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

[lealess]

No: HPFGUIDX 170312

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "sistermagpie" > 
> Alla:
> 
> Okay, finally I know we disagree over that. LOLOLOL. You think 
> Lupin did not take potion that night on purpose? Are you sure that 
> you do not support Evil Lupin after all <g>?
> 
> Magpie;
> No, no. It's more subtle. Lupin himself did not make any conscious 
> decision to not take his Potion. It's not like Greyback positioning 
> himself near people or making any sort of evil decision. But as a 
> literary creation this is a pattern. The one time we have Lupin 
> dealing with his Potion he's showing resistance to it--it's for a 
> human reason that's clear in the context of the scene in 
> retrospect, but I don't think it was an accident
> that JKR put it that way. She established in that scene that having 
> the Potion didn't just make if a non-issue. Instead she showed 
> Lupin in control of taking it or not. It's Snape in the scene who's 
> all about the Potion being taken as a priority. It's not about 
> Lupin being evil, it's JKR's using repitition (as always) to set 
> things up.
> 
> What it says about Lupin's character is maybe that he's created 
> like so many of JKR's others, around a conflict. Sirius tries to 
> protect Harry telling him not to be reckless, but is reckless 
> himself and tries to coax him out of Hogwarts. Hermione wants 
> freedom for House Elves but then tries to make them do things she
> thinks they should do.
> 
> -
>

Lupin is being passive-aggressive when Snape comes into the classroom 
with the potion and tells him he should drink it directly.  There's a 
little power play going on, perhaps a hangover from Marauder days, 
perhaps the result of having Harry in the room.

Lupin is like some who know they have to take medicine to stay well, 
but inwardly rebel against the whole idea of being ill in the first 
place, or being controlled.  I've known three manic-depressive 
people.  One of them encouraged me on an art project.  One was 
married to a second cousin.  One was the girlfriend of a coworker.  
They were great people to meet.  Even so, they all stopped taking 
their medicine at one point, because they were feeling fine, or 
because they didn't like its side effects.  Two attacked their 
partners with knives while the partners were sleeping.  One burned 
down his studio, which was in the basement of an apartment building.  
They all *knew* they could be dangerous if not medicated, and yet, 
they chose to go off medication.

The shadow inside Lupin is quite real.  Prejudice against him can't 
be excused, if he's willing to control his actions.  If he doesn't 
accept responsibility for his own potentially harmful behavior, I 
don't see how he can blame others, as I think he does.  He tells 
Harry that Snape told the Slytherins about him being a werewolf, 
implying the blame for his firing lies with Snape.  I don't blame 
Snape.  Given Lupin's blaise attitude towards taking the potion, and 
the subsequent results, the students had the right to know and 
protect themselves on the full moon.

I don't really "blame" the manic-depressive people I knew, because I 
haven't walked in their shoes and can't understand their 
experiences.  Still, I learned to be aware of signs of missed 
medication.  I think that's fair.

lealess