When you read the last bit of the book when Snape died, when he said, "Look . . . at . . . me . . . " I think that he willed himself to think of Lily at that time. You know how everyone said how in this book we would find out why Harry having his mother's eyes were so important. I think that this was why. What do you think?

When I first read it, I just thought that he wanted to pass the memmories to Harry. But now that you put it that way, yes, maybe he looked at Harry's eyes in his death bed to remember Lilly and die content that he fulfilled his share. Harry's having Lilly's eyes was what probably kept Snape going, always remembering the woman he so deeply loved.

I hadn't thought of it that way, but now that you say it you're probably right. He loved Lily, he sacrificed for her son, he wanted her like James had. I think that's probably the idea with Lily's eyes <3

I never thought of any of this. I knew that his eyes were going to be important, but even when I found out, I was still confused, thinking it was just to make Severus feel bad or something. That makes sense though, that Severus kept going and helping out because of Harry's eyes. That's pretty intense love there Snape had for Lily, that simply her eyes kept him going. Love Love Love. Snape/Lily! in the afterlife (who needs james )

I agree that Snape looked at the eyes to be reminded of Lily. I also think that when Snape died, the eye connection added a great bit to the scene. It seemed like at that point they reached an emotional understanding.

Did you every read something you knew was symbolic and KNOW you are right? That was that paragraph in the book for me. I'm 99.9% sure that is the reason Snape did what he did... and that bit of symbolism is actually one of my favorite lines of the book. Snape was propelled by his love for Lily... not for any love he had of a 'son of Potter's.' It was Lily, that trace of Lily in him that he fought for, and if you think about it, eventually died for.

His dying wish was to see Lily, so since he couldn't do that, he did the next best thing... he looked into her eyes.

*ish a huge Snape and Lily fan... and loves any and all symbolism*

Ohhhhhh that's so awesome! I didn't think of that!

Yes, that makes sense now. I heard Harry's eyes would be important but didn't make the Snape-Harry connection till I read the above posts. You guys nailed it! Right on!

Before I read 'The Princes Tale' chapter, I thought that he was about to read Harry's mind or something, but it all became clear after the chapter that the 'look at me' was so that the last thing he ever saw was "Lilly's" eyes.

However, now that I've thought about it more & read a few other forums, I think it could also mean something like "see me for who I am", not literally of course, but, perhaps asking Harry (or Lilly) to see the truth, that he was "good" (ie; on DD's side) after all.

Maybe I'm analyzing too much. But either way it's really tragic

Okay you're post soo brought tears to my eyes!!!

I think you hit the nail on the head - beautifully said. I statrted crying from when Voldie told Snape he was going to kill him because of the stupid wand and all through the next chapter.

Poor Snape - he gave up soo much and no one really respected him or trusted him. Snape gave up soo much, more than redeemed his past mistake and he got nothing in return.

I thougt it was so wonderful how Harry ackowleged Snape in the end with Voldemort and later with his own child.

All Severus wanted was Lily. He was denied this. Looking into Harry's eyes, into Lily's eyes, I think made him un-afraid of death. Death couldn't be horrible if Lily was there. His dying wish was to be loved, as was his life-long wish, but was denied the care he so desperately longed for. Hogwarts was his home, for there he had Lily (and was away from his abusive father). He was never understood to have feelings, because he hid them even from himself. It just wasn't fair......

I think there's more to Harry's eyes being green. Eyes=View here. Whenever JKR writes that Harry has his mother's eyes, it's more that Harry sees the world from Lily's perspective-- he is compassionate, sympathetic (see rescue of goblin and burial of Dobby) and he is loyal to his friends. And although in all aspects of his appearance he resembles his father, he is really LILY'S BOY, not so much the carbon copy of James as we'd all thought.

Wow. I TOTALLY agree with lightstar1154... how could anyone see it any other way? I'm still distraught how Roweling killed him off though... guess there was no point in keeping him around? Although I hated him just as many others did through out the book..

Gosh, you guys are making me emotional with all your comments. =P I didn't think of that when I first read the book, although now that I think about it, it probably means that. It's very beautiful when you put it that way...

^ There is no doubt in my mind that this is correct. Snape knew those eyes so well, Dumbledore states "he has her eyes, you remember the shape and colour of Lily's eyes, I'm sure" Snape wanted to die looking at Lily.

Snape's love for Lily really stunned me. I mean, it's all really sweet. The end, when Snape told Harry to look at him, i really couldn't help feeling sad and sorry for Snape.

I actually thought that was why Snape wanted Harry to look at him. But another reason I thought might have been to tell Harry that his fate was to die. You know, when we find out in Snape's memory about Dumbledore saying that Harry was always going to die, and when Voldie was all protective over his snake Snape had to tell him.

I never thought about that...but now that you guys brought it up, I totally agree. I feel so sorry for Snape.

When I read that, I just thought Snape just wanted to say something more to Harry..but you know, you guys are right. He just wanted to see Lily again.
Throughout the whole trilogy i hated him, but after reading the Prince's Tale, it made me fall in love w/ his character..
how much a person could do for his love even after that love(Lily) is dead, he continued showing his undying love for her by protecting Harry...
man, that's just wicked!

So nicely put, Sarah *tear*

The moment he said that line I knew he wanted to take one last look into Lily's eyes. In that precise second, I also started bawling, and didn't stop until the end of chapter 33. It's one of the most touching lines in the series, by far.

I was always a sort of S/L shipper, but reading through those memories was just priceless. I don't know who wouldn't love [or at least like] Snape after this book..

I guess I'm the odd man out because I don't think it had one single thing to do with Lily. I think it was all about the relationship between Harry and Snape.

Everyone always says with the exception of his eyes Harry looks almost exactly like James and his eyes are exactly like Lily's. It's quite obvious that Snape has always treated Harry like he's James. In Snape's own memories, we see him admit that he only helps Harry because he's Lily's son and even Dumbledore chastised him for seeing what he wants to see and not who Harry really is.

The eyes are the window to the soul. For the first time, Snape did not look at Harry as pieces of Lily and James. For the first time, Snape saw Harry for who he was, just Harry.