Wizarding Worldz
Remus Lupin and Tonks died in two of the most heartbreaking deaths in Harry Potter. But why did J.K. Rowling choose to kill them?
Many popular characters died in the Harry Potter novels and films. Most of them during the Battle of Hogwarts, including Remus Lupin and Tonks. But why did J.K. Rowling decide to murder them? The Wizarding World has grown through time to become one of the most expansive and popular fantasy realms.
It all began in 1997 with the release of J.K. Rowling’s debut novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. This was the first of a series of seven novels that created a worldwide sensation and paved the way for a hugely successful film epic.
Why did JK Rowling Kill Remus Lupin and Tonks?
The Harry Potter novels and films recount the narrative of “the boy who survived”. Lord Voldemort, the worst wizard of all, had terrible intentions for both the Wizarding and Muggle worlds.
As well as a personal grudge against Harry, whom he failed to murder as a newborn. When it came time for the books to be adapted for the big screen, many characters, events, and elements had to be left out for various reasons, but in general, the Harry Potter films were quite faithful to the source material.
One thing they didn’t change much was the many tragic deaths throughout the series, particularly those during the Battle of Hogwarts.
Although the Harry Potter tales are targeted at a young readership. They handle some very heavy subjects and have some genuinely painful and at times terrifying scenes. Rowling didn’t seem to worry much about the number of characters she murdered or how close they were to Harry.
Harry’s childhood was really characterized by death and tragedy from a young age. With the death of his parents at the hands of Voldemort and subsequently the murder of his godfather, Sirius Black, owing to Bellatrix Lestrange in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
Kill Remus Lupin and Tonks
Harry grew close to his father, Sirius’ closest friends Remus Lupin and Tonks. But it all ended when both were slain at the Battle of Hogwarts, leaving readers and viewers heartbroken and questioning why Rowling did that to Harry.
J.K. Rowling makes a habit of apologizing for a character’s death on the anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts. Lupin’s time came in her 2016 apology. Now, Rowling had planned to kill Arthur Weasley in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
But she realized that killing Arthur would have had a significant impact on Ron’s arc. So she decided against it – but someone had to take his place. As she had already planned to kill off respectable parents at the end of the book series.
Rowling then picked Lupin and his wife Nymphadora Tonks because their baby son, Teddy, would be orphaned. Mirroring Harry’s terrible background. In an interview with Today in 2007, Rowling said that one of the “most heartbreaking aspects of war is the children left behind,” as happened in the first war with the deaths of James and Lily Potter.
She wanted to depict “another kid left behind.” Teddy’s plight was, of course, quite different from Harry’s. Because he had his grandmother and godfather (Harry) to look after him.
Rowling even admitted in her apology for killing Remus Lupin that she “didn’t enjoy doing it”. That the only time, her editor saw her cry was over Teddy Lupin’s fate. She ultimately made sure he had a much better life than Harry by leaving him with family members who cared about him.
Harry Potter himself looking out for him. Fans of Harry Potter were glad that Arthur Weasley was not slain. But the cost of keeping him alive was equally high.