[HPforGrownups] Re: Hermione's rude comment

[The Crashing Boar]

No: HPFGUIDX 74706

From: severusbook4 
  <<<snip> 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? >>>>


       Actually, I think all of you are off base on this one.  
  <snip> I think her reaction is normal and has nothing to do with 
  being racist at all, remember she is the first to be singled out in 
  the series as a mudblood, a ancestrial slur against her parents. In 
  this sense she would be the last to condemn someone on their species 
  group.  She just doesn't find him attractive. 'nough said. 
  -----

  In the first place, my reply to this post was to the effect that a few thoughtless words does *not* make you an out and out racist, in the second place, HG doesn't simply state she finds Firenze unattractive or uninteresting, she actually labels him as an animal.  I really don't think there is any real intent to insult behind it, but one of the basic ideas of a racially biased philosophy is that 'the(insert racial, religious or ethnic group here) are not quiet as well evolved and/or socially developed than us'.  

  I do think that this scene may have been meant to help illustrate some of the points raised in other parts of the book, like how did Umbridge manage to get so many of her petty, restrictive and discriminatory laws passed before she came to Hogwarts?  Perhaps the biggest fault with it is that it was too subtle.

  Dawn




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