Leslie Sconduto's Metamorphosis Of The Werewolf

In the study, Metamorphosis of the Werewolf, by Leslie Sconduto, key points of medieval literature are dissected and related to the possible lessons used in the tales of werewolves. Context is given on the church’s view, and how that continues to shape the literature going forward. The narrative of the medieval werewolf was utilized by authors and poets to frighten audiences and convey moral lessons through the werewolf's transformations. We can first look at the negative connotation and warning of societal dangers assigned to the werewolf, which evolved in the medieval era. We can relate this to the church’s view of the tale of a man transformed into a wolf. As Sconduto explains, the effect of the church on the concept of metamorphosis and

This is seen during the Renaissance, where there is a drastic shift to an even more animalistic character that continues to deviate from the human portrayal. Whereas werewolves earlier still held onto qualities of man and human self-control. These sixteenth-century stories aim to scare the reader by embellishing the tales of a werewolf’s transformation. While old narratives used to glimpse the transformation itself, these tales became even more barbaric and detailed. This shows the cautionary metaphor of our inner animalistic tendencies and the issues with succumbing to our true nature and desires as human beings. The second large example Sconduto presents is a more positive analysis of the transformation, conveying that of growth and realization. In these narratives, the werewolf was not painted in a negative light or seen as drastically barbaric. We get a glimpse of these lessons through the writings of Melion, as described by Sconduto. This portrayal victimizes the werewolf and thus humanizes the narrative. This story tells the tale of a man/ werewolf devoted to his wife, who ultimately betrays him (Sconduto