Clothing as a Reflection of Class (was: Draco's Pointy Shoes)

stephab67 stephab67 at yahoo.com
Sun Jul 13 16:07:42 UTC 2008


> Steph:
> 
> While I also think the Malfoys' clothes are pretty cool, and agree
> with you that it makes Lucius, at least, a bit more likeable than he
> should be. Draco's slick black suits make him look even more arrogant
> than he already is, IMHO. I think the costume designer dressed them
> that way to show the class difference between the Malfoys and the
> Weasleys. Notice how the Weasley kids all have patched up clothes or
> clothes that don't really fit that well? In OotP Ginny had on patched
> pants, and Ron's maroon sweater seemed a bit small. They look like
> they bought their clothes at a rummage sale. When I saw a couple of
> the new photos from HBP with Ron in them, particularly the one where
> he's sitting between Harry and Ginny at the Burrow, I just had to
> laugh and shake my head for Rupert, who once again is stuck wearing
> really horrible costumes. Nothing will match his dress robes in GoF,
> though. 
>  
Missy: 
> But isn't that sort of the whole point?  The Weasley's can't afford
the "nice" clothes. But truthfully, I prefer the Weasley's and their
ratty clothing.  I don't feel comfortable sitting around in dress
clothes and don't really feel comfortable around those who do.  I
haven't really thought about it from the actor's point of view,
because while Rupert may not have the best costume- he gets a whole
lot more screen time than anyone in the Malfoy family.  And
truthfully, I still hate the Malfoys- even with their nice clothes. 
To me, those clothes just add to the snob feeling I get off them in
the books.
>
Steph:
Absolutely, and I agree with you.  Rupert has gotten a lot more screen
time over the years than Tom Felton or Jason Isaacs, although I like
both of them and am happy for Tom that he's likely getting more in
HBP.  Rupert is clearly going to have a lot more lines in HBP than he
did in OotP, and that's all to the good as well.  

But back onto the subject of clothes: the Malfoys in their slick
clothes just remind me too much of the types who have a sense of
entitlement - they've had money and power for so long that they expect
everyone to just bow down to them and submit to their bullying.  I
find people like that to be pretty contemptible.  The Malfoys are
great characters but I don't like them, or think they're cool, because
I don't think that having money and/or power automatically makes you a
better person.  I really love it that JKR (and even the films) never
show the Weasleys giving in to that - the Weasleys are never
intimidated by the Malfoys, even though the Malfoys behave as though
they are automatically better than the Weasleys because the Malfoys
are rich and have power.  It's great that the Malfoys expect the
Weasleys to defer to them, but the Weasleys' response to that is
pretty much "f-you."  Even in OotP, when Draco insults Harry when they
get off the Hogwarts Express, Ron tells Harry, "It's only Malfoy, what
did you expect?"  Ron doesn't think Draco's worth getting worked up
about.  The Weasleys are cool because they're not intimidated by
wealth and power.





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