Lupin and Tonks characterization in HD --- Was: Initial critique of DH

[guzuguzu]

No: HPFGUIDX 172774

persimmon76 wrote:

> Did Lupin's behavior in DH strike anyone else as odd? A Lupin
"deranged" is such
> a hard image to shake.

YES-- I was extremely disappointed by the way Lupin (and Tonks) were
written in DH. First we had "deranged," irrational Lupin (would he
actually think that ditching his kid would make the kid *less* ashamed
of him?).  He wants to leave Tonks because she's become an outcast?--
she seemed quite happy from the tiny glimpses we saw of her.  Lupin
freaking out about a new wife and kid (who he is positive will be a
werewolf-- but more on that later*)  could have been a realistic minor
subplot, but apparently it wasn't too much for him to overcome, since
all he needed to get over it was to have his friend's 17-year-old son
call him a coward. That was the end of that. The Pottercast and the
battle were fine, as was his death (though I cannot believe it was
off-page), but when he comes back with James and Sirius, it seemed that
he was a lot happier dead than he was alive. He also does not mention
anything about Harry raising Teddy, which makes me think Tonks's death
was a last-minute add on. Which brings me to...

Tonks: This actually got me angry. Glad to know that the newly qualified
Auror who trained to be part of an elite force to take down dark wizards
and who is also a member of the ever-shrinking Order of the Phoenix
decided to sit the war out to have a baby. What a noble thing to do.
Especially with a husband who, until Harry gives him a tongue-lashing,
is not particularly keen on reproducing. What kills me is that she could
have had a redeeming scene at the last battle, but no, she wasn't there
to fight-- she was there to see if Lupin was alright. *gag* Oh, and by
the way, she died somehow, and Harry off-handedly noticed her body lying
on the floor among some others. Was I supposed to feel sad? How
completely disrespectful to the strong, competent character she was in
the fifth book, reduced to plot devices:  a weepy one in the sixth book
and a pregnant one in the seventh book. I honestly think I would have
preferred it if Rowling had killed Tonks and Lupin in the beginning of
HB, instead of Mad-Eye and Hedwig.  I know they were third-tier
characters, but come on-- we know how the Bloody Baron died and not
them?

The Tonks's: I was absolutely shocked when Lupin said that Tonks's
parents (a muggleborn who didn't grow up with werewolf prejudices and a
pureblood who was disowned from her family for marrying down) were
disgusted by him. I could understand fearing the idea of a werewolf
son-in-law, but after they actually met him, they were still disgusted?
Was he in his "deranged" phase then and blasted them against the wall?
Anyway, the effect that piece of information had on me as I read the
book was that I was *glad* when Ted Tonks got killed. Karmic justice for
his bigotry.

*JK Rowling's Werewolf Babies: according to Lupin, there's a good chance
his kid would also be a werewolf. Wasn't Greyback trying most of his
life to raise a werewolf army to outnumber wizards? Wouldn't that mean
that he and his loyal werewolf buddies should be out impregnating as
many women as possible, or is that too twisted to think about?

Last point: am I the only one who, when they heard Lupin's kid's name,
immediately thought of Teddy Ruxpin?

guzu