More than Meets the Eye

            Werewolf stories have been around since the 12^th century. Most of them were written as warnings. They were stories that warned readers against breaking laws, following sexual urges, or disobeying religious texts. These stories were warnings about what could happen if we act upon primal urges and become the hunter instead of the hunted. Even though these horrific stories show the animal within escaping its human body confines, these stories often do show the downfall. At the very end, readers are reminded that the hunter will become the hunted. There will be penalties. There will be pain and suffering for disobedience. Werewolves will be destroyed.  What if, though, werewolves could be different? What if they could be gentile souls who want to live? What if werewolves were actually an allegory about people living with a crippling disease? With Remus Lupin, JK Rowling boldly presents these ideas within the Harry Potter series.

            It is true that werewolf stories were a means to explain the brutalities of night. What happens when chicken coops are destroyed at midnight? What happens when people are kidnapped from their beds while everyone else sleeps? What is making the horrific noises? What makes the scary shadows in the moonlight? Answers are needed. Answers aren’t always easy. In the darkness, there is unknown. In the darkness there is fear.

            Humans have tried to answer those questions for centuries. In fact, “[t]he earliest mention of a werewolf is in the Epic of Gilgamesh in c.2000 BC where, in tablet six, the goddess Ishtar is described as changing a shepherd into a wolf” (Suckling, 19). Humans had just barely started writing stories down. Saving the shepherd’s was deemed important. That surely means that werewolf stories were that important. Furthermore, in the 12^th century, Marie deFrance wrote,

A garewolf is a savage beast

While the fury’s on it at least

Eats men, wreaks evil, does no good

Loving and roaming in the deep wood

(Suckling, 7)

These creatures were feared. Knowing what to look for was important. These were tools to visualize fears and give cautious warnings to anyone listening. Authors of the time even wrote about ways to recognize werewolves. These facts included descriptions of how they could not cry, their short fingered, hairy hands, suspicious injuries, and an abhorrence of cooked meat and sunlight (Sucking, 10-11). They even warn that werewolves, when in human seem unusually pale and listless. These haggard beings lack energy so they can’t leave their bed for extended periods of time – even days.  Authors even discussed self-defense methods to protect homes and lives from werewolves.

The threat and fear of werewolves just kept escalating. In the 1400’s “it became considered heretical by the Church to deny the existence of werewolves” (Suckling, 41). Suckling went on to explain that “Trial records show that between 1520 and 1630 an estimated 30,000 people in France were accused of lycanthropy” (42). It is unclear whether or not people truly believed in werewolves. But, it seems they did not care. They just wanted to do something. They wanted to fight the darkness. It is interested to note that Fincelius, a historian, discussed how Constantinople was attacked by 150 werewolves; the Enperor and his gaud one if curious (Suckling, 46).

 The werewolf myth has impacted Rome’s history. In fact, there is a claim that werewolf twins Romulus and Remus founded Rome. Author Petronius explains that their father, Niciros, was also able to turn into a werewolf (Curran, 42). How is this possible? Petronius claims that he was speared and left for dead. A she-wolf found him and nursed Niciros back to health. In the process it is believed that she transferred some of her powers to him. Then he passes his abilities to the twins. There is also another story pertaining to Romulus, Remus, and the founding of Rome that states that they were the son of Mars, the Roman war god, and Rhea Silvia, who came from a strict cult banning childbearing (Curran, 42-43). After having the twins, she abandoned them in a swamp and a she-wolf found them. A farmer then found them, (but not before Remus and Romulus were given some of the she-wolf’s powers), and raised them as his own. At some point in their story, the local King died. Somehow this allows the whole country and the twins to learn the truth (Curran, 44). Without questioning the destiny of Remus and Romulus, the farmers want them found a city to rule. They do, but the story ends in tragedy. In one of their fits of frenzied anger, Romulus Killed Remus; Romulus continued to rule Rome until his death.

