Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs are characters from The Marauders.
Emily Lawrence updated May 18, 2019.
J.K. Rowling loves to play with words.There are a lot of meanings and clues in these names.These form a special bond between the author and the reader that makes the experience of reading all the more interesting.What about the names given by the characters themselves?What extra dimensions are there for Mr. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs?
When you consider it a werewolf, the name "Moony" is all but hidden.The poor kid is trying to keep his secret hidden and you give him a nickname like "Moony"?The nickname is a sign of the deep friendship between Remus and the other Marauders, even though I think he had a few things to say when the name first stuck.The nickname is a joke and reflects the Marauders treatment of Remus.In order to make Remus feel better about his life, the Marauders made light of his condition, meeting the problem head-on with humor.It is very similar to Fred and George's attitude to various dark events throughout the books, like their shopfront sign that mocks the return of Voldemort.I am pretty sure they gave Remus a lot of grief when people asked about the story that led to his nickname, because it was friendly teasing behind the nickname "Moony" and seeing as "mooning" means to expose one's buttocks.
The fact that Peter Pettigrew is a rat is one of the clues J.K. Rowling gives us about his role in the future conflict."Wormtail" reminds me of the descent he goes through in his character.It is easy to assume that Peter Pettigrew is a straight-up villain.He was one of the best friends to three other people who loved him in their own way.His descent is like an apple with worms.It is interesting to note that the nickname is used by Death Eaters, which suggests that nobody ever let Peter Pettigrew forget his traitorous nature.
The meaning behind the nickname of Sirius Black is subtle and nuanced.The idea ofpadded feet suggests a person who travels a lot.It was the journey away from his parents house that made him abandon his pure-blood views.After escaping criminal, he went back to being an Order member, a mentor to Harry, and a Marauder.The idea of being "thick-skinned", hiding strong, complex emotion inside, is what the name "Padfoot" suggests.Throughout his life, he has always put up this kind of exterior.
We don't know a lot about the character of James Potter, but we do know that he had a good relationship with his friends.Prongs is a teasing reminder of his less pleasant attributes.It is a reminder not to let his pride get in the way of his deeper character.James outgrew this by his fifth year, when the three Marauders first became Animagi.In his last moments, James was described as being straight-backed and proud.The nickname acts as a bit of a joke within the group, but it also points to the qualities James shares with his Animagus form.
On my eighth birthday, my mother gave me a copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.As a proud Hufflepuff and part of the Australian-Weasley branch, I hope to one day write my own magical stories.Harry Potter will always be my home.