How poor is poor Remus Lupin?
Title: How poor is poor Remus Lupin and how innocent was Sirius Black?
Spoilers: Prisoner of Azkaban
Summary: This is a multi part (2-3) piece. The first one is an introduction to how Remus Lupin was portrayed in “Prisoner of Azkaban”. And how the reader was emotionally tricked into sympathizing with him.
A/N: No beta, No editor, No friend, No co-author.
Be gentle :)
*****************************
THEORY
How poor is poor REmus Lupin and how innocent was Sirius Black?
Hello!
This is a multi part (2-3) piece. The first one is an introduction to how Remus Lupin was portrayed in “Prisoner of Azkaban”. And how the reader was emotionally tricked into sympathizing with him.
You will not find any discussions of Lupin and his actions in books5 and 6/OotP & HBP; because I was hoping that what is discussed below should help you to see his character differently than what it is generally perceived in those books. And hopefully, THAT is what your comments will also discuss (e.g. Sirius’s use of Lupin, Lupin as a prefect, Lupin and Sirius after the ‘trick’…etc.)
Part (1)
Character: Remus Lupin
Book: Prisoner of Azkaban
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Facts/Evidence:
The first time we ever encounter Lupin is on the Hogwarts Express. He is described as: “The stranger was wearing an extremely shabby set off wizard’s robes that had been darned in several places. He looked ill and exhausted. Though quite young, his light brown hair was flecked with gray” (P.74)
Notice the careful choice of wording that are meant to make the reader sympathize with this stranger:
1. The wearing of shabby darned robes; which indicates he is very poor
2. Looking ill and exhausted.
3. Quite young with graying hair.
Such a romantic presentation. Who is heartless enough not to feel sorry for the poor, ill, pre-maturely graying wizard?
Heartless people that’s who!
Then, the stranger comes to the rescue during the Dementors’ attack on the train, and is successful and offers chocolates and encouragements with a smile.
In (P93)
“Professor Snape, the Potions master, was staring along the staff table at Professor Lupin….,but even Harry, who hated Snape, was startled at the expression twisting his thin, sallow face….it was loathing…..it was the same look Snape wore every time he set eyes on Harry”
So, Nasty Snape does not like Kind Lupin.
His encounter with the annoying Peeves, and his triumph in getting rid of him (P131) gave him new admirers. He is also a good teacher liked by his students; he even tutored and counseled Harry.
The boggart in the wardrobe incident (P137)
This should give you an idea of what sort of ‘relationship’ Lupin and Snape share. After knowing the information mentioned in the books and about the history of those two, the questions which keep popping up are:
* How wise is it to antagonize someone (a colleague) who is preparing your ‘special potion’ and bringing it himself to you? Who had also never shown his contempt to you in front of students or had he made fun of you? Who was the target of your group’s bulling when you were in school together?
What was Lupin thinking? That because his friends were dead he had the obligation in holding the banner and humiliating Snape?
• Neville’s confidence could have been boosted by any other mean if Lupin were so inclined. Besides, did Lupin ever stop and think of the consequences of his actions and how they would backfire on Neville himself? Or did he even care?
A/N: notice that when Snape brought the potion to Lupin after the boggart thingy, he didn’t smirk or insult or made a face or any of whatever people have come to associate with Snape’s expression and disdain towards Lupin, on the contrary Snape was very accommodating. In fact they both were civil towards each other (P156)
Also,
There are the facts that Lupin kept quite about Black (a believed murderer going after Harry) is an unregistered Animagus and knows many secret ways into Hogwarts. In fact, his silence if Black was truly as it was believed to be; would have led to the murder of Harry and maybe other students. The question is why did he?
Was it because of some misguided/twisted sense of loyalty he felt towards Black? If that so, then why did he believe without question in Black’s guilt? Or was he afraid of Black? Again why would he be? Black can’t expose him without exposing himself.
If it was loyalty then the Sorting Hat can be easily persuaded to change the sorting if the student asked it to (it worked for Harry, and Ravenclaw was suggested for Hermione who actually preferred Gryffindor), Lupin should have been a Hufelpuff; after all they are the loyal house.
• Totally unrelated but did you notice that most of that house have students of Muggle background? Makes you wonder about the loyalties of wizards doesn’t it?
A/N2: The Trick that Sirius Black played on Snape will be discussed in a later part if enough people want to go through that again. (Please don’t)
Notice in (P423) How Lupin ‘justifies’ Snape’s reason in forcing him to leave “That was the final straw for Severus. I think the loss of the Order of Merlin hit him hard. So he-er-accidentally let slip that I am a werewolf this morning at breakfast”
Was it really the loss of the Order of Merlin that drove Snape over the edge? It does sound that Lupin was working-and very successfully too-in diverting the blame towards another. Notice how he conveniently left out that the whole situation might not have occurred if he took his potion, or if he remembered not to stay outdoors during the full moon. I mean, come on people he’s been a werewolf for most of his life; ‘the spur of the moment’ or ‘the urgency of the situation’ excuses are totally unacceptable and worse than the fault itself (He could have told Dumbledore if he chose to).
Still he goes on with “…They will not want a werewolf teaching their children, Harry. And after last night, I see their point” (P423)
And after last night, I see their point? ONLY after last night did he see the point? Didn’t he see or doubt before when he was allowing a murderer to roam free? Where was his conscience then, his guilt? Oh. Yes. He was fighting it! “I have been battling with myself, wondering whether I should tell Dumbledore that Sirius was an Animagus” (P356)
How could he forget his potion? It is very likely that Snape brought it at a regular hour! And “I did not think” excuse is not acceptable from an adult, and definitely not from a werewolf.
Finally
Why does Lupin call Snape by his first name? He calls him Severus too often. Don’t you think?
