[HPforGrownups] lupin's motives (was Depression (was Re: DH reread CH 31

[Quidditch.Master]

No: HPFGUIDX 187501


Sherry:

But now to Lupin.  I don't think that Lupin was truly considering his child it all in DH when he goes to Harry saying he wants to tag along.  I had always liked Lupin in the series before, though I wanted to shake him a bit for not stepping in and becoming more of a friend or parental figure to Harry.  However, after that scene in DH, I despised him and my whole view of him as a character was changed forever.  It's affected my reading of him in earlier books, even POA, more than DH affects my enjoyment of other characters in earlier books, like DD.  Lupin spoke out of cowardice and shame.  Instead of accepting who and what he was, and trying to be a good husband and father--nobody twisted his arm or used a love potion on him--he wants to run away like the chicken he is!  It really pushes my buttons big
time.

quidditchmaster:

I had never thought too long or too much about Remus except to also wanting to shake him up and stepping up as a parental figure to Harry, but you make an excellent point and it got me thinking: maybe the knowledge of Remus' cowardice and acceptance of failure was what got James and Sirius thinking that he might be the one snitching on the Order the first time around? True that Voldemort is against half-breeds but he works with Fenrir to an extent and doesn't seem like a guy who would dismiss yet another werewolf working for his cause, especially one with the contacts Lupin had.

Sherry:

He's always been the series metaphor for disability to me, and as a person with a disability myself, I can sympathize with his fear and concern; I can sympathize with the problems his disability causes him, but I can't sympathize or respect him for wanting to run away from the people who love him, and from his responsibilities.  To me, Lupin is another example of bad fathering, another JKR dig at fathers in general.  She doesn't pain them too well in her series, except for Mr. Weasley.

quidditchmaster:

And James. It is true that we never saw first handed the kind of parent James was, but he did die to save his family. Maybe this is another wishful thinking on JKR's part: a father who died can't be a bad father. We do hear that James wasn't exactly a saint, but no one ever said a word about his fathering.

I agree with Sherry on the take on Lupin. He is the guy who thinks his family would be better off without him so he bails (tries to get himself killed, more likely). Just like Marvolo is the scary dad who bullies his daughter. And Vernon is the guy who can't teach his son the difference between right and wrong and how to go about things in life.


      

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