Unraveling the Werewolf Essay Plot Twist

Snape’s Calculated Move: Unraveling the Werewolf Essay Plot Twist

In the third Harry Potter installment, “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,” Professor Severus Snape takes on the role of the Defence Against the Dark Arts (DADA) teacher, temporarily replacing Remus Lupin. As the story unfolds, Snape’s decision to assign an essay specifically on werewolves reveals a deeper purpose. Was there an ulterior motive behind Snape’s choice of topic?

Set against the backdrop of Sirius Black’s escape and the resulting unease at Hogwarts, Harry and his peers are filled with uncertainty and a need to discern friend from foe. In Chapter 9, aptly named “Grim Defeat,” Harry overhears a conversation between Snape and Albus Dumbledore, shedding light on Snape’s skepticism toward Lupin’s appointment. Snape expresses doubts about the possibility of Black infiltrating the school without inside assistance, hinting at his lack of trust in Lupin’s reliability.

When Harry arrives late to Defence Against the Dark Arts class, he is taken aback to find Snape standing at the teacher’s desk. Snape punishes him by deducting ten points from Gryffindor and continues with the lecture. Criticizing Lupin’s organizational skills and the absence of a syllabus, Snape contends that the students are capable of more challenging material. Abruptly shifting the focus to werewolves, he scolds Hermione Granger for her objections.

Snape’s unwavering emphasis on werewolves serves as a conspicuous clue to his ulterior motive. In the book, he remarks, “I never thought I’d meet a third-year class who wouldn’t even recognize a Werewolf when they saw one.” This statement, coupled with his subsequent assignment of an essay on recognizing and killing werewolves, unveils his intent to provide the students with a means to uncover Lupin’s true nature. In the film adaptation, Snape demands an extensive essay on werewolves, reinforcing his deliberate push for the students to delve into the topic.

The question arises: why does Snape chastise the class for their lack of knowledge about werewolves? The answer lies in the story’s climax when the trio finds themselves in the Shrieking Shack, lured by Sirius Black. Lupin arrives, disarms Harry, and triggers suspicions of his alliance with Black. Acting on her intuition, Hermione exposes Lupin as a werewolf, divulging that she had unraveled his secret ever since Snape assigned the essay. Hermione’s completion of the essay embodies Snape’s intention for the class to unveil Lupin’s true identity.

Snape’s decision to assign the werewolf essay in “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” transcends a mere educational exercise. It represents a calculated move driven by Snape’s lack of trust in Lupin and his belief that Lupin was aiding Black’s infiltration of Hogwarts. Snape strategically employed the essay as a tool for the students to recognize Lupin’s werewolf nature. This intriguing plot twist adds layers to Snape’s character, highlighting his cunning nature within the wizarding world.