4. Remus. I don't want to pretend I'm objective here, but I really like him much more then the other four, Severus included. OK, we all know that Remus is a "spineless fidget" and that his life strategy seems to be "avoid responsibility at all costs". But I can't forget the fact that the only time he forced himself in a situation when he cannot avoid responsibility - when accepted a teaching position in Hogwarts - he coped with it astonishingly well. I'll say even more, IMHO, Lupin was plainly the best teacher Hogwarts have ever seen in all these six years. I mean, he's obviously less capable sorcerer then Severus and probably some of the others (Flitwick?), but he had this amazing ability to say and do exactly the right thing in each and any delicate situation. And it tells us a lot about how deep he intuitively understands people around him, and how accurately he can react if he overcomes his fears. Speaking of the marauder time, I really don't like the idea of the power Sirius and Co had over him due to the fact they knew his secret. And, after some thinking over, I agree with swythyv (see her "Abyss" essays) that Remus was NOT an equal member of the marauder gang, but rather a partner in a quite abusive relationship. And I think, by the way, that he was in fact in much worse position then Severus ever was. I mean, we know that Severus had friends, had social life away from marauders. He never ever was as vulnerable as Remus with his "little furry problem". And, as you have noticed, the "prank" was as vicious towards Remus as it was towards Severus. And I don't think that Severus and his friends, on their side, ever hesitated to bully Lupin if they had any chance to get away with it - I mean, for any outsider he was one of the marauders all right. And, for that matter, back to the "nature of love" question. I do think that the central points is not about "loving the enemy" or "sacrificing for the enemy", but about forgiveness, i.e. not allowing oneself to have enemies in the first place. And I think that the way Remus behaves towards BOTH Sirius and Severus tells us loads about how far he's advanced in this art of love. If only he managed to master his guts as well!
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Om Marauders 2
Date: 2007-06-23 02:56 am (UTC)Speaking of the marauder time, I really don't like the idea of the power Sirius and Co had over him due to the fact they knew his secret. And, after some thinking over, I agree with swythyv (see her "Abyss" essays) that Remus was NOT an equal member of the marauder gang, but rather a partner in a quite abusive relationship. And I think, by the way, that he was in fact in much worse position then Severus ever was. I mean, we know that Severus had friends, had social life away from marauders. He never ever was as vulnerable as Remus with his "little furry problem". And, as you have noticed, the "prank" was as vicious towards Remus as it was towards Severus. And I don't think that Severus and his friends, on their side, ever hesitated to bully Lupin if they had any chance to get away with it - I mean, for any outsider he was one of the marauders all right.
And, for that matter, back to the "nature of love" question. I do think that the central points is not about "loving the enemy" or "sacrificing for the enemy", but about forgiveness, i.e. not allowing oneself to have enemies in the first place. And I think that the way Remus behaves towards BOTH Sirius and Severus tells us loads about how far he's advanced in this art of love. If only he managed to master his guts as well!