JK Rowling, however, is not interested in telling a horror of story. She wants to tell a story about an ill man. He’s a werewolf, but he’s also kind, loving, and gentle. He was a son, a friend, a husband, a warrior, and a father. In Rowling’s magical series werewolves were more than just brutal creatures out for blood. They are our friends, family, and neighbor. To be a werewolf is an allegory for living with a chronic disease. And life isn’t always hopeless.

Indeed the word werewolf can easily strike fear. It calls to mind images of gigantic wolves with glowing eyes and dripping fangs. It is true. Indeed, their descriptions are often terrifying. The following is a description by Crispin and O’Malley,

His hair was pale silver, dipping low on his forehead in a pronounced widow’s peak. No just thick, it was dense – like a pelt. Shaggy, white brows met over his narrow, hooked nose. The eyes gleaming beneath them were steel gray, ringed with black like mine. The werewolf was old, seventy at a guess, more than twice my age, but his eyes were bright… ageless.

 (136)

Yes, that is but one description, but similar words have appeared in other stories. There is something unsettling about those words. There is something hopeless about them, too.

Life can be as hopeless as a werewolf’s description. Life can be as scary of the thought of meeting such a creature. Sometimes we can’t handle real life. Sometimes we don’t know how to handle real life. It’s important to figure a way to get to a point to deal with everything. It can take some work, but “[o]nce we find our way in imaginary corridors, we're ready to encounter people who seem unreal but, on deeper reflection, are marvelously real” (Black, 543).

            When dealing with chronic disease, like AIDS, life is a daily challenge. It’s scary. There are so many unknowns. Prior to getting a diagnosis, patients may be aware that something is wrong and are desperate for answers. One would thing that obtaining a diagnosis would come as a relief. But it’s only the beginning. Post diagnosis leads to many issues (Ackley, Ladwig and Flynn Makic, 22). Those include disturbed body issues. These include fatigue (either from the disease process or decreased nutrition intake), psychological deficits (fear of death, disturbed body image, powerlessness, grief, homelessness, and low self-esteem), night sweats, fungal infections, anorexia, oral candidiasis, chronic pain, and impaired skin integrity are all issues that AIDS patients deal with.  Social isolation and spiritual distress are two other that can arise. It is a dreadful “disease caused by HIV, which destroys T cells, thereby increasing susceptibility to infection and malignancy” (Silvestri, 973). Clinically, it shows up as opportunistic infections and neoplasms and it can have a long incubation period (up to 10 years).  

While reckless behavior can lead to contracting the disease, it’s not always the case. Sometimes tragic mishaps cause AIDS. Even in the beginning, when most people thought intercourse and IV drug use were the only ways to contact the disease, there were some who challenged the idea. Even still this was a common warning given,

 Something we are doing is ticking off the time bomb that is causing the breakdown of immunity in certain bodies, an while it is true that we don’t know what it is specifically, isn’t it better to be caution until various causes have been discounted rather than reckless….?

(Giblin, 127)

Being prudent is wise. Being careful is wise. But it can be unwise to assume a narrow means of contraction.  Imagine being a child and getting the disease from an untested blood transfusion.

That happened to Ryan White. He then got harassed, ostracized, and treated like a pariah. His house got shot. He got into the middle of a lawsuit. His life got slapped with a restraining order preventing him from attending Western High School (Giblin, 164). Before his death, the restraining order was lifted, the lawsuit won, and  the town accepted him once more. Even Western’s janitor offered support by giving him this poem: We are sorry for your fight/ But for every day that you ate here/ We can see a little light (Giblin, 165) Ryan White died April 8, 1990. He was 18.

Getting such a diagnosis is terrifying. It’s hard to deal with such news. Escaping into a fantasy world would be helpful. Being told would change life for eternally. It must leave anyone feeling like an outsider. There must be fears of being ostracized. There might just be fear.  In those times of need you need hope and comfort. Harry Potter can offer that help. Indeed, there have been authors who saw Harry magic work to uplift. Black daftly explains it as such,

As I've watched friends - from 8- to 50- year-olds - come under the spell of the young wizard, I have noticed consistently that Potter books have a wonderful capacity to draw us in through the power of imagination. Then, paradoxically, just as we think we have escaped from the world, they help us find the power to live.

