Werewolves and RL equivalents (was:Re: Snape - a werewolf bigot?...)

[wynnleaf]

No: HPFGUIDX 170293


> Dana:
> 
> So in this case when Lupin transforms into a werewolf he is actually 
> no longer Lupin but his disease which is driven by the instinct of 
> that creature inside. I do not think a parallel to sexual preditor 
> can be made for the simple fact that these people are always on the 
> prowl no matter what time of the day it is. Greyback might have this 
> motivation but it is certainly not part of him being a werewolf as he 
> has to make a human decision to place himself within striking range 
> of his chosen victim. 

wynnleaf
How is it that the "sexual predator" parallel *can't* be used because
they are "always on the prowl," whereas Lupin is only driven to kill
others monthly, but you *can* parallel being a werewolf to real life
diseases even though those who are afflicted are *never* "on the prowl?"  

Seems to me a bit arbitrary.

houyhnhnm:

As Dung pointed out, Rowling's statement can be taken
two ways. The more I think about it, the more I am
inclined to think that by "His being a werewolf is
really a metaphor for people's reactions to illness
and disability," she meant people's reactions to *their own*
illness and disability. I can certainly think of real
life examples in my own acquaintance, people who were
over-protected as children because of diabetes or
epilepsy and who grew up compensating by becoming
excessive risk takers, in a couple of cases with tragic results.

wynnleaf
The assumption that JKR meant, in her comment, that Lupin's being a
werewolf is to be a commentary on how non-sufferers *treat* people
with diseases is really just that -- an assumption.  She could just as
easily have meant it to show how sufferers react to their own disease.

But even if JKR meant for this to parallel real life prejudices
against those with chronic diseases, it simply isn't a good parallel.
 Can't recall who said it, but it's perfectly true that JKR could, if
she had desired, made the parallel much more apt if she'd written
Lupin's werewolf form to be as "mild mannered" as his human form
appears.  But she didn't.  Lupin, with only one slip up without the
potion, becomes a killer.  That simply doesn't happen with *any* real
life disease I can think of.

Oh, and as regards the availability of wolfsbane potion -- Lupin makes
it clear that it's a difficult potion to brew and he's very fortunate
to have someone who can brew it close about.  Anytime you have a
product in which the demand far outstrips the availability, it's going
to be expensive.

If most werewolves were attempting to get wolfsbane -- and they may
well be wanting it -- and yet the potion must be brewed by only
particular potions brewers with the skill, takes some time and effort
to brew, and is necessary to take for about 1/4 of every month (about
1 week for each full moon) then I think we can be fairly confident
that wolfsbane potion is expensive to buy.  If you don't have a friend
or acquaintance that can make it, probably many couldn't afford it,
especially if -- being a werewolf -- one found it difficult to hold
down a job where the employers both accepted you as a werewolf, and
were able to deal with you being off work for several days each month.

wynnleaf