[HPforGrownups] Re: Is "Remus Lupin" His Real Name?

[Aja]

No: HPFGUIDX 32657


On Thu, 3 Jan 2002, ftah3 wrote:

> cindysphynx wrote:
> > Several people have mentioned how odd it is that Lupin's parents 
> > would have given their baby a name that means 
> > essentially "werewolf."  It is totally illogical -- akin to having 
> > the parents of newborn Ted Bundy name him "Serial Killer" or some 
> > such. 

> By the way, your Ted Bundy example is very peculiar.  It almost 
> implies that the name precludes fate. 

This is so fascinating to me. It gets into the question of whether the
wand chooses the wizard or the wizard chooses the wand: i.e., in the realm
of magic, where so many variables exist regarding a person's apparent
possible destiny (Harry'd be good in slytherin) and the choices they
make-- why *shouldn't* a name have the potential to preclude fate?  After
all, Remus Lupin is a werewolf, Sirius turns into a dog, and Severus is
nothing if not severe. Pettigrew/Wormtail is not only petty but a
figurative rat. I could go on and on. 

It seems very likely to me that just as Harry has a chance to determine
his own fate against circumstances which would point him in another
direction, the power of a name would easily shape one's destiny, depending
on what one would choose to do with that power. I have always been
fascinated by the fact that I was named Aja Fair after a song ("Aja" by
Steely Dan") and a book, the novel Vanity Fair-- and that with no deep
musical or literary interests on either side of my family I grew up with a
lifelong goal of double-majoring in voice and english in college.  Ironic,
psychic, silly, who knows-- but in the case of the wizarding world, I
could easily believe such coincidences take on a much greater significance
on a regular basis.

Aja