Snape's Love for Lily Evans: A Deep Dive Into His Obsession and Guilt

Many people argue that Severus Snape should have moved on after it became clear that Lily Evans would not be with him. However, would such a move have been possible given the depth of his feelings and the circumstances surrounding Lily's death?

The Misconception of True Love

It is often assumed that Snape's love for Lily Evans was one of true, deep affection. However, this is not necessarily the case. Snape's admiration for Lily did not stem from a place of true love but from a teenage crush fueled by feelings of inadequacy and a desire to control. His hatred for those he deemed inferior, particularly ‘Mudbloods’, often overshadowed his love for her.

A Crush That Evolved into Obsession

Snape's love for Lily did not start as a true love but rather as a teenage crush. This began to turn obsessional after he accosted Lily by providing Voldemort with information that resulted in her death. His guilt and subsequent grief became the driving force behind his actions, rather than the love he professed to feel for her.

Contrary to popular belief, Snape did not have a significant love for Lily that he couldn’t move on from. There are several indicators that his love was more a teenage crush than a deep, enduring love:

He ignored her feelings about Dark Magic and her friends Avery and Mulciber. He refused to give up his racism and continued to call her ‘Mudblood’. He willingly became a Death Eater, despite his feelings for her. He attempted to turn her into a Death Eater, which he would never do if he truly loved her. He never sought another romantic interest for most of his adult life, engaging in a 95-hour workweek and being a double agent.

Obstacles to Moving On

Even if Snape had desired to move on from his feelings for Lily, his circumstances made it nearly impossible. Various factors, such as his grueling work schedule and the danger he faced as a double agent, significantly limited his ability to form other relationships:

Severus Snape was working 95-hour weeks, leaving little time for romantic pursuits. Being a double agent made him a potential danger to anyone who got close to him. His love interest could have been used as a hostage against him if he were to reveal information to the Dark Lord. Risking a relationship with a pro-Death Eater woman could have forced him to betray her to the Aurors. A relationship with an Order member or a non-Death Eater wizard or witch could have jeopardized his loyalty if Voldemort determined otherwise. A relationship with a Muggle could have been used by Voldemort to doubt Snape's loyalty, further complicating any potential love life.

Concluding Thoughts

In conclusion, Snape's feelings for Lily Evans were not rooted in true, enduring love but rather in a teenage crush that evolved into a deep sense of guilt and grief. The obstacles he faced, both internal and external, made it impossible for him to truly move on from his feelings. While Snape’s actions and feelings towards Lily may challenge traditional notions of love, they also shed light on a complex and intense emotional journey.

The story of Snape and Lily remains a poignant reminder of the complexities of human emotions and the choices that shape our lives.