Severus Snape as the Modern Aristotelian Tragic Hero : An Analysis of the Harry Potter Character

Rishika Tiwari , Dr. Madhuri Gokhale

Harry Potter, Severus Snape, Tragedy, Tragic Hero, Catharsis, Hubris, Peripeteia

J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series has surpassed the world of children's literature to quickly rise as a worldwide cultural phenomenon and concurrently, provides quite a nurturing environment for a meticulous literary examination. This paper aims to make one such attempt to re-evaluate and re-analyse one of the most complex figures within the series' vast ensemble: Severus Snape, particularly through the viewpoint of an Aristotelian Tragedy. Although he is often identified as a modern 'anti-hero' or a redeemed villain, these modern labels fall short of the structural gravitas inherent in his character arc. This study fills this gap by re-establishing Snape in the context of the theoretical framework provided in the Poetics, mapping his trajectory against the Aristotelian tenets like hamartia and hubris, and ultimately arguing that he represents an archetypal modern tragic hero. Through a comprehensive review of several key moments in the series, and a study of the psychological makeup of Snape's divided loyalties, the research aims to reveal how his unrequited fixations become the stimulus for a classical peripeteia. The significance of this study rests on its potential to act as a liaison between contemporary fiction and ancient literary theory showing beyond doubt that the fundamentals of Greek tragedy continue to stay relevant in the art of modern storytelling. This research further dissects Snape's final sacrifice and the intense catharsis it engenders, thereby playing a key role in his metamorphosis from a secondary antagonist to a central tragic figure in the series.

Published Paper   E-Certificate

"Severus Snape as the Modern Aristotelian Tragic Hero : An Analysis of the Harry Potter Character", IJSDR - International Journal of Scientific Development and Research (www.IJSDR.org), ISSN:2455-2631, Vol.11, Issue 3, page no.b473-b476, March-2026, Available :https://ijsdr.org/papers/IJSDR2603163.pdf

Volume 11 Issue 3, March-2026

Pages : b473-b476

Paper Reg. ID: IJSDR_308114

Published Paper Id: IJSDR2603163

Downloads: 000349

Research Area: Medical Science All

Country: Pune, Maharashtra, India

Published Paper PDF: https://ijsdr.org/papers/IJSDR2603163

Published Paper URL: https://ijsdr.org/viewpaperforall?paper=IJSDR2603163

ISSN: 2455-2631 | IMPACT FACTOR: 9.15 Calculated By Google Scholar | ESTD YEAR: 2016

An International Scholarly Open Access Journal, Peer-Reviewed, Refereed Journal Impact Factor 9.15 Calculate by Google Scholar and Semantic Scholar | AI-Powered Research Tool, Multidisciplinary, Monthly, Multilanguage Journal Indexing in All Major Database & Metadata, Citation Generator

Publisher: IJSDR(IJ Publication) Janvi Wave

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License and The Open Definition