The Complete Idiot's Guide to Werewolves (19 page)

 

In the years that followed, Ramsey did his best to control the beastly urges that tried to overtake him. For decades, he had succeeded. However, by the time of his incident at the Southend police station, Bill felt that he was beginning to lose the battle.

 

After their interview, the Warrens came to the conclusion that Bill Ramsey suffered not from clinical lycanthropy or any other mental disorder, but from a form of demonic possession by some kind of malevolent wolf-spirit. They arranged for an exorcism to be conducted on Bill Ramsey, with the assistance of a local bishop.

 

Regardless of what the truth of Ramsey’s condition was, one cannot argue with results of the Warrens’ exorcism. After the ceremony was performed, Bill Ramsey ceased to experience any further bouts of this uncontrollable werewolf behavior. Most of his fellow inhabitants from Southend have even learned to let bygones be bygones, and few refer to him as a werewolf any longer. In fact, it would seem that most of his neighbors, while cautious of him, felt sympathy for this man. Aside from his bouts of werewolf behavior, all accounts of Bill Ramsey have portrayed him as a kind and generous man.

When one compares werewolves to any other monster in human folklore, it is interesting to note that there are far more
historically
documented encounters with werewolves than with any other mythical creature. While this book offers but a sampling of these historical accounts, dozens more exist. Some sources claim that, if one were to tally up every single historical mention of werewolves, the total amount would well exceed 200 incidents. Why is this so? Why do historically documented encounters not occur with such frequency when it comes to similar beings such as vampires or zombies?

 

There could be any number of possible answers to this mystery. Some have argued that werewolves were for a long time used as scapegoats, for one of two reasons. In some cases, when killings were being committed by a wild animal and the animal could not be caught, it is possible that authorities would use the werewolf legend to fabricate charges against various “undesirables.” In some cases, it is undoubtedly true that the belief in the werewolf legend was used to account for how a human being was capable of committing the most inhuman of crimes. Basically, when it was impossible for the people to fathom how any person could be so diabolical, it became easier to believe that the person was a werewolf.

 

So … which answer is right? They all could be right answers. Then again, maybe many of these accounts of werewolf encounters actually are real. They could all be wrong answers as well. The rebellious werewolf, even in this case, seems to refuse both categorization and classification. As usual, werewolf lore seems to insist that we decide on the truth for ourselves.

 

Part 3

The Modern Werewolf

Werewolves are no longer depicted in an exclusively negative or evil light. In fact, modern pop culture has embraced the were- wolf as a rebellious antihero. Similar to modern-day motorcycle gangs, they move and hunt and live and die as a pack, and they live outside society’s rules. Pack law is the only law. In the last century, werewolves have been embraced by every medium of pop culture. They’ve become major figures in literature, films, art, comic books, and even video games. In America, urban legends about werewolves have sprung up with increasing frequency over the last 50 years.

Chapter 10

Werewolves in Literature

Unlike the history of lycanthropy, the medium of literature has grown increasingly kinder in its treatment of werewolves over the last thousand years. The role of werewolves in literature has evolved to include a diverse cast of potential character types. Some are tragic fools, while others are rather admirable antiheroes. From the twelfth century to now, what follows is a collection of primary works that makes up the canon of werewolf literature.

Written in the twelfth century by Marie de France as one volume in a series of twelve
lais, Bisclavret
was the first published werewolf story to be written by a female author. Marie’s story is full of the romantic elements of unjust misfortune, forbidden love affairs, and marital betrayal. This same plot, however, can also be found in other stories, including one Arthurian legend from the period as well (see Chapter 3).

The title of the story comes from the name of its main character, Bisclavret, who was a British baron. Ever since his marriage, Bisclavret’s wife noticed that her new husband disappeared every week for a span of exactly three days. Believing that he was having an affair or was up to some other type of foul mischief, she demanded that he tell her the truth about his weekly three-day excursions. After much begging, and under threat of scandal, he agreed to reveal his secret. His answer, however, was far more unusual than anything she had imagined.

Bisclavret revealed to his wife that he was a werewolf, though only by power of a special enchantment. He went on to tell her that when he entered wolf form he concealed his clothing in a secure hiding spot because, without it, he could not return to human form. She asked him where such a hiding spot could be, and (for whatever insane reason) he told her that he hid his clothes in a large hollowed out boulder. The wife, out of either malice or disbelief, formulated a plot of betrayal.

 

The next time Bisclavret went off on one of his wolf excursions, his wife approached one of her husband’s knights. She had long known that this particular knight was in love with her and used this to her advantage. She convinced the lovesick knight to retrieve her husband’s clothing from the hollow stone. He went out to find the rock and soon returned with his lord’s clothes. Three days came and went, followed by several more, and Bisclavret did not return to his estate.

 

Well aware of his regular excursions into the woods, everyone in the castle assumed that Bisclavret had fallen into the jaws of some beast. No one suspected his wife of any foul play, even when she quickly remarried the knight who helped her. Meanwhile, Bisclavret remained in the woods, unable to return to his estate because he was now trapped in his wolf form.

 

One year after Bisclavret’s disappearance, the king that he once served as a baron was in the woods hunting with his hounds. They soon encountered Bisclavret in his wolf form, and the hounds began to pursue him. Recognizing the hunter as his liege, Bisclavret rushed to the king’s stirrup/foot and began to show signs of canine affection, licking his leg. The king was so astounded by this that he had his hounds restrained by his squires. He came down from his horse and petted Bisclavret. All who were present stood awestruck by the gentle nature of this wolf. The king decided to bring Bisclavret to stay with him in his castle. For some weeks, Bisclavret resided with the king and proved to be an obedient and gentle creature.

 

One day, however, the knight who married Bisclavret’s deceitful wife came to visit the king. Knowing full well what this man had done, Bisclavret attacked the knight. Bisclavret was subdued, and the knight concluded his business and returned home. The wise king, having not once seen Bisclavret show so much of a hint of aggression, came to the conclusion that this knight had committed some transgression against the animal. He decided to learn the truth of this matter and soon went to visit the knight at Bisclavret’s former estate … and he decided to bring the wolf and his most wise of advisors with him.

 

While at the estate, the knight had his servants escort the king and wolf into the sitting chamber. Not wanting to be attacked again, he sent his wife in to greet them. When Bisclavret saw the face of the woman who betrayed him so terribly, he went into a rage and attacked her. Before anyone could intervene, Bisclavret ripped her nose right off of her face.