The Half-Blood Prince - Severus Snape as a Fetish Character

As millions of girls eagerly snapped up tickets to the opening of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince to catch sight of Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint as Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, women around the world flocked to see Alan Rickman in his roll as Severus Snape.

I have a confession to make: I started reading Harry Potter when I was about 30 years old. I love the books. The attention to detail in describing Chocolate Frogs and Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans led me deeper into the books, and the fantasy world dropped into everyday life. The Ministry of Magic and The Daily Prophet brought a level of reality not often seen in fantasy. With careful character introduction, we came to know Harry Potter, Dumbledore, Snape and others. For example Dumbledore extinguished the streetlights with the Put-Outer and McGonagall transformed from a stern cat into a severe woman. We saw their magic and their otherness rather than being told about it.

From the first book, I loved Severus Snape. Although I was shocked by his harsh cruelty, I could relate to him because he was so far outside. I knew if Dumbledore trusted him, he had redeeming qualities. I was surprised that the first movie was very soft compared to the book. The Dursleys weren't overtly cruel - they tolerated Harry. With each book, the cruelty progressed, but the movies softened the cruelty. By Prisoner of Azkaban the movie character Snape actually threw his arms in front of Harry to protect him from Remus, who had transformed into a Werewolf. In the book version Snape was unconscious. Snape's protection of Harry culminates in Book 6, where Snape kills Dumbledore and in the movie once again protects Harry by telling Bellatrix to leave Harry for Voldemort. On the surface, it looks like Snape wanted to sacrifice Harry to Voldemort. In reality Snape pulled Bellatrix away before she could curse Harry.

While waiting for the 7^th book, the debate raged - Is Snape a good guy or was Dumbledore duped? My faith in Snape never wavered. I thought Dumbledore had arranged the death scene with Snape, but I never believe Dumbledore was dead. I thought he transformed into a phoenix like Fawkes, and flew away at the end of the book.

I never discussed Harry Potter with my friends, and I thought I was the only Snape fan. I was very surprised that a wide range of my female friends lusted after him. My friend, Emma, eagerly awaited what she hoped would be a "Snape Fest" with Half-Blood Prince.

So why do so many women find Snape appealing? It can't be his personality. One friend laughed at me. She said, "Women don't like Snape, they adore Alan Rickman as Snape." That surprised me, because even though I really like Rickman, it is Snape I always adored. So why is this dark, tortured character so popular? I believe for many women he is the grown up Gothic man. Tall, dark, long black hair and with a flowing black robe, he is the prototype male Goth. Add this description with Alan Rickman's silky voice, and Snape embodies a fetish character equal to Bettie Page. Then when fans discover that he gave his life for Lily and for her son, he becomes a strong, although very flawed hero. His death bothered me more than Dumbledore's or Harry's. I never believed Harry died, and Dumbledore's age and injury softened the blow. Snape didn't live long enough to know of Voldemort's defeat and that his sacrifice for Lily allowed Harry to survive.

When my friend Emma, who is waiting until the crowds die down to see the film, asked me if this is truly a Snape Fest, I had to say no. The funniest scene in the movie involved Snape. Cormac McLaggen accompanied Hermione to Slughorn's Christmas party. Hermione ditched him behind a veil hanging in the room, and Harry followed her. Cormac snuck behind the veil. Not finding her there, he grabbed a hors d'oeuvre from the plate Harry was holding, stuffed it in his mouth and asked what it was. Harry dryly replied, "Dragon Balls", Cormac turned his head and threw up on Snape's shoes.

Most of Snape's important scenes made it into the movie, but not enough scenes to qualify as a Snape Fest. Harry, Ron and Hermione always remained the focus. The only scene without the trio took place at the beginning of the movie with the Unbreakable Vow made between Narcissa and Snape. Bellatrix acted as their Bonder when Narcissa had Snape promise he would protect Draco, Narcissa's son. I believed that Dumbledore had already told Snape that he would need to kill him when the curse that blackened his hand finally destroyed his body.

In the book Malfoy petrified Harry on the train. Tonks found him and she sent a Patronus to the castle to retrieve someone to pick up Harry and escort him safely to the castle. Instead of Hagrid, Snape arrived to torment Harry on the way to the castle. In the movie Luna found Harry, and they passed Snape as he escorted Malfoy to the castle. The moment of cruelty from the book is lost in the movie. Snape appeared a few minutes later to acknowledge his appointment to teach Defense Against the Darks Arts. In the book this was met with strong adverse reactions. In the movie, it qualified as less than a footnote.

After Snape's hilarious "Dragon Ball's scene he accompanied Draco back to his dorm. He confronted Draco and tried to force Draco to admit that he needed help killing Dumbledore. Draco refused. Harry listened from behind a wall.

In the book and movie Snape arrived to rescue Draco after Harry cursed him with Sectumsempra. Snape bent over Draco's body and said a counter-curse that sounded like a prayer in the movie, and Harry returned to his common room. No major punishment. In the book the punishment was severe and very personal. How could anyone use a curse like Sectumsempra, and receive no punishment? In the book the cruel relationship between Harry and Snape emphasized Snape's intense hatred of Harry's father. These scenes were dropped in the movie.

Harry next interrupted Snape as he demanded whether Dumbledore understood what he asked Snape to do. Dumbledore firmly stated that Snape had promised and he would follow through. Then Harry and Dumbledore left to retrieve the Horcrux. When they returned to Hogwarts with Dumbledore gravely ill, Dumbledore told Harry to leave and retrieve Snape. Snape passed him on the stairs, and signaled for Harry to be quiet. Dumbledore pleaded, "Severus, please. . ." and Snape killed Dumbledore with the Avada Kedavra curse. Dumbledore fell from the tower. Harry chased Snape from the castle, and tried to curse him with Sectumsempra. Snape told Harry not to use his curse against him, "I am the Half-Blood Prince." As a final act to protect Harry Snape commanded Bellatrix to leave Harry for Voldemort. By not focusing on Snape's cruel nature, the movie leaves space for doubt that Snape killed Dumbledore for Voldemort. The foreshadowing is firmly in place for The Deathly Hallows Part I and II.

The movie Half-Blood Prince may not have been a Snape Fest, but Alan Rickman certainly thrilled fans with his sexy, dark portrayal of Severus Snape.

Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. movie, 2009.

Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. book, 2005.