[HPforGrownups] Cultural values and beauty

[Alexandra Y. Kwan]

No: HPFGUIDX 20558

Hello,

> [snip about cultural differences]

Hey, I *completely* agree!

> On my own part, I'm sure that parents' reactions to having a different,
"magical" child would be very closely related to their cultural values.  And
what about religion?  Imagine a fundamentalist Christian family who believe
that magic is evil discovering that Junior is a wizard!

Do fundamentalist Christians exist in Britain?  I was hoping that the
species doesn't spread that far.  Ick.  I was thinking, though, how Cho's
parents would have acted when they first discovered, assuming, of course,
that they aren't completely British-ized.

> As for beauty, this raises an issue on which I've long speculated...
beauty, especially in a woman, is a double-edged sword.  OK,

I agree.  Many people seem to consider my mom beautiful and the reaction she
gets sometimes is nothing short of horrible, especially from many other
women.  I.e., she once worked as an insurance agent, and when the wife of
her client saw her, the wife went absolutely chilly toward my mom and
refused to let the husband alone in my mom's company.  What's more strange
is that my mom doesn't consider herself beautiful, but the fact that others
do is bad enough.

Which is why I think Fleur has a much more difficult time than everyone else
in the book seem to think.  I do like her, though, especially when she
kissed Harry on the cheek.  That was very cute, imho.

> Returning to HP, from the books and interviews with JKR, I'd say Ron and
Hermione is a foregone conclusion.

Yay!  I support that ship (which is strange, 'cause I've been advocating for
Ron/Draco in my hpslash group...).

> Maybe as she grows up she'll develop a bit more gumption and make more of
an impression on him.

I hope so, the poor kid.

> Speaking of which, Hermione must have done a lot of extra ageing in PoA...
maybe that's why she's so much more mature and politically aware in GoF!

Don't know, isn't it just the usual thing of girls maturing faster than boys
of the same age?  Both physically and mentally?  And emotionally.

little Alex