Severus Snape appears to have had an abusive father and a neglectful mother. At age 9, he is shown to have poor hygiene, clothes, and nutrition. When he went to school, he protected himself from his peers, who in general ridiculed him, with magic (specifically curses). He is on the offensive at school and insists he is not a coward. He is drawn to the Dark Arts because of the power it would offer him over his enemies (and probably within the heirarchy of the Slytherin house). He holds off as long as he does from succumbing to its lure because of his love for Lily Evans. When she does not forgive him for calling her a Mudblood, he becomes more deeply entrenched in the Dark Arts with his Slytherin friends who have similar interests. Voldemort and his Death Eaters used the knowledge of the Dark Arts that appealed to Severus' intellect and ambition. Thoughts of revenge against James Potter were also probably a factor in his joining the Death Eaters.
Re: Severus Snape
Date: 2010-07-24 06:19 pm (UTC)Peyton/Ravenclaw