Singing Praises

The topic this week: Unsung heroes in books or movies: A character who does not get the credit that you believe he or she deserves.

It was my idea. I wish that I had done this ahead of time; I wish that I had made notes. I’m hustling as usual during this, the week prior to Easter, and I know, as soon as this is posted, things get into full-swing or just after the holiday, three more will come to mind.

Here are two:

One unsung, unappreciated hero who gained my heart a dozen years ago:
Remus Lupin, from the Harry Potter series.

For those of you who did not pick it up in the movies, and may have not read the books, here is my reasoning. [If you wish, skip to end; a hero with which you may well be more familiar will be there.]

If you don’t know either, I apologize and am sorry that you. You are missing out on good stories of knowing right from wrong, no matter who does either. You are missing out on stories of real friendship and family, of doing what is right, of being faithful and honorable and true; protecting the weak, righting wrongs and of forgiveness,(when applicable. Warning then: Spoilers ahead.)

In the movies it is shown/told that Remus Lupin was attacked by a werewolf and became one himself; he never embraced the life and stayed the intelligent and warm-hearted person that he always was, except when the Moon at the full of the moon. A potion to suppress werewolf behavior was developed, but he would undergo a physical change nevertheless. He was the best friend of Harry’s father (James) and to-be godfather,(Sirius) who were wild characters when young. Even so, they learned to change into animals themselves to support Remus during his changes, because they knew that he was the best of them. Remus had been ‘Head Boy’, yet failed to keep the other two in check when they bullied Severus Snape when he was a classmate of theirs.

Snape became a long-term professor at Hogwarts. After some years, Lupin joined the faculty. Lupin never forgave himself for letting James and Sirius pick on Snape, and he was always gracious and kind to Snape, despite Snape’s suspicions of him and of Snape’s understandably hard and suspicious attitude toward him.

Remus Lupin was always at the front of every fight against evil, “wands to the ready”. He gave Harry private lessons on how to protect himself and others. He privately counseled Harry. He tried to cushion the blow to Harry when much of the Wizarding world thought Harry to be lying about Voldemort’s return. Remus was against Harry learning just how much Harry’s fate and that of Voldemort’s downfall were intertwined because he felt, as many others, that Harry was too young to do anything about it. He guarded Harry in every way that he could, from taking a magical map from him lest it fall into the wrong hands and lead danger to him, to secretly returning the map when that threat was gone, (but more threats were to come). He stopped Harry from hurting Sirius whom Harry believed was responsible for his parent’s deaths (would therefore have destroyed two lives, Sirius’ and Harry’s). After the truth came out that Sirius was actually Harry’s caring godfather, Lupin is the one to hold Harry back to try to stop him from pursuing Sirius’ killer.

More is told of Lupin’s story within the books. When the outlook for the Wizarding World was dismal, Lupin was the one who consoled Molly Weasley,(Harry’s best friend’s mother), when she broke down in fear of anything happening to her and to her husband, because she did not know what would happen to their youngest children who had not ‘come of age’. Remus hugged her and assured her that he and the others would take care of them, should anything befall them.

When Harry, Hermione and Ron were on the arduous task of hunting horcruxes Lupin sought them out to offer his talents and services. (Harry turned him away, since Remus by then had a wife and baby on the way.)
I know that I have more in mind, but I never hear of anyone giving Remus Lupin the credit which I believe he deserves…if that has not been obvious from this post!

Any Harry Potter watchers and/or readers agree with me? Had you given Remus much thought or credit?

However wordy I have been, and even if you don’t know the Wizarding World you probably know Bambi, and the hero there merits even more credit, as far as I am concerned.

Bambi’s father, The Great Prince of the Forest.

He was responsible for all of the forest, apparently, but came for Bambi’s birth. He was not the warmest of fathers, but he was never unkind. He was a busy stag!

At the end of the movie, The Great Prince is up on the hill where we see him at Bambi’s birth, yet he steps aside to give Bambi his position.

I don’t get it.

In fact, unbidden, he twice rescued Bambi.
Sure, Bambi went up against the big, bad bull stag who was going to take sweet little Faline against her will, (as adults, we realize just what a terrible fate awaited her). It was heroic indeed, but, Bambi’s father sought him out when hunters killed his mother, essentially putting himself at risk of being shot himself.

Then, when Bambi was caught in the great forest fire, it was his father who went back into the blazing trees and shrubs, fire all around, to find him and lead him to safety.

I did not have the nerve to watch “Bambi” until I was grown up and had children of my own so maybe that is the reason I do not understand why Bambi would  take over for dear  old dad so soon.

I don’t think The Great Prince was ready to step down; he was still strong and a hero. Nor do I believe that was the kid ready to take over.

Did this occur to any of you?

I wish all of you a Blessed Easter.