Snapedom essay: Snape and Voldemort

[geri_chan]

Here's my banner for my essay on the Snapedom March challenge, Snape and Voldemort. There were also many other interesting posts and comments on the subject here. My essay mainly addressed the proposed question of whether or not Snape was actually Voldemort's "right hand man": probably not, during the time that the Potters were still alive, just because he was too young and inexperienced, but Voldemort valued him enough to promise to spare Lily's life for his sake, and more importantly, actually attempt to keep that promise. I think that by Book 7, Voldemort actually did consider him his most valued and trusted servant, although that's a rather dubious distinction, considering how easily he sacrificed Snape in the end.

Comments

[lawless523.livejournal.com]

Interesting essay. I agree with those who argue that Voldemort was a more effective recruiter the closer he was in time and personality to the charismatic and charming former prefect Tom Riddle than the reconstituted Voldemort.

I don't see how Snape could have avoided complicity in at least some deaths without arousing Voldemort's suspicions. Dumbledore's complicity is more complicated but he might have reasoned that since the way the DEs operated made deaths inevitable, they might as well serve some purpose, i.e., maintaining Snape's cover.

How ironic is it that Voldemort seems not to have considered that Snape might be double-crossing him? Either Rowling took the easy way out or Voldemort's use of Horcruxes had done in his common sense and intelligence along with his humanity. I found it a little too pat. Voldemort should have remained suspicious up until the very end. Maybe returning to his body convinced him of his invincibility.

[geri-chan.livejournal.com]

I was really surprised to find out in Book 7 that Voldemort didn't doubt Snape's loyalty at all. The only thing that makes sense is, as you say, that the Hocruxes damaged his common sense and intelligence. Or maybe he just became overconfident after Dumbledore died because he didn't think that anyone else was a match for him.