The title of the book that we have been assigned to read is called, "Werewolves in Their Youth". I initially
found that this title was odd. The title seemed arbitrary and contained no meaning to me at the time. Now that I
have read several of the short stories within "Werewolves in Their Youth" I am beginning to see why the book
was given this name.
First I would like to define the term "werewolf" and then to illustrate how I believe the implications of this
mythical creature have been attatched to certain characters throughout the various stories.
The term werewolf refers to a mythyological or folkloric creature with the ability to shapeshift, either by will
or by several means (e.g. full moon, eating henbane, or by will). The word origin of werewolf can mean several things but denotes a rogue or outlaw, a man-wolf, who is a serial killer. Among certain origins an infant born with hair is said have the ability to shapeshift (thus a werewolf). (As a sidenote, the definitions and sources came from wikipedia.)The main point that I would like to make is that werewolves are singular creatures, odd by nature, and removed from the rest of human society.
I believe that a theme of this book, and throughout it's short stories is one of social outcasts. A secondary and associated theme is compassion for the outcast.
If we say that a werewolf is an odd human, a misfit, than it would be appropriate to deem misfits as werewolves in the context of a story. I believe that the term "werewolf" as it applies to timothy stokes, in that he is odd, and a misfit. Pages 4-6 describe Timothy's odd behaviour.
In the story of "The Mill" the professor is the only one of his kind, an outsider. He does not fit in with or conform to the norms of Plunkettsburg. He arrives in town (page 185) and then is refused entry into the mill (page 194). He also stops drinking the beer (page 195,201). To conclude, the professor is an outsider and a misfit as well within the context of Plunkettsburg.
So I view the title of 'Werewolf' to mean 'outcast'. However, these werewolves; Timothy, the Professor, Benght, even Kohn, are not hungry for human blood, but instead for acceptance and healing from people. Their curse is one
of lonliness and pain, and their hunger is for love. That is what I get out of the title of the book.
What do you guys think?
I'm not sure if this
I'm not sure if this collection of short stories was specifically designed for college-age kids, but since we're all in college adn required to read the book, I feel like we all like to be entertained. We all watch TV, go to the movies, listen to out iPods, etc. The title of the book catches your attention right away because, let's face it, we don't hear about "Werewolves" too often.
I agree with what you said by paralleling the word "werewolf" and "outcast". It makes sense with the stories because like you said, the characters are outcasts. For example, Paul and TImothy only have each other as their friends and TImothy spends his days pretending he is a mythical creature scaring his peers on the playground.