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

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 170357

> Alla:
> But what reduced threat all the time? During the time full moon is 
not
> there, human has full control over their mind, there was no mention
> AFAIR that during that time they have any **urge** to bite you.
> 
> Ceridwen:
> The threat is that their bite is magically potent at any time.  
The 
> reduction is that Greyback is notable for his willingness to bite 
as 
> a human.  That means that most werewolves don't have this desire, 
and 
> to me, this also means that this doesn't come naturally to 
Greyback 
> the Werewolf.  Greyback the Human uses this property of the 
conditon 
> to extend his reign of fear.  But, he is using something that is 
part 
> of his condition.  This is information we haven't encountered 
> before.  Lupin isn't like this.


Alla:

I guess I took what you said as meaning that all werewolfs are 
threat at all time and I just cannot go with it, but if you add that 
**evil** werewolves have reduced threat all the time, I can go along 
with it.

Does that make sense? Does that follow that we need to be afraid of 
any werewolf when there is no full moon, because this werewolf may 
choose to bite you when human? I would say absolutely not, I would 
say just as in RL there is no way to predict whether the person 
would choose to be a criminal oe not, you know?

But I understand what you are saying, I think.



> Ceridwen:
<SNIP>
> I think fiction is just that, fiction, and while we're supposed to 
> get some general guidelines about behavior perhaps, clear and 
direct 
> analogies are not being drawn.  To me, the subject is fairness, 
> threat, and balancing between the two, not shunting AIDS patients 
> away from society, or sticking the crazy aunt into the attic.  
<SNIP>


Alla:

For me, it depends, you know? I certainly do not start reading story 
to look at the RL issues ( unless I am looking for story about it) 
and seek direct parallels, absolutely not, but if I see direct 
parallels, I cannot close my eyes, LOL, if that makes sense?

Of course everybody sees those parallels differently, or not at all, 
but to me if there is something there, there is something there.

I said it many times, but I think I will say it again, to me the 
fact that JKR chose to put her story in the world **parallel** to 
us, always meant that she wants us to draw some parallels with RW. 
Not direct, not always, sometimes they are parody, etc. But I see RW 
reflections in Potterverse, I really do.




> Ceridwen:
> Absolutely in agreement.  It isn't right to judge Lupin on the 
worst 
> of his occasional kind.  It isn't right to judge Greyback based on 
> better men.
> 
> Still, precautions need to be taken at full moon.  I think this is 
> exactly the message, if there is one, that we're supposed to take 
> away from the werewolf part of the stories.  Umbridge and the 
> Ministry are wrong to paint all werewolves with the same broad 
> brush.  When people do that, they usually find the worst example 
of 
> the target group and assume that all others could, ***and 
therefore 
> will***, be the same.  They're going on something we didn't know 
> before, that the bite of an untransformed werewolf is also 
dangerous, 
> to a lesser extent.  BUT!!!  They can't assume that every werewolf 
> will be the same as Greyback, their lowest example.
> 
> That can go for any group, whether physical or mental illness, or 
for 
> any other group that can be designated "Other", in my opinion.  
Maybe 
> werewolves exist in the Potterverse as an echo of the Pureblood 
> Supremacy issue.

Alla:

Yes, indeed. :)


Ceridwen: 
> But, I don't look for any real life analogies.  Heck, I don't even 
> look for the broader lesson.  Unless someone says something that 
> brings up a thought.  ;)  That's just me.  It might all exist 
purely 
> for entertainment.

Alla:

Right, they jump out on me, I am not looking for them, I do not want 
the story to be the lesson, but sometimes I think it just cannot not 
be in some aspect.