Notes on the Weasleys and their Hardships

[linman6868 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 21118

Hello all --

I checked the schedule and there's no-one posting on this in depth, 
so I thought I'd post a few notes and musings on the Weasleys, since 
they've been on the listmembers' (and my) mind lately.

Each member of the Burrow seems to have their particular way of 
dealing with the infamous Weasley poverty, which is often 
inconvenient and embarrassing, if not exactly as dire as Draco Malfoy 
makes out.  So here's my take on the nine Weasleys...

ARTHUR WEASLEY
According to Molly, has been "held back" by being actually interested 
in the nowhere job of protecting Muggles.  No-one else is 
particularly interested in protecting Muggles or improving Muggle-
wizard relations, so clearly not much money gets funneled into that 
branch of the Ministry (although they obviously have to pay lots of 
Obliviators to protect *wizards* from *Muggles*).  Arthur is willing 
to pay the price, and have his family pay the price, for that 
interest and integrity, but it doesn't stop him being tired and 
worried most of the time we see him.

MOLLY WEASLEY
Has a fierce family patriotism.  Her practical ingenuity holds the 
family's finances together, and her loyalty makes her a tigress when 
the sneering Daily Prophet comes to call.  Worries as much as Arthur, 
but takes it out in energetic work and chivvying her children.  Wants 
her children to succeed but not to compromise the Weasley name.

BILL WEASLEY
Works for the *bank*.  And what the heck is a "charm-breaker" at 
Gringotts?  He tells Molly that the goblins don't care how he 
dresses "as long as he brings home plenty of treasure."  Does this 
mean he's a forecloser or something?  Does "bringing treasure home" 
mean bringing it to the bank or bringing it to himself by working 
hard at the bank?  I suspect it's the former, because of the 
word "treasure."  But I don't see "cool" Bill Weasley taking up 
anything in the tax-collecting line.  Maybe he raids Egyptian tombs 
like Indiana Jones.  He's obviously acquired the ponytail and earring 
since his Hogwarts days, since Molly tells him his hair's "getting 
ridiculous".  Is this typical firstborn behavior, to sort of kick 
loose once he leaves school?  Not, I think, in a rebellious way 
exactly; I think Bill has a good humor about himself, and doesn't 
take himself so seriously that his appearance is an all-important 
statement.  He seems pretty well-adjusted, if that term really means 
anything.

CHARLIE WEASLEY
According to Oliver Wood, he "could have played Quidditch for England 
if he hadn't gone off chasing dragons."  Like Arthur, he seems to 
have pursued his interests regardless of whether they'll pay off 
financially, like those of us who sell our souls to get a post-
graduate degree and become a Starving Artist or Starving Writer. :)  
Is Charlie a kind of Jane Goodall, or is he working toward a CoMC 
degree of some sort?

PERCY WEASLEY
Percy seems to me to be the quintessential Scholarship Boy, what 
Richard Rodriguez calls a child who plunges headlong into academia 
and worships authority so as to escape from the hardship of his 
background (in Rodriguez's case, he was from a working-class Hispanic 
family).  Percy seeks to be the Perfect Customer Service 
Representative with everyone he deals with, doling out advice and 
information, teaching or learning with equal alacrity where it might 
earn him credit.  The members of Percy Lovers Unite! may have a soft 
spot for Percy, but I doubt Percy has a soft spot for himself.  At 
this moment (post-GoF), if he's not sitting in Azkaban for offing 
BCSr. (whoever posted that gave me thrills and chills), he's probably 
sitting by the Weasley fireside with his hands clasped miserably 
between his knees, his mother dosing him with cups of chamomile tea 
and Ginny trying to badger him into a chess game.

FRED and GEORGE WEASLEY
Fred and George, in a backlash against Percy's Scholarship-Boyism, 
have put their considerable wit to work being the zaniest and most 
mischievous rascals ever to set foot in Hogwarts.  They earn their 
mother's wrath for dawdling about their OWLs, and they plan to become 
entrepreneurs of joke candies.  However, as many have pointed out, 
they are always generous when they have anything to be generous with, 
and they notice other people's hardships more than any of the other 
characters except perhaps Dumbledore.  It's one of the twins who 
worries grimly about their parents' being able to afford all those 
Lockhart books, and it's usually the twins who notice Harry's various 
social plights and lend him a hand.  These characteristics intensify 
their anger against Ludo Bagman for cheating them, and test their 
diplomacy in dealing with him.  They also have the Weasley pride; 
Harry has to threaten them with a hex before they'll take the 
Triwizard winnings off his hands.

I'll post on Ron and Ginny later -- running out of time at the moment.

Lisa I.