The Symbolic Weight of Snape’s Appearance: Why HBO’s Casting Choice Disrupts Key Themes
The controversy surrounding HBO’s casting of Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape isn’t just about book accuracy—it fundamentally alters deep thematic and visual storytelling elements that define his character. Snape’s appearance isn’t arbitrary; it’s a deliberate reflection of his narrative role, his psychological torment, and his parallel to Voldemort. The decision to change it may seem minor on the surface, but it unintentionally weakens the symbolism that makes Snape one of Harry Potter’s most layered and tragic figures.
To understand why this casting choice is controversial, it’s important to look at how Snape’s original depiction served the story—and what’s lost in this reinterpretation.
1. Snape and Voldemort Are Meant to Be Thematically and Visually Linked
One of the most overlooked aspects of Snape’s characterisation is how deliberately he mirrors Voldemort, both in background and aesthetics
• Both are half-bloods who grew up in neglectful Muggle households.
• Both felt alienated from the ‘Wizarding’ World’s elite.
• Both turned to dark magic as a means of control.
• Both are described with hooked noses, sallow skin, and dark robes—J.K. Rowling intentionally gave them similar visual motifs.
This connection is crucial because Snape is the anti-Voldemort—he follows the same path but ultimately makes a different choice. Where Voldemort seeks power, Snape chooses love (Lily). This contrast is part of what makes his arc so captivating.
By altering Snape’s visual similarity to Voldemort, HBO removes an essential part of this parallel. Snape’s redemption isn’t just about rejecting Voldemort’s ideology—it’s about him being like Voldemort in many ways but taking a different path. The weight of this subversion diminishes when the audience doesn’t immediately recognise them as reflections of each other.
2. Snape’s Paleness Symbolised His Double Life
Rowling’s description of Snape’s “sallow skin” isn’t just a minor physical detail—it reinforces his ghostly, drained existence. The word “sallow” conveys an unhealthy, washed-out look, which perfectly aligns with his internal state:
• He is emotionally lifeless, consumed by grief and regret.
• He is caught between two worlds—Dumbledore’s confidant and Voldemort’s spy—leaving him in a permanent state of limbo.
• His presence in the shadows, both literally and metaphorically, enhances his aura of a man who is neither fully alive nor fully at peace.
His sickly, pale appearance serves as a constant visual reminder that he is trapped between life and death, purpose and despair. Casting a Black actor removes this visual cue, making it harder to convey Snape’s drained, ghost-like existence without additional effort in costuming, makeup, and cinematography. It’s not that Black actors can’t play tragic figures—but Snape’s specific aesthetic is tied to his thematic role as a character who has been spiritually hollowed out by his choices.
3. Snape’s Intimidation Factor Was Tied to His Appearance
Snape’s presence is meant to be unsettling, both to students and his fellow wizards. His skeletal, bat-like appearance, his dark silhouette, and his shrouded presence are not just aesthetic choices—they actively shape how others perceive him.
• His fear factor is immediate. When Snape enters a room, he commands fear and discomfort, not through brute force but through his cold, ghostly demeanor and imposing presence. His greasy hair, hollowed cheeks, and menacing robes enhance his role as a looming, almost spectral figure.
• He is meant to be unapproachable. Unlike other strict teachers like McGonagall, whose sternness is balanced by warmth, Snape’s appearance ensures students never feel at ease around him. He is deliberately framed as a shadowy figure, someone who lurks in corners, swoops through hallways, and moves like a living spectre.
• He embodies the ‘Dark Arts professor’ archetype. His appearance aligns with classic depictions of characters tempted by darkness—think gothic villains, sorcerers, or even literary figures like Dracula. He looks like someone who has dabbled in dark magic, even if he ultimately rejects it.
By making Snape less visually intimidating, HBO risks softening his presence. If he is less of a visually commanding figure, his authority, menace, and complex moral ambiguity become harder to communicate on screen. The audience should always be slightly on edge around Snape, unsure of where his true allegiance lies—his visuals were key to maintaining that unease.
4. The “Half-Blood Prince” Identity Takes on Unintended Implications
Snape’s self-identification as the Half-Blood Prince is one of his defining moments. The reveal of his Muggle heritage is pivotal, as it explains:
• His resentment toward the Wizarding aristocracy.
• His deep-seated bitterness over being looked down upon by pure-bloods.
• His complex identity struggle that fuels both his arrogance and his insecurities.
However, casting a Black actor introduces another layer—one that isn’t present in the original text. If race becomes part of the visual dynamic, it could unintentionally shift the meaning of Snape’s struggle.
• Originally, his resentment stemmed from classism and blood purity prejudices.
• If race becomes a factor, audiences may perceive his struggle as one of racial oppression rather than bloodline elitism.
This wouldn’t necessarily be a bad narrative in another story, but it alters Harry Potter’s established themes. The series is built on a parallel to real-world class and social hierarchies, not racial ones. Adding racial connotations muddies the original critique of ‘Wizarding supremacy’, making it something it was never intended to be.
It’s a textbook example of how an adaptation’s seemingly small changes can snowball into significant thematic shifts.
This debate isn’t about just faithfulness to the books—it’s about preserving the deeper storytelling layers that Rowling wove into Snape’s character.
• His visual parallel to Voldemort enhances the power of his redemption arc.
• His sallow complexion reinforces his spiritual and emotional emptiness.
• His intimidating presence is central to how he commands fear and uncertainty.
• His Half-Blood Prince identity is rooted in classism, not race.
These aren’t minor details—they’re fundamental to how Snape’s story functions. When adaptations ignore how visual symbolism shapes character arcs, they risk flattening the emotional depth of the narrative.
Casting a Black actor as Snape dilutes the carefully crafted thematic resonance that made him such a compelling figure in the first place. If HBO intends to take creative liberties, they need to consider whether those changes enhance the story or unintentionally strip it of its deeper meaning.