Malfoys and Mudbloods

[Sean Dwyer]

No: HPFGUIDX 33178

First post, be gentle with me :)

I'd like to explore one of the major themes of the canon, the nature vs.
nurture argument, or Wizards vs. Muggles, Purebloods vs. Mudbloods.

This theme (like many in the HP books) is based on opposites: Hermione is a
wizard born of Muggles, Harry is born of Wizards (but no he isn't, Lily is
born of Muggles), and Draco is born of Purebloods (or is he?).

The Malfoys pride themselves on being Pureblood and (but the secret is out)
Death Eaters. They assume this is the source of their superiority, their
born-to-rule rights. Those of you not aware of the British class-system may
not realize the force with which JKR utilizes this theme. It goes to the heart
of the series: it's not what you are, it's what you make of yourself; Harry
personifies this.

Now my point is this: such a strong theme requires, as I said, opposites to
make it really work. So when will we find Mudbloods among the Malfoys? Think
about it for a moment. It makes the greatest literary sense to have Draco
suddenly confront a possible Mudblood ancestry that the family has tried to
cover up, perhaps for centuries. In the context of the many discussions of
Draco Reformation (I submit DR as the acronym), this would make the greatest
sense, and tie up the nature vs. nurture and DR themes quite neatly.

It may of course not require that Malfoys have Mudblood to fully realize this
theme, but they are the perfect candidate.

At some point in the series, the Wizards vs. Muggles duality will have to be
resolved, most likely through Harry. Harry, of course, can see the relative
weakness of the wizard world; Arthur Weasley is certainly aware of it, and the
dangers that wizardly arrogance poses for the health of wizard/muggle
relations. It would help, of course, if Pureblood families were made
forcefully aware of that weakness through a realization that they are not so
Pure as they thought. By the Dursley's reactions (and reminders of the 14th
century), there is a bit more to fear from muggles than demands to solve their
problems by magic. A Malfoy Muggle might be a step in the right direction.

In closing, may I state that I am not a shipper. Being teenagers and the
tangle that love's path generally is, it will not surprise me if JKR will keep
you all guessing for a good while yet :) I personally agree with the
Harry=Frodo theory: he is destined to redeem the world, but not for himself.

Sean (excited squeaks at finding other obssessives notwithstanding :)

-- 
Sean Dwyer <ewe2 at can.org.au>
Web: http://www.geocities.com/ewe2_au/