Wizarding aristocracy (was Howdy; ponderings (rather lengthy))

[Ebony]

No: HPFGUIDX 9680

Welcome, Marvin!

--- In HPforGrownups at egroups.com, "Marvin Long, Jr." <msl at f...> wrote:
> * Snape is very interesting.  I see him as a kind of aristocrat who 
is loyal to principles of honor and decency but who feels conflicted 
about associating with and teaching the "lower orders"--mudbloods and 
so on.  He probably sympathizes with Voldemort's dislike of muggles 
but understands that V's methods are evil and to be eschewed--I 
suspect that he went through an enormous crisis of character to reach 
this conclusion (something that would make a good story in a future 
HP book, methinks) and, though he dislikes Harry and gravitates 
towards aristocratic-minded folk (Slytherins) he won't betray the 
good guys--his own goodness was too hard-won for that.


I suspect that this idea of "aristocracy", with its implied 
connotations of hierarchy, is much more widespread in the wizarding 
world than we've been led to believe.  Hogwarts is under the control 
of Dumbledore... and we've seen indication in canon that his views 
are not always in sync with the community.  This is similar to our 
own "Muggle" world, where the values and mores of colleges and 
universities--often run by faculty who were trained during the 
postmodern revolutions of the 60s and 70s--are often disconnected 
from the worldviews of contemporary society.  

One does wonder how widespread anti-Muggle and anti-Mudblood 
sentiment really is outside of Dumbledore's protective bubble.  Also 
curious to know about the structure of the Ministry... does the 
magical community have any similarities to the socialist/welfare 
states?  Or is it mainly capitalist?  If it is capitalist, how does 
this world deal with poverty?

Great post, Marvin.  These are some of the very issues that I'm most 
intrigued about in canon.  I'd really like to see where JKR goes with 
this.

BTW, you have a BA in Philosophy?  I never took a single course in 
that field while in undergrad... and yet, somehow ended up with the 
History of Rhetoric with a focus on the Sophists and Aristotle on my 
winter term schedule.  Any pointers on how to plow through the more 
abstract readings?  They're Greek to me.  ;-)

--Ebony AKA AngieJ