"Are the Shades of Goderic's Hollow to be thus polluted?!" (was: A new thou

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 44608

I wrote:
> <snip>One can be vastly interested in all things Muggle, and 
want them to be protected, without ever considering them as 
potential members of one's family. A certain condescension 
creeps into Molly's and Arthur's tone whenever Muggles (bless 
them!) are discussed.
<snip>

Bugaloo37:
>>I have never noticed any condescension on the part of Molly or 
Arthur Weasley. In fact, in CoS, they are very considerate and 
helpful to Hermione's parents. IMO, you certainly cannot 
compare the Weasleys behavior to that of the Malfoys-father and 
son. Condescension, IMO, is a type of snobbery. I simply have 
not noticed anything but down-to-earth, thoughtful, kind-hearted 
responses to Muggles or Muggle-borns from the Weasley 
parents. If you would, please provide some examples of this 
condescension. I am eager to discover anything I 
have overlooked in my reading.<<


	The Weasleys are indeed not comparable to the Malfoys. They 
don't want to hurt or terrorize Muggles. But that doesn't mean that 
the Weasleys' ethnocentricity never shades into insensitivity or 
ethnic superiority. Molly's very first line in PS/SS, "Packed with 
Muggles, of course," establishes that she considers Muggles to 
be  Other, and a nuisance as well. Her remark about the 
stretched interior of the car, "Muggles *do* know more than we 
give them credit for, don't they?" also shows a sense of 
superiority.

As for Mr. Weasley, at his first sight of the Grangers, he says, 
"But you're *Muggles*" as if it never occured to him  that 
Ron might have a Muggle-born friend, and then he actually grabs 
Molly's hand and points at them. It also never occurs to him that 
the Grangers might want to do something with their limited time 
in the wizarding world besides have a drink with him (and 
answer all his questions about Muggle life.)

It sounds condescending to me that he says, "Bless them" 
whenever he talks about Muggle shortsightedness. He doesn't 
talk that way about the  House Elves, for example. And his 
Muggle Protection Act is no doubt well-intended, but we don't 
usually talk about protecting those we consider  equals.

I don't think Arthur and Molly do any of this consciously, but I also 
don't think they're quite as accepting of Muggles as they think 
they are.

Pippin