Any thoughts on the significance of Harry acting the part of a werewolf?
I'm wondering if it's some sort of symbolism for Harry and his own inner demons--a way of JKR comparing Harry to werewolves. Lupin, for example, literally transforms into his demon, but Harry's inner demons are more subtle. For instance, Harry took on some of Voldemort's powers when he was attacked the first time, and Harry questions who he is throughout CoS because of almost being put in Slytherin. He is just finding out he can speak Parseltongue as well, and people are accusing him of being the Heir of Slytherin. Harry really starts wondering here if he is bad or if he could turn evil, since the Sorting Hat thought so (according to him).
Obviously, there's also the tie to PoA because that's where Harry's relationship to Voldemort evolves even more. We already know he's angry and sad that his parents were killed, but it becomes even more personal with Sirius on the loose, and then later on hearing that Sirius suspected Lupin, the werewolf. I'm sure others have thought of this, although I've never seen it brought up, but I think Lupin's being a werewolf factored into Sirius thinking Lupin was the traitor (and not just the fact that no one thought it was Peter). Voldemort would want dark creatures to help him so why not try to manipulate some into helping him? Knowing that Lupin is a werewolf might have affected his thoughts on that.
Going back to CoS then, until Harry (and we the readers) come to know Lupin, we think werewolves are bad. They're regular people who transform and do bad things, but who knows if they even remember hurting people in their werewolf state? Harry questioning if he is the Heir of Slyterin is very similar to that--did he do something that he wasn't aware of? And then we get it again when it's revealed it was Ginny who did everything but was not aware of it.
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Date: 2004-10-20 06:38 pm (UTC)I'm wondering if it's some sort of symbolism for Harry and his own inner demons--a way of JKR comparing Harry to werewolves. Lupin, for example, literally transforms into his demon, but Harry's inner demons are more subtle. For instance, Harry took on some of Voldemort's powers when he was attacked the first time, and Harry questions who he is throughout CoS because of almost being put in Slytherin. He is just finding out he can speak Parseltongue as well, and people are accusing him of being the Heir of Slytherin. Harry really starts wondering here if he is bad or if he could turn evil, since the Sorting Hat thought so (according to him).
Obviously, there's also the tie to PoA because that's where Harry's relationship to Voldemort evolves even more. We already know he's angry and sad that his parents were killed, but it becomes even more personal with Sirius on the loose, and then later on hearing that Sirius suspected Lupin, the werewolf. I'm sure others have thought of this, although I've never seen it brought up, but I think Lupin's being a werewolf factored into Sirius thinking Lupin was the traitor (and not just the fact that no one thought it was Peter). Voldemort would want dark creatures to help him so why not try to manipulate some into helping him? Knowing that Lupin is a werewolf might have affected his thoughts on that.
Going back to CoS then, until Harry (and we the readers) come to know Lupin, we think werewolves are bad. They're regular people who transform and do bad things, but who knows if they even remember hurting people in their werewolf state? Harry questioning if he is the Heir of Slyterin is very similar to that--did he do something that he wasn't aware of? And then we get it again when it's revealed it was Ginny who did everything but was not aware of it.