For several years, since the publication of JK Rowling’s extensive work on her magical novels of Harry Potterthe plot and characters have sparked countless theories about the wizarding world. But one of the most significant twists that tipped the pot of Harry Potter Fandom turned out to be a theory about Remus Lupin’s werewolf condition.
The theory from Harry Potter Fans imagined that Remus Lupin’s illness might be a metaphor for stigmatized diseases like HIV and AIDS. However, tired of people recycling findings, JK Rowling addressed this particular claim, revealing that this “revelation” is less groundbreaking than it seems.
Fans believe that Remus Lupin’s illness was a metaphor for AIDS
Given the great variety of literary metaphors and the underlying subtleties in the Harry Potter With novels, fans have often tried to look behind the scenes and come up with never-before-seen theories and brilliant twists. But most have failed to uncover brand new details, ultimately leading to people recycling ancient knowledge and creating new theories out of it.
Once, this particular trend of recycling information caught the attention of JK Rowling after Harry Potter Fans thought Remus Lupin’s werewolf affliction was a metaphor, a “new” fan theory. Apparently, fans were trying to portray the well-known metaphor as a brand new theory in order to fuel the fandom and get Rowling’s attention.
When the theory caught the attention of JK Rowling, the author published an e-book (via The Independent) to discuss Lupin’s condition and the prejudices associated with it. In the book, published on September 6, 2016, Rowling elaborated on the concept that the wizarding community, much like the Muggle world, harbored its own form of hysteria and prejudice, which was exemplified by Lupin’s condition.
Blood-borne diseases seem to be associated with all sorts of superstitions, probably due to the taboos surrounding blood itself. The wizarding community is just as prone to hysteria and prejudice as the Muggle community, and the character of Lupin gave me an opportunity to explore these attitudes.
JK Rowling used her books as a platform to explore societal attitudes, educating her fans about how she used Remus Lupin’s werewolf condition to reflect stigmatized ailments such as HIV and AIDS.
JK Rowling clarifies old theory about Remus Lupin’s condition
However, after the release of her e-book, JK Rowling immediately clarified that this was not the new insight into Remus Lupin’s suffering that many had suggested. In her view, the idea that Lupin’s werewolf condition symbolized broader societal stigmas is not a new concept, but rather a reiteration of points she had made in interviews years ago.
The author highlighted the interesting phenomenon of fan culture, whereby old insights often resurface and are perceived as new revelations. JK Rowling’s recent comments also reminded us that the themes of her work are complex and have long been subject to different interpretations.
So it seems that the theory that Remus Lupin’s werewolf condition serves as a metaphor for stigmatized suffering is quite true. But the fact that fans presented it as “new” revelations is not the truth. This has been refuted by JK Rowling, claiming that the findings were merely recycled interpretations from interviews she gave 17 years ago.
Harry Potter Movies are currently available to watch on Max.
