What's up with Oz's cage?

[NotEvilAngel]

Oz is a werewolf, we all know that, but when he transforms into his werewolf form, why can't he get out of the cage in the library? Whenever we see him going into the cage, no one ever locks it, Oz just closes the door. If the cage automatically locked whenever someone closed it, that wouldn't be safe in a school library. Anyone have a thought on what's up with Oz's cage?

 

[thrasherpix]

I'd like to think that he could let himself out, but would be unable to do so as a werewolf (not understanding the mechanism or having the manual dexterity of human fingers), but now that I think about it, I can't firmly remember him ever letting himself out. But if not, then he had to know Willow would catch him with that other werewolf.

I remember Vampire Willow being locked in there. It's possible she was just dumb, but I'd think she'd understand cages very well and could figure her own way out rather than tricking Cordelia. And then there was Hyena Xander...

I'm sure Giles carries a key. Does Oz?

Now here's one...Principal Snyder interrupts a trade between Buffy's and the Mayor's group...why didn't he ever check to see what was going on in the library? They might've had some fun about Snyder complaining of "pets" being kept in the library. 😀

 

[Faded90]

I'd like to think that he could let himself out, but would be unable to do so as a werewolf (not understanding the mechanism or having the manual dexterity of human fingers), but now that I think about it, I can't firmly remember him ever letting himself out. But if not, then he had to know Willow would catch him with that other werewolf.

I remember Vampire Willow being locked in there. It's possible she was just dumb, but I'd think she'd understand cages very well and could figure her own way out rather than tricking Cordelia. And then there was Hyena Xander...

I'm sure Giles carries a key. Does Oz?

Now here's one...Principal Snyder interrupts a trade between Buffy's and the Mayor's group...why didn't he ever check to see what was going on in the library? They might've had some fun about Snyder complaining of "pets" being kept in the library. 😀

Or Snyder comes in the next morning to talk about how Giles spends an inappropriate amount of time with some students and finds a naked student locked in his bookcage

 

[TriBel]

If the cage automatically locked whenever someone closed it, that wouldn't be safe in a school library.

I doubt they felt the need to carry out a risk assessment. Let's face it, having a vampire, a witch and a werewolf on the premises probably contravenes standard H&S guidelines. 😏

I'm guessing the symbolism of Oz voluntarily locking himself away rather than being imprisoned by someone else is the look they're going for. That way, he's active subject rather than passive object. Nature imprisons him once a month - it wouldn't do for culture to do the same. It's interesting (to me if no one else) that in Lessons Willow wears a sheepskin jacket similar to Oz's while she's talking to Giles about her "voluntary rehabilitation": "When you brought me here, I thought it was to kill me or to lock me in some mystical dungeon for all eternity or—with the torture". There are parallels to be made.