Chapter 27 Padfoot Returns / Magical creatures

[Andrea H Bonfanti]

No: HPFGUIDX 10291

Carole wrote:
   1. What do you think the quote above says about the wizarding culture.  I was uncomfortable when Sirius so casually referred to inferiors and equals. I know he was speaking in reference to house elves and wizards, but what might the pecking order of the wizarding world be.  Are house elves on the same rung as hippogriffs in the world of magical creatures.  Are the inferiors simply non-humans or are there inferior humans as the Malfoys believe.  And does Sirius believe there are inferior humans?

Marvin answered:

  I think Sirius was talking about the universal social pecking order that exists no matter how egalitarian one's personal ideals.  How well does the boss treat his employees, for instance.  How does the affluent person treat the homeless panhandler, or the witch her elves.  In short, how you react when you find yourself in a superior position with respect to another person or being tells volumes because such a position offers a chance to tyrranize and demean on the one hand and a chance to encourage and uplift on the other.

That is just what I thought when I read that line. The fact that he doesn't even know Percy's name only shows that he doesn't have much respect to anyone who is hierarchically "inferior" to him. And I guess this is what Sirius meant, not that house-elves are inferior creatures. 
The concept of the pecking order in the wizarding world is interesting. Some creatures' ability to communicate with humans and the possibility of intermarriage with humans (see Hagrid's and Fleur's cases - half giant and part veela) blur the distinction between people and animals as we know it in the muggle world. The first time I read about the veela, I remember thinking "Are they a sort of magical creatures (as they were mascots at the world cup), or are they a different kind of magical people?". Later on, I decided that it didn't matter, that the concept was different in the wizarding world. Someone in this list once wondered if wizards and witches ate the meat from magical creatures. I don't think they do: people don't like eating anything that has a "personality", and even hippogriffs seem to have personalities.

Just my R$0,02 (two centavos of a real - the Brazilian currency)
Andrea



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