Maligning Lupin was Re: JKR has Mystery Writer-related to Tower Theories-long!

[spotsgal]

No: HPFGUIDX 149617

> Pippin:
> But knowing that what the rule or the law asks him to do *is* right,
> and yet choosing not to obey it  is a choice that Lupin has made,
> by his own admission, many times. I think what Rowling wants to 
> show us is that the moral sense is fragile -- it can be damaged even 
> before birth, as Riddle's was--but it can be damaged also by misuse. 
> Ignore your principles too often and maybe they won't kick in when 
> you need them.
> 
> It's true that if JKR reveals Lupin in this light it will destroy
> some of our sympathy for him

Christina:

JKR has already revealed that Lupin is a man who has weaknesses
concerning moral choices.  People love him anyway.  We have to - if we
lost our sympathy and affection for characters who have made poor
moral choices, we'd have a precious few characters left to like (Lily
perhaps, and...that's basically it).

All characters have weaknesses.  Lupin's instances of poor moral
choice (if you want to call it that) make him human, not evil. 
Calling Lupin evil because of his tendency to make those choices is
like calling James evil because he has set aside morality in the past
(bullying), calling Dumbledore evil because he never stepped in on
Harry's behalf at the Dursleys (curiously similar to Lupin's failure
to step in to curtail the actions of his friends), calling Hermione
evil because she set aside morals to Confund McLaggen (IIRC), and
calling Harry evil because his first thoughts after Sirius's death set
aside morals ("She killed Sirius - I'll kill her!").  And yet, even
though all these characters have histories of making occasional poor
moral choices, their morality has not eroded enough to turn them to
evil.  

I agree that JKR is trying to show that morality is fragile - but in
the sense that everybody makes moral mistakes.  If they can learn from
them, then that is the key.  And as many mistakes as Lupin has made,
he always seems to be aware and ashamed of them.  His actions in OP
and HBP show him trying to "fix" his prior mistakes.  He clings
fiercely to DD's beliefs and orders to make up for keeping dangerous
secrets from him.  He is constantly being shown restraining Sirius, to
make up for all the times he should have as a child and didn't. 
Whether these are appropriate or useful "fixes" is questionable, but
the intent is there.


> Pippin:
> I don't think she means to allow us the luxury of feeling sorry for
> werewolves...

Christina:

Make way for Fenrir Greyback, seriously evil werewolf coming through!
 I could kiss JKR's feet for introducing him, creepy fellow though he
is.  *shudder*


> Pippin:
> She's got no use for sympathy, IMO. Sympathy says it wishes there 
> was something it could do. Sympathy turns the page. It's anger that
> says, "This can't go on."

Christina:

On first thought, I'm inclined to agree.  But thinking more about it,
I don't know.  Hermione shows anger against the establishment through
SPEW, but her indignation seems firmly rooted in sympathy for the
house elves ("All those poor elves I haven't set free yet, having to
stay over during Christmas because there aren't enough hats!").  

Harry's reaction towards Bella after Sirius's death is full of anger,
but what does it achieve?  Harry is angry in Dumbledore's office, but
what does *that* achieve?  The throwing of Dumbledore's possessions is
a childish moment, not one that JKR seems to approve of.  Harry gets
angry frequently at Umbridge in OotP, which only gets him landed in
detention.  He is even scolded by McGonagall for his lack of
restraint.  JKR shows Harry's anger towards Snape in the beginning of
HBP to be completely irrational, clouding his ability to reason
clearly and objectively.  Snape's Capslock of Rage episode at the end
of PoA is almost funny in how childish it is.  JKR paints one of
Harry's best moments as the one in which he puts aside anger to quell
the anger and thirst for revenge of others (Shrieking Shack, PoA). 
Others have posted about Harry's possible feelings of pity toward
Peter, rather than anger.  IIRC, Dumbledore tells Harry he should feel
sorry even for Merope Gaunt, even though I would think her actions of
coersion are very morally suspect.

Anger seems to be a rather "hot" emotion, one that perhaps might blind
us rather than assist us in eradicating evil.  I think that JKR would
rather us be loving and merciful than angry.  She's been banging us
over the head with the "beat evil with love" theme - Harry will
supposedly destroy Voldemort using some variant of love, Lily Potter
stumped him the first time around because of her love, Voldemort had
to evacuate Harry's mind because the love hurt him.

If I were to guess, I'd actually think that JKR would be a firm
subscriber to the Yoda school of philosophy: "Fear leads to anger. 
Anger leads to hate.  Hate leads to suffering."  JKR frequently has
shown anger to be a stepping stone to hatred - Harry is angry with
Snape, which turns into hatred; Snape's hatred toward James and Sirius
begins with anger (among other things).  Then again, maybe I'm
just one of those people who has "watched too much Star Wars."  :)

Christina