So. How poor is poor Remus Lupin?
You decide, and let me know.
Spoilers: Prisoner of Azkaban
Summary: This is a multi part (2-3) piece. The first one is an introduction to how Remus Lupin was portrayed in “Prisoner of Azkaban”. And how the reader was emotionally tricked into sympathizing with him.
A/N: No beta, No editor, No friend, No co-author.
Be gentle :)
*****************************
THEORY
How poor is poor REmus Lupin and how innocent was Sirius Black?
Hello!
This is a multi part (2-3) piece. The first one is an introduction to how Remus Lupin was portrayed in “Prisoner of Azkaban”. And how the reader was emotionally tricked into sympathizing with him.
You will not find any discussions of Lupin and his actions in books5 and 6/OotP & HBP; because I was hoping that what is discussed below should help you to see his character differently than what it is generally perceived in those books. And hopefully, THAT is what your comments will also discuss (e.g. Sirius’s use of Lupin, Lupin as a prefect, Lupin and Sirius after the ‘trick’…etc.)
Part (1)
Character: Remus Lupin
Book: Prisoner of Azkaban
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Facts/Evidence:
The first time we ever encounter Lupin is on the Hogwarts Express. He is described as: “The stranger was wearing an extremely shabby set off wizard’s robes that had been darned in several places. He looked ill and exhausted. Though quite young, his light brown hair was flecked with gray” (P.74)
Notice the careful choice of wording that are meant to make the reader sympathize with this stranger:
1. The wearing of shabby darned robes; which indicates he is very poor
2. Looking ill and exhausted.
3. Quite young with graying hair.
Such a romantic presentation. Who is heartless enough not to feel sorry for the poor, ill, pre-maturely graying wizard?
Heartless people that’s who!
Then, the stranger comes to the rescue during the Dementors’ attack on the train, and is successful and offers chocolates and encouragements with a smile.
In (P93)
“Professor Snape, the Potions master, was staring along the staff table at Professor Lupin….,but even Harry, who hated Snape, was startled at the expression twisting his thin, sallow face….it was loathing…..it was the same look Snape wore every time he set eyes on Harry”
So, Nasty Snape does not like Kind Lupin.
His encounter with the annoying Peeves, and his triumph in getting rid of him (P131) gave him new admirers. He is also a good teacher liked by his students; he even tutored and counseled Harry.
The boggart in the wardrobe incident (P137)
This should give you an idea of what sort of ‘relationship’ Lupin and Snape share. After knowing the information mentioned in the books and about the history of those two, the questions which keep popping up are:
* How wise is it to antagonize someone (a colleague) who is preparing your ‘special potion’ and bringing it himself to you? Who had also never shown his contempt to you in front of students or had he made fun of you? Who was the target of your group’s bulling when you were in school together?
What was Lupin thinking? That because his friends were dead he had the obligation in holding the banner and humiliating Snape?
• Neville’s confidence could have been boosted by any other mean if Lupin were so inclined. Besides, did Lupin ever stop and think of the consequences of his actions and how they would backfire on Neville himself? Or did he even care?
A/N: notice that when Snape brought the potion to Lupin after the boggart thingy, he didn’t smirk or insult or made a face or any of whatever people have come to associate with Snape’s expression and disdain towards Lupin, on the contrary Snape was very accommodating. In fact they both were civil towards each other (P156)
Also,
There are the facts that Lupin kept quite about Black (a believed murderer going after Harry) is an unregistered Animagus and knows many secret ways into Hogwarts. In fact, his silence if Black was truly as it was believed to be; would have led to the murder of Harry and maybe other students. The question is why did he?
Was it because of some misguided/twisted sense of loyalty he felt towards Black? If that so, then why did he believe without question in Black’s guilt? Or was he afraid of Black? Again why would he be? Black can’t expose him without exposing himself.
If it was loyalty then the Sorting Hat can be easily persuaded to change the sorting if the student asked it to (it worked for Harry, and Ravenclaw was suggested for Hermione who actually preferred Gryffindor), Lupin should have been a Hufelpuff; after all they are the loyal house.
• Totally unrelated but did you notice that most of that house have students of Muggle background? Makes you wonder about the loyalties of wizards doesn’t it?
A/N2: The Trick that Sirius Black played on Snape will be discussed in a later part if enough people want to go through that again. (Please don’t)
Notice in (P423) How Lupin ‘justifies’ Snape’s reason in forcing him to leave “That was the final straw for Severus. I think the loss of the Order of Merlin hit him hard. So he-er-accidentally let slip that I am a werewolf this morning at breakfast”
Was it really the loss of the Order of Merlin that drove Snape over the edge? It does sound that Lupin was working-and very successfully too-in diverting the blame towards another. Notice how he conveniently left out that the whole situation might not have occurred if he took his potion, or if he remembered not to stay outdoors during the full moon. I mean, come on people he’s been a werewolf for most of his life; ‘the spur of the moment’ or ‘the urgency of the situation’ excuses are totally unacceptable and worse than the fault itself (He could have told Dumbledore if he chose to).
Still he goes on with “…They will not want a werewolf teaching their children, Harry. And after last night, I see their point” (P423)
And after last night, I see their point? ONLY after last night did he see the point? Didn’t he see or doubt before when he was allowing a murderer to roam free? Where was his conscience then, his guilt? Oh. Yes. He was fighting it! “I have been battling with myself, wondering whether I should tell Dumbledore that Sirius was an Animagus” (P356)
How could he forget his potion? It is very likely that Snape brought it at a regular hour! And “I did not think” excuse is not acceptable from an adult, and definitely not from a werewolf.
Finally
Why does Lupin call Snape by his first name? He calls him Severus too often. Don’t you think?
So. How poor is poor Remus Lupin?
You decide, and let me know.