(540-541)

There are many areas of the Harry Potter series that could be hopeful. Remus Lupin is a good example. When Remus is introduced, it seems he is supposed to be understated and underestimated. He is described as such: “The stranger was wearing an extremely shabby set of 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” (Rowling 74). It’s clear he is sick. But he is more than an indisposed wizard riding the rails with Harry Potter and his friends. When dangers arises, he fights it off with ease and then tends to any injury before going to speak to the conductor so the attack will not happen again.

From then on, it is clear readers should not underestimate Remus Lupin. He is superb teacher and a good friend. His cold, distant demeanor warms considerable through the book.  Remus allows himself to trust, which is hard for him. He’s afraid to get close to others because of what he truly becomes. Sometimes he can’t see himself as a human.  

As a teacher, he is gentle and understanding. He works with students. He encourages them. He works with them so students can understand what to do as they find confidence in themselves. He does not mock his students no matter how silly their fears are. Not only does he push Neville through his fears enough to start the exercise, he gets Neville to finish. Remus truly believes in his students. For one of the first time in Neville’s schooling, he is told “Excellent, Neville. Well done everyone…. Let me see… five points to Gryffindor for every person to tackle the boggart – ten for Neville because he did it twice” (Rowling, 139).

He’s also quite intuitive and bold. When Harry asks why he wasn’t allowed to face a creature called boggart, Lupin explains that he thought that this boggart would turn into Voldemort (the man who killed Harry’s parents). After getting over the shock of hearing the name, Harry admits that was not his biggest terror. Dementors, the creatures they encountered on the train, are what Harry fear. Remus quickly admits his errors and even adds insights to Harry’s fears. In fact, he seems proud as he thoughtfully says, “I see… Well, well… I’m impressed.” He smiled slightly at the look of surprise on Harry’s face. “That suggests what you fear most of all is – fear. Very wise, Harry” (Rowling 155).  This is a true teaching moment.

He’s not perfect. He has a temper. He’s got a sarcastic bit of wit. He tends to butt heads with Severus Snape to the point of mocking him. This is but one example, “Mr. Moony presents his compliments to Professor Snape, and begs him to keep his abnormally large nose out of other people’s business” (Rowling, 287). In later books, he even runs away when he discovers his wife is pregnant because Remus fears he’s passed on his lycanthropy to his unborn child.

Even still, with his faults, he is a noble person. He is a loyal to a fault, like a wolf. He returns to his family. He helps his friends, even if it means scarifying himself. He pushes through anything to get the truth out. That perhaps is his downfall – was his downfall. He fought until the very end. He went to war even though he knew he could lose his life. This in turn brought his wife, Nymphadora Tonks, into the final battle. Willingly, he went to the front lines.  This, in turn caused his wife to come searching for him. This, in turn led o one of the most heartbreaking descriptions in the series, Remus and Tonks, pale and still and peaceful-looking, apparently asleep beneath the dark, enchanted ceiling (Rowling, 661).

He became a hero. He broke barriers. He caused change to happen. He helped other see past this description by Newt Scamander, “Once a months, at the full moon, the otherwise sane and normal wizard or Muggle afflicted transforms into a murderous beast. Almost uniquely among fantastic creatures, the werewolf actively seeks humans in preference to any other kind of prey” (Scamander, 41-42).  Remus Lupin is the epitome of hope.

            Life is scary. Life with a debilitating illness is terrifying. One might wonder how to make it through. One might wonder if it is possible to make it through. Reading about Remus Lupin and his escapades can help. It is not be a cure, but it can give some relief. It can give hope. Hope is a very powerful thing.

Works Cited

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