Wizards coming of age

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 37669

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "alhewison" <Ali at z...> wrote:
> I've just been idling away a bit of time wondering why wizards 
come  of age at 17 - not 18.
<snip>
? Also, once wizards reach 
> 17, are they then allowed to use magic, even if they still go to 
> Hogwarts?

JKR, from a Barnes and Noble chat:
Michael S. from Illinois: How many more sequels will you be 
writing about Harry Potter?

J K Rowling: There are going to be seven Harrys all together. He 
will be 17 in the final book, which means he will have come of 
age in the Wizarding World. In Book 7, he will become a full 
wizard, and free to use his magic outside school. 

http://shop.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?u
serid=69WCMD0H17&mscssid=KKQ9L62NN8XL8GNMADPUP
H764K059XXC&isbn=059035342X&displayonly=authorInterview

(you'll have to cut and paste the link into your browser window)

I suppose she arbitrarily made 17 the date so that 
Harry would be considered a grown up by the last book. If she'd 
thought up ten books, he'd probably come of age at 21.

 I know some people are uneasy about the prospects of early 
marriage and no higher education for Harry because it's not what 
we encourage for young people in our culture. But wizard culture 
is not our culture and I am sure if JKR makes it so she will also 
be able to convey why it is appropriate for Harry's world. 

Since the pool of available jobs and available mates within the 
WW is so much smaller, it seems  to me that wizards could get 
settled in life  much more quickly than we can. Why shouldn't 
they marry young, raise their children, and "live a little" once the 
kids are out of the house? 

Pippin