That's a really interesting question. I never thought much about it myself, but now that you brought it up... hm.
I think JKR's take on lycanthropy is interesting anyway -- she treats it like a dangerous, incurable disease that can be highly contagious and/or fatal if precautions aren't taken. The whole set-up of werewolves being discriminated against (i.e. people not wanting to hire werewolves for fear of their "condition" etc)-- it kind of reminds me of the way Andrew Beckett in "Philadelphia" was treated when people in his company found out that he had AIDS.
I don't even know whether JKR ever came clear about "her" idea of the infection with vampirism -- her portray of Slughorn's friend in book 6 was kind of disappointing to me also. (Okay, so I read too much Anne Rice when I was younger... anyway.) I think it's just one of her quirks. But interesting nevertheless! :D :D
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I think JKR's take on lycanthropy is interesting anyway -- she treats it like a dangerous, incurable disease that can be highly contagious and/or fatal if precautions aren't taken. The whole set-up of werewolves being discriminated against (i.e. people not wanting to hire werewolves for fear of their "condition" etc)-- it kind of reminds me of the way Andrew Beckett in "Philadelphia" was treated when people in his company found out that he had AIDS.
I don't even know whether JKR ever came clear about "her" idea of the infection with vampirism -- her portray of Slughorn's friend in book 6 was kind of disappointing to me also. (Okay, so I read too much Anne Rice when I was younger... anyway.) I think it's just one of her quirks. But interesting nevertheless! :D :D