An Introduction to ‘Snapewives’ and the Severus Snape Aesthetic

FOR THE PUBLISHED VERSION OF THIS RESEARCH, PLEASE GO TO: http://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/5/1/219/htm The book and film franchise of Harry Potter has inspired a great deal of fanfiction – stories that have been written by fans to explore or re-invent the complex magical universe of JK Rowling. A significant portion of these texts deal with Severus Snape, the stern Potions Master with ambiguous ethics and loyalties. Snape is often imagined in a variety of amorous contexts, generally paired off with another fictive character from the Harry Potter universe. This paper explores a small community of Snape fans who have gone beyond a narrative retelling of the character. The Snapewives are women who channel Snape, are engaged in romantic relationships with him, and see him as a vital guide for their daily lives. In this context, Snape is viewed as more than a more fictional creation. He is seen as a being that extends beyond the Harry Potter texts with Rowling perceived as a flawed interpreter of his supra-textual essence. In order to explore this relatively common metaphysical approach to fiction, I will employ Danielle Kirby’s classificatory system of metaphysical uses of popular fiction. Her taxonomy delineates the category of ‘text as reality’, in which “the text is constructed as a reality in itself, not simply within the internal logics of the narrative, but owning some form of extra-textual ontological status.” Under this schema, Snape exists as a being with thoughts and feelings independent of Rowling as author. His manifestation in the lives of the Snapewives is a powerful guiding force, which often leads them to be critical of his treatment within the canonical texts. Binding this small community is an overarching aesthetic of horror, masochism, and dark magic. Snape tends to manifest as a cruel master who makes costly demands of his lovers. In addition to an ontological discussion of Snape metaphysics, this paper will demonstrate the depth of which Snape has penetrated the lives of his wives via an examination of their aesthetic choices. Far from a casual influence, the aesthetic of Snape can be seen in their online names, clothing choices, and linguistic patterns.