How did I not recognise this? It's sitting there, staring me in the face! Once you see it, it is so obvious you're amazed you didn't notice it as soon as you read the seventh book.
Teddy Lupin is the next generation of the Harry Potter character.
Orphaned in the final battle against the Death Eaters, son of two of Voldemort's staunchest opponents, left to fend for himself in the magical world. With Harry Potter as his god father.
I have to credit Emily and Clare for opening my eyes to this fact this past Christmas. They pointed it out as we watched the extras to The Deathly Hallows, Part 2.
It's brilliant. And it speaks so much to how J.K. Rowling imagined her magical world continuing to develop, even after the end of Voldemort.
If the death of the Dark Lord represents the final defeat of the "pure blood" movement, then it also represents the beginning of the fight against other forms of oppression in the magical world, including the oppression of Goblins, House Elves, Centaurs and, yes, Werewolves.
Teddy Lupin represents that future.
It's interesting to note that there are at least three examples in the Harry Potter novels where Werewolves are allowed to join wizarding communities:
- Remus Lupin is, of course, the most famous example, welcomed by Albus Dumbledore to Hogwarts as a student and, later, as a teacher, befriended by James, Sirius and Peter while at school, a respected member of the Order of the Phoenix in both wars against darkness;
- Voldemort and his Death Eaters, the champions of the pure blood cause, include Fenrir Greyback in their army, although it is clear from the way Greyback is treated by Bellatrix at Malfoy Manor that the Werewolf is not seen as an equal; and
- I believe that there was a Werewolf guest at one of Slughorn's parties: Sanguini, wasn't it? Sorry, I don't have access to my books right now and the internet is not helpful on this score.
I think it would be very interesting if someone were to write a fairly serious novel following Teddy Lupin and the challenges he faces growing up in a society that is still not particularly tolerant of his racial background. It could be a real metaphor for the modes of oppression people currently face in our own society.
And, of course, in writing that book, the author could also have some fun with the idea that Teddy is really Harry, the next generation.
I can't remember a werewolf at Slughorn's party, Sanguini is a vampire. Also JK has said that Tonks and Remus dying are to show that families get ripped apart by war and children get orphaned. She was originally going to have Arthur Weasley die instead. Sorry if this is a bit a late, I felt like answering anyway. But I agree with you on the whole Teddy Lupin is Harry Potter of next gen.
ReplyDeleteFunny, isn't it: the name itself, Sanguini, should have reminded me that he's a vampire, not a werewolf. Thanks for reminding me. And no problem on the lateness of the comment -- my feeling is, these posts are there to be read at any time and, since Blogger keeps me posted on comments made on any blog entry, it's all good. Nice to hear from you, in fact!
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