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

[Mike]

No: HPFGUIDX 170400

> Magpie:
> Yeah, Snape and Lupin are *both* being passive-aggressive. Snape's 
> rubbing in that he wants Lupin to drink it right that second (and 
> he's got more in case Lupin thinks he needs it!!) and Lupin's 
> saying he will drink it when he's ready. It's a powerplay going on 
> in front of Harry, with both men knowing that Harry is there as 
> part of it. Of course Snape could have just set it down and not 
> brought up werewolves in class. So could Lupin have drunk the 
> Potion in front of Snape like a good boy who knows what a risk it 
> all is. But they're totally at each other.:-)

Mike:
I'm not near as good at this as you are Magpie, so I want to ask your 
opinion, or anyone else that understands this better than me. Does 
this little power play remind you at all of a similar power play 
between James and Lily, with Severus in the Harry role? I know the 
conditions are different, flirting versus passive-aggressive 
attitudes, Harry is clueless and not a part of the exchange versus 
Severus understanding exactly what's playing out and is the object of 
the exchange (as well as being tormented). And, of course, there is 
no audience for the Lupin-Snape exchange other than Harry.

But it struck me that James and Lily were being outwardly disgusted 
(well, Lily anyway) while inwardly friendly (or more). Conversely, 
Snape and Lupin are outwardly friendly but inwardly detesting (might 
be too strong for Lupin, but not Snape) each other. I'm thinking 
there is some literary term for this reverse parallel, but it's 
beyond my scope of learning. :-?



> Lanval:
> This notion that the Hogwarts students's safety somehow depended 
> solely on Lupin taking his wolfsbane potion is, IMO, blown a good 
> deal out of proportion. 
> 
> Magpie:
> I don't see how it can be blown out of proportion. It's not like 
> we're given back ups for Lupin while he's at Hogwarts.
> <snip>
> Too much "everything's dangerous at Hogwarts" and the plots 
> of every book stop mattering.

Mike:
I'm in agreement about the importance of Lupin taking his meds, 
because he is in a school full of children. To me, it's the children 
in the WW, who have no defence against werewolves, that should 
rightfully fear them. The adults don't seem to be all that concerned, 
not counting that Umbridge woman. Even Molly, who has kids, doesn't 
have a problem sharing a table with Lupin. Hell, she tries to play 
matchmaker for him.

What I'm trying to say, (not very well, I might add) is that Lanval 
has hit on something that doesn't add up, vis-a-vis Snape. Sure, he 
hates and distrusts Lupin for being a former Marauder. Yet, if the 
pensieve scene is any indication, Lupin wasn't much of a tormenter of 
Snape in their youth. That leaves the Prank as Snape's real basis for 
his boyhood grudge. And that would mean that it'a Lupin's werewolfism 
that serves as the basis for his hatred.

That puts himself in the company of Umbridge as the only other adult 
that seems to think that werewolves are sub-human. IOW, the rest of 
the WW seems to have figured out how to deal with this monthly 
problem, and there does not appear to be a rash of werewolf attacks 
(leaving Fenrir out of the equation). Yet Snape's words in the Shack 
hint that he agrees with Umbridge's legislation, werewolves 
aren't "tame", they can't be trusted to hold down a job amongst 
normal people. 


 
> Dungrollin:
> Snape is the ultimate ESE!Lupiner. He is *paranoid* about Lupin.
> 
> Magpie:
> Hee! Agreed.

Mike:
Excellent Dung!


> Magpie:
> Interesting to think that given that Snape's view of Lupin is so 
> emotional and paranoid <snip>
> The Prank, after all, was all about setting up Snape the way 
> Fenrir set up Remus. He may on some level just associate Lupin 
> with using his disease on others. It's not really rational to 
> think Lupin would intentionally not take his potion, but 
> Snape isn't always rational when his buttons are pressed.

Mike:
Yes, this is what I'm thinking. The Prank gave Snape an irrational 
fear of werewolves that has carried through to adulthood and morphed 
into a prejudice or bigotry against people who are afflicted with 
lycanthropy. It's not just Lupin the werewolf that Snape hates, it's 
the whole werewolf community that he despises. He has projected what 
happened to him as the benchmark for all werewolf behavior. And the 
sad part is that appears Lupin was not *in* on the Prank. We may find 
out different in DH.