnosed" multiple personality disorder.

  • ali 3/10/2007

    After reading the sixth book, I absolutely hated Snape, and I guess I still do. But, I read what Staci typed and it made me think: anything's possible, Snape might actually turn out to be a good guy. Don't laugh, because you never know with J.K.
    P.S.- remember when we found out that the real Professor Moody is one of the good guys?

  • Staci 12/19/2006

    You people have the wrong thoughts about severus snape. Wait until you read the 7th book and you will know that I am right. And might I not mention that the character in the book is like that not Alan Rickman so theres nothing wrong with him either. Do some more research on Snape and learn more about him and his past and maybe you'll actually start understanding him.

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