Official Philip Nel Question #10: Class

[GulPlum]

No: HPFGUIDX 41365

I already wrote at length in this thread a few days ago, but I've had 
another thought on one of Porphyria's questions.

She'd asked:

"3. Is Hogwarts an elitist institution? Does its resemblance to Eton, 
with its cliquish houses, weird sports, funny uniforms and symbolic, 
honor-based competitions replicate the elitist values of the British 
Empire, critique them, or even satirize them?"

Further to what I've already said, it struck me earlier today that 
there is an institution in the Potterverse which does fulfil the 
requirements of that statement, and that is Smeltings. It's very much 
presented as the opposite of Hogwarts in many respects.

When Harry goes gets kitted out for school, his robes and wand seem 
like perfectly natural requirements, whereas when Dudley turns up in 
his Smeltings uniform, Harry has to hide under the table to stop 
himself laughing. (His reaction was particularly well depicted in one 
of the deleted scenes in the DVD-which-should-not-be-named, with a 
dismissive "I'm not going to have to wear *that*, am I?".) 

(as a complete aside: something I found amusing about the Smeltings 
uniform in the FWSNBN is that it's very close to that of a major prep 
school in West London, which Radcliffe attended...) 

Do I need to draw a parallel between the Smeltings Stick and the 
wand, both essential bits of kit? The one used for bullying and as a 
demonstration of power, the other as a wizard's tool to wield his own 
power...

The Smeltings Stick also appears to be the primary tool of a strange 
Smeltings game of whacking each other on the head with it, an 
implicit encouragement of bullying.

Vernon says that seing Dudley in his uniform is the proudest moment 
of his life - he's joining the elite, attaining a position of power. 
In the later books, Harry often thinks getting his Hohwarts 
acceptance letter as one of the happiest of his life - not because it 
was his "ticket" to join the elite, but because it was the ticket to 
escape the drudgery of living with the Dursleys. A very different 
emphasis.

Vernon, as a Smeltings alumnus, is an example of what that system 
produces: vacuous bullies without a feeling of true honour or 
compassion, intent on keeping up appearances and staying ahead of the 
rate race.

Hogwarts may have its share of faiulres in terms of rounded human 
beings (Snape, Wormtail, presumably Lucius), but by and large it 
encourages honourable behaviour and compassion. Note that the 
depiction of Hogwarts prefects (heck, even Percy!) is of people whose 
role is help the younger pupils, not to boss them about and bully 
them.  I wouldn't be surprised if Dudley were to become a Smeltings 
prefect and we heard of his exploits making life a misery for smaller 
boys.

Finally, the primary criterion for acceptance at Smeltings appears to 
be an ability to pay, very much an elitist attitude. Hogwarts accepts 
all pupils from whatever background and financial resources as long 
as they fulfill the primary requirement of having natural wizarding 
abilities.

All in all, yet another nail in this particular argument's coffin. :-)

-- 
GulPlum AKA Richard, UK