[HPforGrownups] Re: Lupin's character arc (was: Character Arcs)

[Sherry Gomes]

No: HPFGUIDX 119075

Sharon/azriona wrote:
...edited. 
> I mean, for all that he says that he has found it
> difficult to find 
> paid work because of his lycanthropy and all that -
> he never once 
> really expresses regret or bitterness over his
> condition.  I kind of 
> think that he's embraced his inner wolf, so to
> speak, and is very 
> happy with himself as he is.

Juli now: I don't think Remus is particularly happy
with his werewolf condition, he's just accepted it,
he's been a werewolf most of his life, it's just who
he is, but I think we wouldn't doubt it for a second
to leave his lycanthropy (is that even a word?)
behind, it's just too much to handle.

Juli


Sherry now
If Lupin's condition is indeed meant to represent disability or disease in
some way, then there is definitely a difference between accepting your
condition and learning not just to live with it and cope--hate that
expression--but to have a good and meaningful life and not sit around
feeling sorry for yourself in the process.  Yet that acceptance doesn't mean
you would not want to have a full recovery from your condition, if suddenly
medical science made that possible.  We're told it's very painful for him
when he transforms, leaves him exhausted and aged before his time.  He has
had great difficulty finding work due to the prejudice in the WW against
werewolves.  People are afraid of him, when they learn the truth, even
people who liked and trusted him before they knew.  I think that he would
absolutely want a cure if it was available.  

I was born with a very painful and debility disease, which is a severe form
of childhood arthritis.  As an adult in my 40's and having this disease all
my life, I live in chronic pain, have several artificial joints and will
probably have more.  It also damaged my optic nerve and I am blind.  This
isn't a tragedy; it's just life for me.  my parents taught me how to live
with my disease, control it, fight it, and in spite of all predictions, I am
still walking and moving and typing this message.  I lead a very full and
active life, and I do not feel deprived in any way or that I have missed
anything.  I will not pity myself and do not want pity from others.  But
would I grab the chance to be completely cured?  Well, you just bet I would!
it would be nice to be  without pain, without the concern of will it finally
win in the end.  it would be nice to drive, for example.  It would be great
not to have to deal with the automatic prejudice of potential employers when
I walk into a job interview with my guide dog and my lap top computer with
braille and speech over my shoulder.  Do I sit around longing for a cure?
no way!  I don't have time to sit around waiting for things that aren't
likely to happen in my lifetime.

That's how I see Lupin, if he's the disabled person of the potter world.
He's not sitting around waiting for someone to make it all better--he's
fighting in the war, developing relationships, in general living.  But I
think he would very much want to be cured, to leave the pain and fear
behind, to be able to find employment easily instead of finding all the
closed doors of prejudice.  Is he going to stop living and enjoying life
just because there isn't a cure?  no, he won't do that, but if it came, I do
believe he'd go for it!

Sherry