Understanding Anti-Werewolf Convictions Article Essay

For so many centuries that withered and prospered the Wizarding World, common witches and wizards have been knowledgeable about the magical creatures that resided within the world that we all shared. Notable historical figures brushed against the fear of the unknown; this courageous and yet dangerous endeavour pioneered studies and enriched textbooks relating to magical creatures, on how to care for and repel them, as well as their anatomy and magical properties.

It will do us good if we also expect that most of the wizards and witches had been wary of such magical creatures, especially when they tend to be more destructive than considerate and difficult to maintain as well as domesticize or train. Some wizarding folks have been so close-minded as to not bothering to study and give the time of their day to familiarise themselves with magical creatures that they sometimes resorted to believing rumours and concocting perception out of thin air caused by ambiguity aversion and ignorance.

We would also like to emphasise that lycanthropy is a magical condition, not a disease. Lycanthropes are magical beings, not magical creatures. Now, why did we introduce the complex relationships of wizarding folks and magical creatures? The Wizarding World is not exactly known for its progressive and reformative nature; its unsupported beliefs and ignorance relating to magical creatures also stretches among beings with magical conditions.

But of course, it is also important to acknowledge and understand their reasons. One prominent factor that fuels the social stigma against them is the fact that werewolves are, indeed, unpredictable and initially dangerous. Total werewolf-related deaths recorded in the years 1700–2000 reach up to 543 deaths; average annual fatalities stretch to 2.7%. The mortality rate per 100,000 wizards spans to 0.05%. The most common causes of death relating to werewolves consisted of: transformed werewolf attacks (67%), werewolf-on-werewolf violence (21%), and accidents during full moon (12%).

It did not end there. Non-fatal werewolf attacks reach up to a whopping 1,217 injured wizards; the average annual non-fatal injuries sum up to 6.1% and 0.11% injury rate per 100,000 wizards. The most common injuries are as follows: lacerations (43%), broken bones (27%), magical damage (15%), and psychological trauma (15%). Total lycanthrope transmissions reached up to 427 recorded numbers. 2.1% in annual transmissions and 0.03% transmission rate per 100,000 wizards. The most common transmission methods are listed as direct bites (80%), contaminated bodily fluids (15%), and magical exposure (5%).

These statistics fuelled the Anti-Werewolf Legislation Act; it became effective in 1993 due to irrational loathing against werewolves, as they are perceived as half-breeds and initially dangerous. One would think that some people just mix up definitions, but this legislation caused werewolves to be shunned from society, restricting their rights that resulted in difficulties in finding spouses or starting families. They are also barred from particular professions such as teaching and entrepreneurship, which pressured them to live in poverty instead and also isolate themselves from society, making them reside in the faraway mountains and caves.

As we said earlier, the Wizarding World is not exactly known for its progressive and reformative nature. These convictions and the social stigma that surrounds werewolves prove that. Nevertheless, acknowledging the root of the problem is the first step to understanding such measures and hopefully would conjure some solution and clarity. Violence did not need to be repaid with its likelihood; retaliation disguised as preventative measures only fuels devastating results. When will the Wizarding World realise that its own prejudiced views will be its own destruction?