Who were the Potters? (now, Choice over Heritage)

[Anne]

No: HPFGUIDX 45948

On Wed, 30 October GulPlum wrote:

>> At 03:52 30/10/02 +0000, twister10_2000 wrote:

<snipping>
> >As for the Potter question...Well, it's a mystery
wrapped up in an
> >enigma, isn't it? At least, until the series is
finished. I've just
> >held the belief that there was something about the
Potter bloodline,
> >most likely that they are descendents of Gryffindor
that sent
> >Voldemort after them. It's the only reason for me
that explains why
> >Voldy killed off James, and was so adamant about
killing Harry...yet
> >was willing to spare Lily (or at least, not really
caring in whether
> >he took her life or not). Very vague, yes. Very
original, yes...but
> >entirely plausible.

<GulPlum>:
>  That's a very common (but far from universal)
>theory. I happen to suspect it may be true, but there
>are things about it (mainly JKR's theme of choice    
>over heritage) which make me doubt it.

Anne here:

In GulPlum's reply here is an example of something
I've been noticing, namely that some theory or other
is not likely because it doesn't fit with JKR's theme
of choice over heritage.  This idea that what one
*does* is more important than what one is *born with*
is not negated by the fact that we all are in fact
born into a certain set of circumstances and that,
indeed, things which are out of our control will
happen to us all through life and influence us deeply.

Take Harry, for instance.  More important to the
course of Harry's life than whether he is
*Gryffindor's Heir* or not is the fact that he was
born a wizard.  If the second thing turns out to be
true, it is merely part of the *raw material* of
Harry's life just as we know that the first is. These
things don't lock him into any certain *fate*, they
are merely the starting point for his life's choices.

This leads me to something within the books which I am
really hoping JKR will take up eventually.  It is
quite noticable that there are really no examples of
really good muggles anywhere.  The best you can do is
assume that any number of the muggle-born and
half-blood students have decent muggle parents.  It is
so noticeable to me that I am wondering if *looking
down on muggles* will be one of the prejudices taken
up in the story eventually.

Anne,
who is all-muggle, but NOT by choice, and hoping
therefore that it turns out to be not important.
                    




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