Sleepy Lupin/ Sneakoscope/ Uncomplicated JKR?

[blpurdom]

No: HPFGUIDX 34003

hapaloca at a... wrote:
 
I'm surprised by the number of people on these lists who are 
Lupin "fans", because the Sneakoscope episode made me suspicious of 
him the first time I read PoA. After re-reading the chapter, it 
seems Lupin would the most logical "sneak".  I know there is a 
question of the Sneakoscope's reliability, but the timing might be 
foreshadowing.  I just wonder if the Sneakoscope going off was more 
of a clue of where Lupin's character is headed, since I believe JKR 
was quoted somewhere saying that Lupin will be in the 5th book.<<

jdumas at k... writes:

I think JKR introduced the sneakoscope to cast a doubt on Lupin's
character, but we find out that Scabbers was the actual problem.
Scabbers was in the compartment that HRH and Lupin were in when they
were on their way to Hogwarts. 
 
jdumas writes:
I agree with Katze, but would add that since werewolves are regarded 
with such suspicion in the wizarding world, the Sneakoscope might 
well regard Lupin as untrustworthy. In fact, although I adore Lupin 
and have no doubts about him, I think Lupin himself would in a way 
regard himself as untrustworthy: he certainly has a problem with his 
lack of honesty to Dumbledore and  his omitting to take the 
Wolfsbane potion with its dire consequences could also be taken as 
worthy of mistrust. Depends what you mean by untrustworthy, I 
suppose. Just another example of the complexity of JKR's 
characters and the difficulty of defining issues of good and bad in 
black and white.
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I agree that the Sneakoscope reacting in the train compartment was 
misdirection, intended to make us suspect Lupin rather than Scabbers 
(actually, there wasn't anything to really make us suspect Scabbers--
when all is said and done, that really came out of the blue). I 
would like to add two points:

1) Sneakoscope observations

Every time we see a Sneakoscope it seems to be reacting to someone, 
and yet most people seem to disregard it.  Why?  Why even have this 
if it is considered to be ineffective?  I can't think of a single 
instance of our seeing a Sneakoscope when it isn't reacting 
perfectly correctly (although knowing that is usually hindsight).  
Of course, now that we're onto JKR as far as this goes, she can't 
use Sneakoscopes for red herrings any more (except it's not always 
obvious what the device is reacting to--again, who saw the Scabbers 
thing coming?).

2) Upcoming wolf problems

I'm glad that Lupin is coming back, not because I'm a Lupin fan (I'm 
fairly neutral on Lupin) but because his character does, as noted 
above, give JKR opportunities to further illustrate the lack of 
black and white clarity in the world.  A werewolf is by definition 
an evil creature which must be killed, yet, the other twenty-five 
days and nights of the lunar month, Remus Lupin is a perfectly nice, 
harmless wizard (unless you happen to be Peter Pettigrew).  

There seems to be potential for a number of bad things to happen in 
book five because of Lupin's presence.  Four possible scenarios: 

a) Lupin bites someone and they become a werewolf (unlikely to be 
early in the book as it would necessitate Dumbledore packing him off 
again--if he's been appointed as a DADA teacher, that is, instead of 
simply being "around"); 

b) Lupin is being relied upon to do something important to the 
cause, but everyone--including Lupin himself--has forgotten to pay 
attention to the full moon, and he is "indisposed" when he is 
supposed to be performing the crucial act;

c) Someone is killed in a way that seems to cry out "werewolf" and 
Lupin is automatically blamed because he was in the vicinity and no 
one believes a werewolf when he tries to offer an alibi (such as 
relaxing under his bed after taking Wolfsbane Potion);

d) Someone attempts to poison or otherwise alter some Wolfsbane 
Potion Snape prepares for Lupin, both harming Lupin and again 
throwing doubts on Snape's loyalty to Dumbledore (since he still has 
his old grudge against the werewolf).

JKR will, of course, do something totally different from these 
scenarios...<g>

Eloise wrote: 

By the way, I can't resist throwing in this quote from yesterday's 
Daily Telegraph (UK broadsheet) apropos Philip Pullman winning the 
Whitbread prize:

'Adult read JK Rowling because she is not complicated; children 
read Philip Pullman because he is.'
 
I was thinking of reading Pullman. Obviously more than my small 
brain can cope with. Better leave it to the kids!

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I don't know about that.  I don't really think Pullman's "His Dark 
Materials" trilogy IS for kids (at least, not kids under 12 or 13).  
I also didn't know he was up for the Whitbread.  I only knew about 
the Booker.  (Has that been awarded yet?)  Again, I don't know any 
children who are up to reading Pullman's trilogy.  And, as noted in 
the comments above, Rowling is no slouch at putting complicated 
concepts into her work that challenge simplistic views of the 
world.  

I thought Pullman's trilogy was thought-provoking and the third book 
(The Amber Spyglass) particularly well done, but it was difficult to 
get into the first book, which rather plodded (it was rather bogged 
down with explanations of the world in which it took place, IMO) 
whereas JKR's explanations of the wizarding world are usually 
concise and descriptive at the same time and don't slow things 
down.  In addition, her humor makes HP more enjoyable to read than 
His Dark Materials, which is utterly devoid of humor.  

I read a few interviews with Pullman and was surprised that he seems 
to have a puckish sense of humor about the reactions to his work 
(especially reactions from people of faith).  His humor does not 
come forth in his work.  I felt it was a bit of a chore to read the 
beginning of his trilogy and I kept on because I'd heard such good 
things about the third book (all true).  I've never felt reading HP 
to be a chore; nothing but delight.

--Barb
 
Chapter 14 of the Last Temptation is up...Are you tempted?
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HP_Psych
http://schnoogle.com/authorLinks/Barb