McGonagall -- Molly

[Penny & Bryce]

No: HPFGUIDX 33406

Hi all --

ftah3 wrote:


> Elizabeth Dalton:
>  > Hopefully we'll see McGonnagal get sent on a secret mission, too,
> or otherwise
>  > do something amazing and impressive.
> 
> I love McGonnagal, and I think she is awfully discounted by readers. 
> I suppose that, like Molly Weasley, Prof. M seems terribly unexciting
> by the fact that she 'keeps the home fires burning' in terms of
> Hogwarts.  But the fact is that she continually takes on great
> responsibility, and as the apparent second in command at Hogwarts is
> yet three times as accessible an authority figure as Dumbledore.  I
> mean, what does Dumbledore *do*?  Other than head up banquets, and
> possibly do administrative things behind closed doors.  He's great,
> according to all of his fans, but so far his greatness has only been
> expressed by timeliness and the occasional wise word (granting that
> great things are implied for him in future books per the end of
> GoF). 
> 
> McGonnagal is at least as impressive and Dumbledore, but far more
> busy.  She actually teaches, actively watches over her house, is a
> participative fan of her house Quidditch team, interacts as an
> authority figure quite a bit with students outside of just teaching,
> mentors Hermione, teaches a difficult subject as well as uses her
> power in that arena, is virtually inflappable (though when she *is*
> shaken, she's able to overcome and act quickly, reliably &
> effectively), and she's the one to whom Dumbledore entrusts the
> running of Hogwarts when he's deposed from the Headmaster position.
> 
> Dude.  She rocks!

Yes, absolutely!  I've been searching off & on for several days in vain 
for a long-ish post I did on McGonagall awhile back.  There's no message 
# for it in the McGonagall FAQ either, sadly.  But, I think Mahoney hits 
the high points of what I said in McGonagall's defense in one of the 
"gender roles/are there strong women in HP" HP4GU debates of yesteryear. 
  <g>

McGonagall *does* ALOT more than Dumbledore, and she *does* AS MUCH AS 
(if not more than) Snape .... and all the other professors.  She is the 
Deputy Headmistress, which suggests that she leap-frogged over Snape & 
anyone else in her way to be 2nd-in-command.  She is obviously being 
groomed to take over from Dumbledore.  As many of us know from 
first-hand experience, being "2nd in command" often involves a fair bit 
of grunt work, admin work, etc.  So, I'm not surprised to see McGonagall 
portrayed as a bit of an administrator.  She also, however, teaches one 
of the core subjects (just like Snape and the ever-changing array of 
DADA profs!), and many of us have the impression that transfiguration 
might well be one of (or *the*) most complex or difficult subjects 
taught at Hogwarts.  She is one of *7* registered animagi in the last 
*century.*  She is head of one of the four Hogwarts houses.  She has 
recreational interests (Quidditch!).  She is perceived as *fair,* though 
strict.  She is obviously a well-rounded person with a human side.  I'm 
going to make a very brief Movie reference in that I think Maggie Smith 
captured McGonagall perfectly when the audience (*not* Harry) glimpses a 
barely-suppressed smile on her face as she is marching 
just-caught-flying Harry off to the castle.

I *love* McGonagall, and I think she's an incredibly strong female 
character within the Potterverse.  She is clearly an accomplished witch, 
who is a very strong role model for all students, but maybe especially 
those like Hermione.  I'm amazed that people lump her in with the likes 
of the minor female professors.  :::shakes head:::

And, No, I don't think that she should be blamed for what happened with 
Crouch, Jr.  I recall we had a debate about that subject a few mths 
back, and sorry Cindy, but I agree with the folks who pointed out that 
*Snape* was equally culpable in that affair in that he should have put 
his foot down *outside* the castle (refused to allow Fudge to bring a 
dementor into the castle at all).  What exactly was McGonagall supposed 
to do? The Dementor probably acted so quickly that she didn't have time 
to react.  I might also add that Snape also didn't react to stop the 
dementor from administering the Kiss, and he was standing right there 
with McGonagall & Fudge presumably.

MOLLY -- I think it's great to have a positive portrayal of a 
stay-at-home mom within the series; I am one myself.  However, I note 
that we don't know what Molly did before she had her family -- she might 
have been any number of things.  And, she might, for all we know, 
*still* be working.  There's nothing in canon, AFAIK, that suggests that 
Molly runs the Weasley household & nothing more (not that running the 
Weasley household is anything to sniff at of course).

But, maybe she has a part-time job, consults from her house or maybe 
she's a teacher at a wizarding primary school & thus has the summers off 
on holiday (hence is seemingly a SAHM when we see her in the summer 
holidays).  NOT that there's anything amiss if she is a SAHM ... I just 
note that we're making an assumption that I don't think is necessarily 
supportable in full by canon so far.  I am (ostensibly!) working 
part-time (very part-time at the moment) from my house.....it would be 
perfectly plausible for Molly to also be doing this.  Maybe she writes 
columns for Witch Weekly??!  :--)

Penny