Prof Responds: The Repentance, Regrets, and Reality of Severus Snape

Critical Magic Theory: An Analytical Harry Potter Podcast

In this Prof Responds episode, we dive into nearly 400 listener comments about one of the most polarizing figures in the Wizarding World: Severus Snape. From debates about repentance versus regret, to his abuse of students, to his obsessive devotion to Lily, listeners wrestled with whether Snape’s choices were acts of love, selfishness, or survival. We also unpack how trauma shaped his radicalization but didn’t excuse his cruelty, and how Alan Rickman’s unforgettable performance softened the character through what fans call the “baby girlification” of Snape. Finally, Professor Wamble reflects on the gendered double standard in how fandom forgives male characters like Snape while condemning women like Petunia, Umbridge, or Merope with little grace. This episode asks: are we really forgiving Snape—or are we forgiving what he represents?