As for the upcoming second installment of the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, I did a deep dive into a few of these magical creatures. In this post, I have taken a closer look at the werewolf.
The werewolf in Harry Potter books
Appearance and characteristics
Harry’s schoolbook FANTASTIC BEASTS & WHERE TO FIND THEM says that the werewolf is found worldwide, but it is believed to have originated in northern Europe. Humans only become werewolves when bitten by a werewolf. The following statements refer to the werewolf in its transformed state. When there is no full moon, the werewolf is as harmless as any other human being. But when the person morphs into a werewolf, he loses control and becomes dangerous even to his friends and family.1
The outward appearance of the werewolf differs from the true wolf only in several small ways. The snout shape, the pupil of the eyes, and the tufted tail are some of them.2
Types
In the Harry Potter books, two different types of werewolves can be found. One on the good side in the person of Remus John Lupin and one on the dark side in the person of Fenrir Greyback.
Fenrir Greyback
The first name Fenrir may have been chosen by the author about Fenrir, the monstrous wolf in Norse mythology.3 Greyback represents the typical stereotype of a werewolf. He is blood-thirsty and cruel. Lupin says about him:
“Fenrir Greyback is, perhaps, the most savage werewolf alive today. He regards it as his mission in life to bite and contaminate as many people as possible. He wants to create enough werewolves to overcome the wizards.”3
He is Voldemort’s follower because he wants to get the prey the Dark Lord has promised him in return for his services – a lot of victims for his brutal passion. Fenrir Greyback is the only werewolf who also bites people when he is in his human shape.
He insists that werewolves deserve blood and that they ought to revenge themselves on ordinary people.3 Therefore, Voldemort often threatens to unleash Greyback upon people’s sons and daughters. As the evil werewolf always follows his plans, he is the right one to marshal the werewolves for the Dark Lord.3
Remus John Lupin
One of Greyback’s victims is Remus John Lupin, whose father has offended the werewolf, so he takes cruel revenge.3 Like Fenrir Greyback’s name Lupin’s name is also an aptronym6. In Roman mythology, Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, have been fed with wolf’s milk4 , so they get wolf’s skills. The surname Lupin derives from the Latin word lupus and means wolf4. Unlike Greyback, Lupin tries to be part of the wizard community, although he sometimes doubts his position in the world. Lupin suffers from being different. His werewolf identity means that he endures not only physical sufferings – “It is excruciating to turn into a werewolf.”3 – but he has psychological problems as well. Lupin always fears losing his friends should they discover his secrets. Luckily, his best friends James Potter and Sirius Black do not care about it but even try to accompany him during the time of transformation. James calls it his “furry little problem” in company3 to trivialize his friend’s difficult situation. Lupin’s nickname is “Moony,” which is also an allusion to his werewolf identity.
At his time in Hogwarts, before the discovery of the Wolfsbane Potion, Lupin always goes to the Shrieking Shack at full moon to transform there:
“There was a terrible snarling noise. Lupin’s head was lengthening. So was his body. His shoulders were hunching. Hair was sprouting visibly on his face and hands, which were curling into clawed paws.“5
As he does not want anybody to see him in his wolf’s shape and does not want to hurt anybody, he seeks refuge in the shack.5 The hut and the tunnel leading there have been built just for him according to Dumbledore’s wish.
“I was separated from humans to bite, so I bit and scratched myself instead.”5
Apart from his transformation problem, the time at Hogwarts is the best for him in his life because he makes good friends there.
As a member of the Order of the Phoenix, he gets to know Tonks. She falls in love with Remus. He thinks that he should not have a family as a werewolf, but Tonks argues: ”I don’t care!”3. Lupin, again and again, tells her: “I am too old for you, too poor … too dangerous …“3, although he loves her too. She thinks that his arguments are ridiculous, and they finally marry, but when it turns out that Tonks is going to have a baby Remus regrets the marriage:
“’ I – I made a grave mistake in marrying Tonks. I did it against my better judgment, and I have regretted it very much ever since.’”6
… because …”’ I’ve made her an outcast.’”6 And to Harry he says:
“You don’t know how most of the wizarding world sees creatures like me! When they know of my affliction, they can barely talk to me! Don’t you see what I’ve done? Even her [Tonks’] family is disgusted by our marriage”6
These statements clearly show the affliction in Remus’ life and how it nearly forces him to destroy his love and family. Remus, who is not a “normal” werewolf, tends to act very responsible. Only when he is filled with anger or feels cornered Harry can see “the shadow of the wolf upon his human face.”6
In a very heated discussion, Harry convinces Remus to stick to his pregnant wife Tonks, but unfortunately, the werewolf dies when defending Hogwarts. He is very sorry that he will never know his son. The Resurrection Stone7 allows him to leave some last words for Ted:
“… he will know why I died, and I hope he will understand I was trying to make a world in which he could live a happier life.”6
Remus John Lupin’s last words prove that he is an outstanding representative of his kind, and he is the one who can change the werewolf’s evil reputation.
