[HPforGrownups] Re: honorifics

[The Fox]

No: HPFGUIDX 55814

From: Patricia Bullington-McGuire <patricia at obscure.org>
>Fox wrote:

>>I stand by my earlier theory -- that "Madam" is used by witches whose 
>>marital status is irrelevant to the discussion requiring their names.
>
>Possibly, but it also seems to be used primarily by women who are in 
>positions of authority.  Madam Hooch, Madam Pomfrey and Madam Pince are all 
>important people at the school and children are expected to obey them, even 
>if they are not full professors.  Madam Rosmerta's position doesn't seem as 
>lofty (perhaps that's why she seems to use her first name with 'Madam'), 
>but she is the proprietor of her own establishment and is the head honcho 
>within those doors.

That's a possibility.  But aren't children expected to obey other children's 
mothers, just as they're expected to obey the school nurse and the flying 
instructor and the librarian?  Why is Mrs. Weasley not Madam Weasley?  More 
to the point, if you're right -- and I think it's a combination of my 
suggestion and yours, i.e. "Madam" is used by women in professional settings 
when their marital status is irrelevant -- why is there not a different 
honorific for men in the corresponding situations?  Mr. Weasley and Mr. 
Malfoy and Mr. Diggory are the same Mr. as Mr. Ollivander and Mr. Filch, I 
mean to say.

Fox

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