Nitwit? - Remus John Lupin

[wynnleaf]

No: HPFGUIDX 168026

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Ceridwen" <ceridwennight at ...>
wrote:
>
> 
> I also agree that he is, in some ways, a very tragic figure.  It's 
> understandable why he doesn't stand up to his friends, and why he 
> doesn't want them to be angry with him.  He's led a tragic existence 
> from childhood, when he was bitten and left to transform into a Dark 
> Creature once a month.  People shun him for this, only seeing the 
> Creature and not the Man.  He's gentle, he's understanding, and he 
> has a Tragic Flaw.

wynnleaf
While I overall agree with Ceridwen's post, I'd like to point out
something here.

While a student at Hogwarts, Lupin was *not* being shunned for being a
werewolf.  No students even knew about it other than the Marauders. 
While certainly some people must have known all along (the Ministry
knew), Lupin did not apparently grow up with either muggle or
wizarding kids who knew he was a werewolf.  So I can't say that he
actually was experiencing the effects of being shunned when he
developed these traits of being willing to allow his friends anything.

It's possible that he might have been afraid, deep down, of losing the
Marauder's friendship, not because he's a werewolf, but by disagreeing
and disapproving of them openly.  I could see that.  Once they knew
his secret, he couldn't afford their ill-will.  Who would want them as
enemies?  But other than that, I really don't see what shunning Lupin
was experiencing while at Hogwarts.

wynnleaf