Important action for the plot
First appearance
Harry, Ron, and Hermione first meet a werewolf in his human shape on their journey to Hogwarts. His name is Remus John Lupin. They do not know that he is a werewolf, but they recognize that he is an excellent wizard because he can drive the Dementors out of the train compartment.5 The students suppose that he is the new teacher for Defence Against the Dark Arts, and later on, it turns out that they are right.
Lupin, the werewolf
At the end of the third school year, Harry, Ron, and Hermione meet the classmates and friends of Harry’s father at the Shrieking Shack8. There they find out that Sirius Black was not the Potters’ Secret–Keeper and therefore did not betray Harry’s parents. Sirius himself discovered where the traitor lives and escaped from the prison of Azkaban to catch him in order to clear himself of all suspicion. Peter Pettigrew is the guilty person. He was believed to be dead but lived as the Weasley’s pet rat Scabbers for thirteen years.
When Remus Lupin sees Peter Pettigrew’s name on the Marauder’s Map, he also knows the truth because the Marauder’s map never lies and shows that Peter is still alive.
Harry prevents Black and Lupin from killing Pettigrew, and he persuades them to take him to Hogwarts. On the way to the castle, the whole plan fails. Professor Lupin transforms into a werewolf because he has forgotten to take his Wolfsbane Potion on this busy day. Now Pettigrew gets the chance to escape by turning into a rat again. Sirius Black, an animagus9 as well, turns into a bearlike black dog. He tries to protect Harry and his friends by fighting against Lupin, the scary werewolf. Sirius Black gets wounded and encircled by Dementors, and Lupin flees into the Forbidden Forest and appears as a human being the next day.
Fenrir Greyback – a werewolf on the “Dark Side”
In Harry’s sixth year at Hogwarts, another werewolf appears in the castle. His name is Fenrir Greyback, and he is really evil. Unlike the other werewolves, he attacks people even in his human shape. He is allowed to wear the robe of the Death Eaters, and together with some other Death Eaters, he gains access to the castle with the help of Draco Malfoy. Their common goal is to kill Albus Dumbledore. They get into conflict with members of the Order of the Phoenix and members of the DA. Fenrir Greyback attacks Bill Weasley in human shape and scratches his face. Bill survives the attack, but his face will never look like before:
“’ No charm will work on these,‘ said Madam Pomfrey. ’I’ve tried everything I know, but there is no cure for werewolf bites.’”3
Nobody, even Lupin, knows what further consequences this bite will have for the oldest of the Weasley brothers. It turns out later that Bill prefers his meat bloody ever since he has been attacked by Greyback.6
Werewolves in the Final Battle
In the final battle of Hogwarts, Greyback (and the werewolf community) supports Lord Voldemort in human shape (because otherwise, they would not be able to control themselves). In the course of the fight, Greyback attacks Lavender Brown. Hermione gets him away from Lavender, and Professor Trelawney throws a crystal ball to his head.6
Ron Weasley and Neville Longbottom later bring him down.6 Lupin fights and finally dies for he believes and for a better world.6 (cf. HP7, 531)
Other sources
The transformation into a werewolf
The werewolf, also known as a lycanthrope,7 is a very much living creature in contrast to the vampire. According to legend, a werewolf is a person who has been changed into a wolf or a beast with a lupine form.
“In some cases, people transform themselves into werewolves, but in other cases, someone else brings about the transformation.”8
Often they need some specific agency to transform, such as an ointment, a belt, or a garment. A werewolf is usually more prominent and more powerful than a wolf, and he has a strong and uncontrollable want for human flesh.8
Lycanthropa – the werewolf’s roots?
As the werewolf has a great popular appeal today, some people think that this wolf-like creature is a creation of cinema, but it is not. The belief in any transformation of blind instincts and passions. These dark sides of their soul take on the shape of humans into an animal form is based on the general knowledge that men and women hide an independent, autonomous creature. Such living beings typically have the appearance of an animal that leads a bloody nightlife. Besides the change into a tiger, dog, or cat, there is the idea that men and women can take the shape of a wolf. This phenomenon is called lycanthropy.
