Stags and Rats, Oh My...

[abigailnus]

No: HPFGUIDX 34484

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., Andrew MacIan <andrew_macian at y...> wrote:
> So, for James to appear as a stag is in line with
> being a *very* strong protector symbol, both for Lupin
> and his other friends, as well as for his son.

Cool, I had no idea about this- although, now that I think of it, I do seem to remember reading about a "stag-man" in a 
book some years ago, but as it was Terry Pratchett I didn't give it too much thought (I know, I know, if anybody taps 
into popular culture and mythology it's Pratchett, but a lot of his Anglo-centric stuff goes way over my head.  It was 
years before I worked out what Morris dancing was.)

I have to say that my cultural biases are still showing.  Intellectually I understand that a stag is a very powerful symbol, 
but a part of me is still going "Wait a minute!  That's *Bambi's* dad!.

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Gabriel Edson" <feycat at f...> wrote:
> >>Peter seems pathetic, but is quite dangerous, especially when cornered.  He is a rat (a very apt animagus form) - 
> sneaky, devious, always looking out for number one, and if you push him too far he will bite.<<
> 
> Okay, I've been keeping quiet on this whole thing, but I've got to react to >this. <snip information about rats>  I was thrilled when Scabbers showed up in >the first book. Good press for pet rats, YAY!

Once again, cool.  Unfortunately, your pets have had very bad press - which will happen to an animal that's a plague 
spreader - I'm pretty certain there's no misconception about that.  Regardless, the stereotype of a rat exists whether 
or not it's true about the animal itself - one of the quirks of culture, kind of like "Lead on, Macduff" and "Play it again, 
Sam" - everyone knows the lines even though they're misquoted.  So let's just say Peter Pettigrew fits the cultural     
*idea* of a rat, and not necessarily the zoological truth.

Abigail