Prof Responds- The Tragedy of Severus Snape

In this Prof Response episode, Professor Wamble revisits Severus Snape to explore the heartbreak and moral ambiguity that define him. Building on listener insights, we wrestle with what it means to be “good enough,” how the Order of the Phoenix confuses purpose with performance, and why effectiveness so often masquerades as virtue.

In the reflection, Professor Wamble turns inward, reframing occlumency as a metaphor for survival, a magic that keeps Snape alive by keeping him numb. We see him as a man caught between his inner child’s need for safety, his inner teenager’s demand for justice, and his adult self’s longing for peace. Ultimately, Snape’s tragedy isn’t just what he’s done, but what he’s never allowed himself to feel. His greatest strength—his ability to close his mind—is also what keeps him broken.