Werewolves and the Poor

            Nancy Reagin does a wonderful job of helping us better understand werewolves in the context of Harry’s world and that of our own. Interestingly, it is apparent that werewolves have been traditionally associated with rural poor communities. Reagin explains that wolves were a very real fear for those living near the edges of deeper forested areas. She tells us in her chapter on werehistory that “Folk belief in werewolves still existed and was widespread enough to warrant the attention of the church,” among rural communities at the time of the witch trials. Among those outside rural poor communities, werewolves were mostly considered to be mentally ill as a result of indulging in witchcraft related activities. Similarly, rural poor people today, when demonized, are considered to be unstable and stupid. Attitudes about the rural poor in the west have remained largely unchanged.

Among those who don’t belong to the rural poor community, their condition seems deplorable. Those who don’t want to condemn them often take to “fixing” them. This is the modern liberal attitude towards the rural poor. Back in the day, the locus of control for werewolves reflected a similar attitude. Nancy Reagin describes the way that the accused were thought of:

“Men who turn into wolves don’t do it on their own accord. In most cases, they are the victims of some kind of spell or curse that can eventually be lifted so that they become human again. In their wolf shape, some of them are murderous beasts, while others are tame and kind, but once the involuntary transformation is undone, they revert back to their human nature.”

Very few positive archetypes exist for the rural poor- they can either be stupid, helpless victims of a flawed upbringing, or willfully hateful/evil.

Fenrir Greyback, then, represents the stereotypical inbred racist of Deliverance fame. “Greyback […] is a criminal who—even though he may not have become a werewolf out of his own free will—is responsible for his crimes because he willingly gives up his humanity in favor of his nature as a monster,” Reagin explains.

While he can be compared to a pedophile, it also makes sense to cast him as an evil redneck. While evil rednecks absolutely exist (and their actions should NOT be excused), there are also strong examples of diverse and positive figures who have come out of Appalachia. Frank X Walker and Jim Henson come to mind as positive role models for backcountry youngsters. To erase creative and genuinely good figures in the community is the leave the rest of the community with too many hateful role models.