Official Philip Nel Question #10: Class

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 41413


Porphyria wrote:

> The way I see it, class is one of those fault lines along which 
the 
> HP series is inherently conflicted. 

Elkins:

I see strong ambivalence here as well, and I agree with 
Porphyria's implication that most of the internal contradictions of 
the Harry Potter books cluster around the core concept of 
*elitism* -
<snip>
Porphyria summarized Richard Adams' excellent article, "Harry 
Potter and the Closet Conservative," with: 

> Adams discusses how the HP series espouses a mix of both
> progressive and nostalgic ideas. Hogwarts is racially diverse 
and coed, yet recreates the old-fashioned dream of conservative 
Britain through its many allusions to the stereotypical British 
public  school, notions reinforced by the quaintly anachronistic 
Wizarding  culture at large.<<

I think Adams' analysis misses the point Rowling is making. The 
class struggle depicted in the wizarding world is older than 
liberals vs. tories. The WW is quasi-medieval and so is its class 
war. Just as in the middle ages, we have a struggle between 
class systems. 

On one side is the old system of kinship based autonomous 
groups where allegiances are cemented by the exchange of gifts 
and services (think Beowulf), and on the other side is  a 
centralized system  based on knowledge, governed by a 
bureaucracy and cemented by a monetary system. In real life the 
new system began to take shape with the rise of the cities 
around the eleventh century--just when Hogwarts was founded. 

The elite of the new system were the 'literati': those who could 
read and write. The founding of Hogwarts represents a  similar 
revolution, transferring power from those who have inherited it to 
those who have risen through competitive examinations. 
Slytherin, who did not want the authority of all-magical families 
destroyed, represents a subversive conservative element within 
Hogwarts. He obviously saw the benefit of education, but wanted 
it limited to the old ruling class.

In the wizarding world, as  in medieval Europe, the new system 
of trade is  replacing the old economy based on personal 
holdings. Mr. Borgin feigns to sympathize with the Malfoys, 
complaining that wizard blood is counting for less and less  
everywhere. However, as a shopkeeper, he benefits from the 
new system, and lets his true sympathies show as soon as the 
Malfoys leave, sneering at Malfoy and his manor.

Voldemort, Heir of Slytherin, is trying to re-establish the old 
system: his followers are sworn personally to him, and are 
rewarded in kind rather than in cash. His politics are those of 
feud and vendetta. His preferred contest is the duel.

The relationship between the House Elves and their masters is 
also part of the old system. House Elves owe allegiance to a 
family and their term of service is ended by a gift. It is also 
characteristic of the old system that justice is private and based 
on a concept of personal injury. Mr. Crouch claims the right to 
punish his Elf himself for defying his orders, instead of turning 
her over to the Dept. for the Regulation and Control of Magical 
Creatures which wishes to punish her for violating the code of 
wand use, a victimless crime.

 Looked at in this light, the contradiction Elkins perceives 
resolves. The Dursleys and the overbearing Ministry of Magic 
show us the downside of the revolution which Dumbledore is 
trying to carry out. The system for which Dumbledore has such 
hopes is vulnerable, not only to subversive reactionaries like 
Slytherin and his descendant, but because, as Rowling shows 
us, the educated are just as capable of injustice as the 
bluebloods.

The Ministry is showing off its power by declaring any number of 
victimless crimes, and it is attempting to keep its power for its 
own by associating anyone who threatens it with the dread 
powers of  dark magic, just as the literati in the real life medieval 
world manipulated fears of sorcery and devil worship to secure 
their political power.

What Rowling seems nostalgic for is not the old ruling class per 
se, but the virtue it once espoused: nobility of spirit, the desire to 
protect the weak without exploitation.  In the Potterverse, nobility 
cannot be bought, nor bred (even the Weasleys throw off an 
accountant now and then), nor even taught.  It seems to be 
conferred by grace on the humble. 

Rowling's ideal seems to be a synthesis of the two systems, 
ancient and modern. She would like to see the idealism of the 
old chivalric system as represented by Gryffindor House 
preserved as a shelter for those who need it, but combined with 
the mobility and  meritocracy of the new.

Pippin