In defense of the Working Class

[cynthiaanncoe at home.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 26698

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., Rowena Grunnion-Ffitch 
<rowena_grunnion_ffitch at y...> wrote:
>     In all justice to the Wizarding World the Malfoys
> are the only denizens thereof to exibit snobbish
> classism.
>    At Hogwarts the gamekeeper eats at the high table
> along with the teachers, (and probably the custodian
> too if he likes). Cornelius Fudge has no problem
> sharing a drink with Hagrid and readily invites Madame
> Rosmerta to join them. Nor does she hesitate to
> complain to the minister about dementors driving away
> her business. Fudge may be overly impressed by old
> wealth and 'pure blood' but he doesn't seem to look
> down on working class wizards, nor does anybody else
> except, predictably, the Malfoys.
> 

I don't know if I'd give Fudge that much credit for not being a 
snob.  He's a politician, and successful ones make everyone feel like 
they are a long lost relation.  So he hears Rosmerta's objections and 
clucks sympathetically, but the dementors do not get removed.  As far 
as his willingness to sit down and chat up the barkeep, well, that 
could just be good PR.  Life is just one long campaign, no?

I would need more proof to say that there isn't a class system at 
Hogwarts.  Yes, Hagrid dines at the staff table (I think that is what 
they call it), but we know that Dumbledore would trust his life to 
Hagrid, so I assume this seating arrangement could be a result of 
that personal relationship.  There's no proof that Filch gets invited 
to anything, although we don't know why this is.

Also, many of the students (not just Malfoy, if I recall correctly) 
are prepared to look down on Lupin just because of his shabby robes.  
Or, at least, they are said to view Lupin with increased respect due 
to his classroom performance.

Interesting discussion.

Cindy (who sometimes wonders why a talented wizard like Lupin doesn't 
learn a mending charm to fix up his robes, as there surely must be 
one, because first impressions are important when you are an 
unemployed werewolf)