[HPforGrownups] Re: Is there anything in the HP world thatbothers you?

[The Fox]

No: HPFGUIDX 56542

From: Gina R Rosich <grosich at nyc.rr.com>
>Fox had this to say:

>>I see lycanthropy=AIDS, quite frankly.  Anyone else?
>
>That's an interesting take, Fox.  I thought of it more as mental illness.  
>Lupin has to take medication once a month to control his mind, even if he 
>can't stop the physical transformation.  It made me think of mood 
>disorders.  And, of course, of PMS.  So, interesting that Lupin, as a male, 
>would experience a monthly transformation.  But your interpretation is a 
>really good one.

Thank you.  :-)  There are elements of what you're saying, I think, but in 
general, particularly from a social standpoint, I think the AIDS analogy 
holds up.

You can only get lycanthropy by getting bitten by someone who has it (and 
then only sometimes; if a werewolf in his human form bites you hard enough 
to break the skin, do you become a werewolf?).  And yet werewolves are 
feared and shunned (and blamed).  Ron learns Lupin is a werewolf and backs 
away, saying "Get away from me, werewolf!"  His knee-jerk reaction is to try 
to avoid even human!Lupin's touch, which everybody knows to be perfectly 
safe.  Snape outs Lupin at breakfast, and Lupin knows the letters are going 
to start coming in from parents who won't want a werewolf teaching their 
children.  It's true that wolf!Lupin is dangerous, but as long as he takes 
the appropriate precautions, he's not actually a danger to others.  It's 
frankly irresponsible of him not to let those around him know he has this 
condition (and that he *is* taking appropriate precautions), because if they 
knew they could take precautions of their own.

Substitute "AIDS" for "lycanthropy" and "person with AIDS" for "werewolf" 
above, and welcome back to our world.  :-/

Fox

........................
"... I think I'd like it
if he *could* be wicked
and *wouldn't."
-- Anne of the Island
...
Come on, Nature
Just because I don't feel weak
Don't mean I feel so strong.
-- the Proclaimers
..............................

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