In Christian scripture, there exists a parallel between Jesus Christ, the savior of the world, and that of Severus Snape. He is called “Yahveh” for a reason, which means that Jesus (Jehovah; or many different names he may be called) the savior; where Severus Snape is called The Half-Blood Prince. In the same manner, Zeus also means “God” in the literal translation to English. This is a COMPLETE reference to Greek imagery, as the “half” refers to half-human, half-God. Hercules and Jesus, and at last, Severus, are all demi-gods, or “half-blood princes”. The title itself is not as significant as the scriptures reveal. In this analysis, I will make a complete connection between Greek Literature and connect it with The Half Blood Prince.
In Classical Greek epic Literature, such as Homer’s The Odyssey, we can see the correlations between half human and half-god, as Odysseus, the protagonist himself, is actually a demi-god. Contrary to what is believed or appears to be in the Odyssey, he successfully returns home, restores justice, and ends his life happily with his family. He is GUIDED by the Greek council of Gods and Goddesses, and therefore; he is a demi-god. For example, in the beginning of the Odyssey, in Book 1, Athena (Goddess of Wisdom, most favored one of Zeus’’ council) engages in a conversation with her father about Odysseus and his plight against those that wish to oppress his journey back home. She begins with “But my own heart is broken for Odysseus” (Homer). Here, Athena begins by using emotion, contrary to rationality, which is Snape’s most valuable asset as the half-blood prince. What is interesting to see here is that Snape also is susceptible to emotions, meaning he is weakened logically and epistemologically because of his natural emotions. Emotions are natural, as that is a given, but logic and rationality are also emotions, and therefore, Snape, as the Severus he is, can MASTER all emotions and logic together. He chooses to use rationality over his emotions, until the very end. He cries for a last time at the time of his death so that Harry can have the ultimate truth about his mother. Now, going back to the Odyssey, Odysseus is seen in plight against Circe, which is why Athena, (Book 1 Title: A Goddess Intervenes) intervenes by bringing what she sees up with her very own father. Then, he explains, “There is not one mortal who is half wise and half emotional” (Homer). Athena then responds by saying that she is going to Ithaca, the home of Odysseus. She is going to cloak herself as a human being to talk with Odysseus’ son, Telemachus. She is literally going to inspire him with Wisdom, for he is blinded by all that has happened by the hands of the suitors. In the Harry Potter world, Snape LOVES Lily. He becomes the ultimate protector of Harry, and in turn, the Wizarding world, because of his love for his mother, and the child of prophecy as well. So, In the Odyssey, Athena responds by doing the following:
and [she] took the great haft of her spear in hand- that bronze-shod spear… ambrosial… golden,… [that] this child of Power can use to break in wrath [the] long battle(s) line(s) of fighters. (Homer)
In this case, it is evident that Snape’s wand is the golden spear of Athena. The wand, the ultimate weapon of the wizard, is what ultimately allows a user to triumph in a wand to wand battle, yet, the most important asset of the wizard or Witch is the knowledge they have. The possession of epistemology, the possession of wit, and the possession of the qualities of a snake (Slytherin) create the perfect combination of genuine pulchritude, or as I prefer to call it “GENIUS”. The spear tip represents that breaking point, the tip being the thing that impacts whatever it strikes. However, as Athena is the Goddess of Wisdom (and Peace as well; Literally, the Goddess of Peace… “two birds, one stone”), she, above all, is favored by God because she possesses ALL of the qualities of every single God and Goddess. Therefore, as Snape, who is the possessor of Athena’s qualities, is God, is the entire Greek Council, and in turn, is the PERFECT RIVAL against the dark lord himself. He knows how to defeat Voldemort, yet, he allows Harry to do it because he is his child of prophecy. Therefore, let the stars chase over the sun, and let blood run deep, and let the winds take the sun and dissolve it, or as Florence and the Machine perfectly says in “Queen of Peace”:
“And my love is no good against the fortress that is made of you.”