In reality there has been a clinical psychological condition known as lycanthropy that continues to exist in modern times. In former periods of mankind this pathological state was the norm for certain groups in society: for example, warrior clans among early Indo- European peoples identified themselves with wolves, and in certain situations they actually acted like wolves and considered themselves to descend from them. This belief can be traced back to the Upper Paleolithic period in Greece, Rome and the Germanic and Slavic areas, as well as to other cultures of Indo-European origin. Therefore animals with human characteristics are frequently represented in art this time, above all in wall-paintings.10 The official lupine or lycanthropic cults are later transposed to folklore when these societies change and become more complex.10
The werewolf – a European character
The werewolf is generally believed to be a European character, although its idea spreads through the world in later times. In early cultures animals with human characteristics are frequently represented in art. Transformations of man to at least partial beast can be seen in Cro-Magnon wall-paintings where such dancing man-beasts first appear. A reconstruction of the structure of early Indo-European society has shown that these warriors often identified themselves with wolves. The ability to magically or ritually transform oneself into these violently hunting predators, “possibly by the donning of a wolf’s skin or a wolf’s helmet”10, was seen as the highest accomplishment of the warrior’s art because it is terrifying and glorious at the same time.10
The Lykaon myth and the Lykaia
The Greek cult of Zeus Lykaios (Greek lykos, wolf) is based on the Lykaon myth, which says: On a visit of Zeus and other gods, Lykaon served them the remains of a sacrificed boy instead of the usual meal. Zeus was so upset that he changed Lykaon into a wolf.10
At the annual Arcadian festival, called the Lykaia, an initiate becomes a “wolf” for nine years after having performed a human sacrifice. The ritual always takes place at the altar of Zeus on Mount Lykaion to commemorate Lykaios’ horrible fate.10
A very famous transformation is reported from the time of the Trojan War. The Trojan warrior Dolon volunteers to spy on the Greek ships. Dolon attaches a wolf skin on his back and on his head and he puts on the open jaws of the beast. To his hands he applies the front paws and to his legs the rear paws of a grey wolf.
“Thus transformed, Dolon believes that he will be unrecognizable to his enemies the Greeks.”10
Unfortunately for Dolon, the famous Greek heroes Odysseus and Diomedes see through the trick, and Diomedes kills Dolon, by cutting off his head. Here, as well as in the wolf cult of Lykaon and Zeus Lykaios the man-wolf becomes an outcast or a victim but with a significant difference: In the ritual he suffers a symbolic death; in the Homeric tale, a real one. Many Historians think, that all of this goes back to “mask” rituals which admit new warriors into wolf clans after a ritual death. Most ancient Greeks were not really sceptical about the possibility of such transformations, and the survival of werewolf lore to this day in Greece seems to confirm its vitality in the ancient period.10
The Romans’ close ties to wolves
The Romans have close ties to wolves. The most famous example is the wolf which suckled Romulus and Remus – the legendary founders of Rome. So the wolf priests of luperci celebrate the Lupercalia festival on 15th February.
The werewolf as a literary figure does not frequently appear in the works of Roman writers, probably the most popular werewolf story is written and told during the reign of the famous Caesar Nero. The narrator assures his audience that everything he is about to tell is true. Nicos, who has been a slave, tells the shocking story as an eyewitness: He is on the way to visit a friend, accompanied by a very strong soldier. During the night, at full moon, they arrive at a part of the road lined with tombs. The soldier turns aside, takes off his clothes and immediately changes into a wolf. He flees howling loudly. Nicos is half dead with fear. In the meantime a wolf strikes down the sheep on his friend’s farm. One of the farmhands stabs the wolf in the neck with a spear but the wolf is able to escape. Returning home Nicos finds the soldier with a deep wound in his neck. He is bleeding profusely.10
“Then I knew he was a versipellis [literally, turnskin], a werewolf”10, says Nicos at the end of his werewolf tale.
Symbolism
The werewolf symbolizes power and strength connected with ruthlessness and an uncontrollable blood thirst. He shows no pity or compassion but acts according to his instincts. He is a much-feared creature and so he is a symbol of a successful warrior or fighter who seems to be terrifying and glorious at the same time.10 According to general believe nothing can stop him to reach his goal, so he seems to be in the same league as the devil. This means that the werewolf symbolizes evil and sometimes even the devil himself. At the end of the sixteenth and the beginning of the seventeenth century a man who is found guilty of being a werewolf is therefore sentenced to death by fire like witches in Netherlands.11
In the 20th century the werewolf becomes a symbol for fascism. It is chosen by Adolf Hitler for his guerilla commando force, which operated on German territory behind enemy lines against the invading Allies. This group was founded in November 1944. They are called werewolves, because these creatures are considered as extremely blood-thirsty and ferocious. Hitler’s Werwölfe commited terrible crimes like murdering the governing Mayor of the German city Aachen or the arbitrary killing of men and women in the so called Penzberger Mordnacht. The cruel actions of the hundreds of “werewolves” did not have a great effect on military success but they caused fear and terror like werewolves are expected to do.12
Summary
The life of a werewolf in the Harry Potter series as well as in history has always been dominated by prejudices. One must point out that people in real life who were accused of being werewolves had a worse fate than the ones in J. K. Rowling’s novel. Lupin is the only one who succeeds in taking his destiny into his own hands and tries to make a better world for his only child.