In “Hairy Snout, Human Heart,” Eveline Brugger has no clear thesis. Her article is simply an examination and comparison of werewolves in the Harry Potter Universe and the concept of werewolves in the real world. Additionally, she provides an apt review of literature on the topic which themselves offer differing views on the matter and be used to justify my point: the use of werewolves in the Harry Potter universe can serve as an allegory to institutionalized bigotry towards the lower-class within the United States.

In her article, Brugger compares Remus Lupin and Fenrir Greyback’s outlooks on their shared condition. Lupin, who actively tries to succeed in regular wizarding society, is met with push-back and contempt each time his condition is made public. Greyback o the other hand embraces his outcast status and actively uses it to terrorize the inhabitants of his world. Despite the fact that the way they carry themselves and how they feel about their condition is vastly different, the world as a whole treats them nearly identically. Even though Lupin regularly follows his Wolfsbane regiment and takes the due caution during his time of the month, he is given the same amount of respect as the murderous Greyback, as Brugger puts it, “…he willingly gives up his humanity in favor of his nature as a monster…” (Brugger 305).

In many ways this mimics the way that poverty is seen in the United States. For the as long as this country has existed, it has been built off of the exploitation of those who are either not educated enough to know when they are being exploited or too dependent on the system to do anything about it. I will admit that this is very different from werewolves, however, it is how they are treated by the rest of their society that becomes almost identical. They are both pushed to the fringes of society, deemed unqualified for jobs, and their interaction with the mainstream is considered unacceptable socially. Burger describes it, “..he or she will undoubtably face social backlash in the form of fear and revulsion…” (Brugger 304).

In order to help “cure” people of their poverty, our government has devoted enormous resources into helping people get back on their feet. Whether it be income assistance, project housing, or food stamps, many times those who are in poverty become dependant on these resources and lack the knowledge to become self-sufficient. In many cases, the public admission of being the recipient of social welfare programs comes with an incredibly social stigma. Likewise, Brugger notes that several werewolf assistance programs exist as well, although these seem to be for the protection of the general public instead of werewolves themselves. Furthermore, it is incredibly difficult to change social class in the United States. One of the best indicators of one’s net worth is the net worth of their parents. In this way, a life of poverty becomes almost hereditary, just like Lycanthropy. Brugger tells us that “…Lupin worries that his unborn child will be affected because his ‘kind usually don’t breed,’…” Once inflicted, the cycle starts and it becomes a roll of the dice as to whether it’s possible to escape. One may have the greatest desire to break the stigma and climb the social ladder, but often times it is not up to their own choices.