[HPforGrownups] Re: Hermione's rude comment

[The Crashing Boar]

No: HPFGUIDX 74618

From: pippin_999 

  --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Wanda Sherratt" 
  <wsherratt3338 at r...> wrote:
  So now I find it rather disorienting that Hermione just 
  > casually tosses off what in the wizarding world is basically a 
  > racial insult, and nothing comes of it. Nobody speaks to her, 
  >nobody  comments on it, nobody even raises an eyebrow or 
  >looks troubled or  surprised.

  Oh yes, they do.

  "He's not a horse, he's a Centaur!" said Lavender, sounding 
  shocked.

  It isn't the first time Hermione has come out with  something like 
  this, either. In PoA  ch. 17:

  "NO!" Hermione screamed. "Harry, don't trust him, he's been 
  helping Black get into the castle, he wants you dead too--*he's a 
  werewolf*!" (emphasis Rowling's) 

  Try changing "werewolf" to the  ethnic signifier of your choice and 
  see how it sounds. 

  I think Rowling is trying to show us just how insidious prejudice 
  is. Even a well-meaning person like Hermione can fall prey to 
  stereotyping.

  Pippin

  -----

  I think this is probably the most likely explaination, with the possible lead in to something in the forthcoming storylines, but another thought came to me from something said in another thread.  

  It was suggested that Snape was a racist because of one word used when he was being taunted as a teenager (seen in the pensieve), so perhaps JKR might of been dropping a hint that not everything said by a teenage student to another is to be taken as a sign that they are deeply tainted with racist beliefs?

  Dawn


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