Lupin & passive-aggressiveness Re: Werewolves and RL equivalents/ some Sirius

[lizzyben04]

No: HPFGUIDX 170439

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "dumbledore11214"
<dumbledore11214 at ...> wrote:
>
> > lizzyben:
> >
> > I agree that Lupin had no *reason* to resent taking the potion, but
> > he does. People aren't always reasonable or rational. I think that
> > consciously, Lupin acknowledges that the
> > potion helped him, and he is grateful to Snape for supplying it. He
> > also know that that the potion allows him to transform safely, it
> > saves him pain, and ensures the safety of others. So, really, Lupin
> > should be down on his knees thanking Snape... Snape, the jerk, the
> > taunter, the enemy who never loses a moment to insult Lupin, to
> > refer to his illness in public, to enjoy his new power over Lupin,
> > to triumph in how the tables have turned.
> ><SNIP>
>
> Alla:
>
> From JKR's website:
>
> Section: Rumours
> Lupin will come back as DADA teacher
> Alas, no. Lupin's exposure as a werewolf did irreparable damage to
> his prospects for a career in teaching, and with the likes of Fenrir
> Greyback out there, werewolves are unlikely to receive a good press
> any time soon.
>
> Alla:
>
> Hmmm, somehow I am not sure JKR means for Lupin to be all **that**
> grateful to Snape. IMO of course.

lizzyben:

Yes, but I'm sort of portraying this from Lupin's POV. Snape does save
people, often, but he's such a jerk about it that it seems almost
guaranteed to inspire resentment instead (as in POA, Snape talks about
how Harry should "thank him on bended knee," etc.) Lupin knows he
should be grateful for the potion, but can't help resenting that he
must rely on SNAPE, must thank SNAPE, while Snape sneers.  This power
play sets up Lupin's passive-aggressive behavior.

Alla:
> I think Lupin was more than grateful to the person who
> did "irrepparable damage" to his career in teaching, much more than
> that person deserved for making a potion as far as I am concerned on
> Dumbledore's orders.

lizzyben:

Eh. DD protected Hagrid in spite of the Skeeter article, protected Snape
in spite of his unpopularity. DD would keep Lupin if he wanted to - the
fact is that DD no longer wanted Lupin to teach at Hogwarts, so he
either fired Lupin or accepted his resignation. This IMO has less to do
w/Lupin's lycanthropy & more to do w/Lupin's lies to him & failure
follow his instructions.  Adults already knew Lupin was a werewolf,
which is why his career suffered "irreparable damage" BEFORE he came to
Hogwarts. He couldn't find a job before, or after. It's a shame, but it
seems like Lupin's lycanthropy wasn't a secret to anyone but the
students.

Alla:

> Yes, I am just speculating, but I am having lots of doubts that Snape
> would have volunteered to help a person against whose appointment he
> worked so hard.

lizzyben:

Oh no, he totally did it on DD's orders. DD probably also ordered Snape
to ensure that Lupin drank the potion immediately. Snape will argue
stridently w/DD, but will comply with DD's orders. He also takes a lot
of pride in his position as "Potions Master," and would try to do the
job right.  Finally, he knows the danger a werewolf can pose, and wants
to make sure students are not endangered.

Alla:
> As to the rest of your post, I want to second Lanval. Could we have
> some canon support? I mean, totally valid speculation of course IMO,
> but I see no reason to view it as anything stronger than that.

lizzyben:

Well, everyone here knows the canon & knows the basic events of the
novel. I'm proposing a psychological theory that explains Lupin's
actions. This is based not only on the canon, but also on what we can
analyze about Lupin's behavior.

Here's the definition of "passive-aggressive behavior," ripped off of
Wikipedia:

"Passive-aggressive behavior refers to passive, sometimes obstructionist
resistance to following authoritative instructions in interpersonal or
occupational situations. It can manifest itself as resentment,
stubbornness, procrastination, sullenness, or repeated failure to
accomplish requested tasks for which one is assumed, often explicitly,
to be responsible. It is a defensive posture and, more often than not,
only partly conscious. For example, people who are passive-aggressive
might take so long to get ready for a party they do not wish to attend,
that the party is nearly over by the time they arrive."

Who does this sound like? Lupin. So when Snape authoritatively tells
Lupin to drink his potion, Lupin procrastinates, stubbornly refuses to
do it, and fails to accomplish his task. Repeatedly. First he
procrastinates in front of Harry, then he "forgets" to take the potion
altogether. And this echos Lupin's past w/the Marauders - DD
authoritatively instructed Lupin to remain in the Shack during his
transformation, and Lupin fails to follow that request as well. This is
a pattern for Lupin.

And this definition also reflects something I said earlier - this
behavior is only "partly conscious." Lupin doesn't KNOW why he keeps
resisting his potion; it just keeps "slipping his mind." Like the
example of someone who doesn't want to go to a party, so forgets or
delays getting ready. Lupin forgets or delays taking the potion because
he subconsciously resents having to take it at all. He can't let out his
anger & resentment consciously, so it simmers in his subconscious &
prompts him to do some irresponsible things. The person who
passively-aggressively "forgets" the party accomplishes her goal - she
doesn't have to go, but won't be blamed by the hostess for not showing
up.  I submit that Lupin's "forgetfulness" accomplishes a goal as well -
he punishes Snape for forcing the potion on him, causes Snape to fail in
his duty, lowers DD's opinion of Snape, punishes the Wizarding World for
hating him, and most of all, Lupin punishes himself for not telling the
truth about Black.

I don't think Lupin consciously intended to hurt people - but IMO he DID
subconsciously decide not to take the potion as a way of expressing his
self-hatred, anger & resentment. Lupin is NOT RELIABLE because he will
passive-aggressively subvert & fail in the responsibilities he is given.
And the worst part is, since this behavior is only "partly conscious",
Lupin doesn't know why he does this, or how he can stop from doing it
again. Given the same circumstances, I could easily see Lupin
"forgetting" the Wolfsbane potion yet again. I wouldn't trust him to be
able to protect himself or his students from his werewolf form.

I'm attaching the list of "passive-aggressive" signs along w/Lupin
examples


"There are certain signs that help identify passive-aggressive behavior:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passive-aggressive_behavior#_note-Wetzler>

    * Ambiguity  ("I neither like nor dislike....")
    * Avoiding responsibility by claiming forgetfulness  ("forgetting"
Wolfsbane potion)

    * Blaming others  ("Snape told the kids, it's his fault I'm
leaving.")

    * Chronic lateness and forgetfulness (enters DADA late)

    * Complaining (""I've been underground, living among my fellows, my
equals. Werewolves... I am not complaining".)

    * Does not express hostility or anger openly (Classic Lupin niceness)

    * Fear of authority (Dumbledore's opinion)

    * Fear of dependency (Distancing from friends & the Order, on his own
for 12 years)

    * Fear of intimacy (Rejecting Tonks, distancing from Harry)

    * Making excuses and lying (Lupin lies often in POA & makes excuses
for the Marauders)

    * Obstructionism (Sabatoges DD's plan for his confinement in the
Shrieking Shack)

    * Procrastination ("I'll drink it later")

    * Resentment (My speculation is that Lupin resents being controlled)

    * Resists suggestions from others (Molly's nagging, Snape's nagging,
Tonk's nagging etc.)

OK, how many times do we see Lupin engage in this kind of behavior?
OFTEN. Lupin is the classic passive-aggressive, IMO, and after POA, we
continue to see him engage in the same type of behavior. Lupin is a
"nice guy", but he can't be trusted because of his tendency to sabotage
the very people & causes he claims to be working for.

lizzyben



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