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

[susanbones2003]

No: HPFGUIDX 149633

> > 
> Renee:
> 
> Unfortunately, Pippin's answer doesn't solve my problem, which is 
that
> the *only* two members of this particular group we get acquainted 
with
> would be evil if Lupin is ESE. We have no basis left within canon 
to
> assume werewolves could ever be okay and are a cause worth 
fighting for. 
> 
> Political correctness does not apply here. If someone writes a book
> that shows us two Jewish or Muslim characters who are both evil in 
one
> way or another, readers can check this against primary world 
reality -
> though lots of them would still be up in arms against the author. 
We
> can't do so with werewolves. If JKR were to say after Book 7: `Yes,
> well, werewolves are basically okay, but these two just happened 
to be
> bad eggs,' it would cast a rather poor light on her handling of the
> anti-prejudice theme running through the books. (The theme itself
> suggests to me that political correctness is not something JKR 
would
> shy from, but that's a tangential discussion.) 
> 
> Even assuming she wanted to give us `a character we know we should
> sympathize with and make him the traitor/spy' to show that nice 
isn't
> necessarily good - which I'm not convinced she does - there are 
better
> choices for her to make than a person who already carries the heavy
> burden of showing that `not all werewolfs are bad'. In its almost
> pathetical insistence that among a known majority of bad werewolfs,
> maybe a few are actually okay if you get to know them, this gloss 
from
> Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them speaks volumes. 
> 
> Renee

Hi there,
I must admit at first I was taken aback by your argument but then I 
realized JKR doesn't have to follow your formula. "To prove some are 
good, please show us one good one!" I think if Lupin proves to be 
bad and gets to explain in any detail why he decided to go that way, 
that may be more important for the hearers in understanding what 
their prejudice does. But let's look at werewolves. Not Lupin since 
he was raised with a furry little problem, but the ones who embrace 
their lives, the Fenrir-type. Pretending a little here, but who 
would want them in society? How would a real society fit them in? 
I'm not talking in eliptical symbolic terms but if the real thing 
presented itself. How would it be possible? Even if LV were to win 
his war, what could it accomplish? Chaos, widespread mayhem? Lupin 
is on the horns of a huge dilemma. He is the odd man out. Good or 
bad. He is tragedy beheld. 

Jen D.