OOtP: Molly's Shortcomings

[pennylin]

No: HPFGUIDX 66285

Hi all --

Well, just to clarify (I *knew* that dissing Molly was not going to be popular) -----

1.  I *am* a mother; and............
2.  I am a Stay-at-Home mother (a "housewife" in other words) [though I was a corporate lawyer in a former life and am still doing some free-lance writing].  

And, I *still* don't like Molly.  Not one bit, really.  

Megalynn said, among other things: <<<<<<She is a stereotypical MOTHER.>>>>>>>

Well, she is *definitely* a stereotype and one I don't much care for.  She fusses and frets too much; she in essence is living vicariously through her children and doesn't know when to let go.  Part of being a parent is understanding that a child is an individual who must eventually spread his/her wings and fly away.  Part of being a parent is understanding that your child may not want for himself precisely what it is that *you* want for him (::::FredandGeorge, cough::::).  Part of being a parent is at some point realizing that a fully-grown child or one in late adolescence is no longer six.  Yes, Jenny, I completely agree that she's trying to treat Harry and the others like they are 6.  She has no perspective, Molly.  

I did sympathize with her on the boggart scene.  But, being sympathetic to her fears doesn't make me like her any better, especially when I see little connection between her fears and the way she treats her family members.  She's been a nagging harpie from the very beginning, long before there was a war on in the wizarding world.  I positively loathe the depiction of her relationship with Arthur.  In fact, I would wager that *this* is one of my deepest fears about the R/H ship.  If it comes to pass, will it be because Hermione and Ron are destined to re-enact the Arthur/Molly marriage?  If so, I will *HATE* that.  Hermione deserves better.  She's not Molly (and I see signs that she would resist the comparison), but Ron seems to bring out her Molly-like tendencies.  I can't see Hermione taking on this role, and I fervently hope with all my being that this is not what JKR intends for her.  

Oh, but back to Molly and that boggart scene.  Yes, David, I did appreciate that Molly has shades of grey, flaws and vulnerabilities, and I would not wish her to be a cardboard cutout.  But, on some level, she *is* a cardboard cutout.  She is the stereotypical June Cleaver-esque housewife who nags her husband and kids incessantly.  Okay, so she has deep-seated fears and possible trauma in her background.  I'm still missing the causal connection between the potentially tragic past events and the way she has treated her husband and children for the entire time we have known her.  

Marianne said:

<<<<<I've never been crazy about Molly mostly because I find her style of 
mothering annoying.  <snip>
But, she's also got this over-protective streak about Harry.  In GoF, 
even though she's known Hermione for years, and knows she's a friend 
of Harry's and Ron's, she's quick to believe the gossip that was 
written about her.  And in OoP, she clearly does not think that 
Sirius is a good influence on Harry.  With perhaps some legitimate 
reasons, but it doesn't take her long to fire up into full-blown 
maternal avenger.  Her crack about Azkaban was low and I cheered 
Remus when he pointedly reminded her that she was not the only one at 
the table who cared about Harry.

So, while I can still cut Molly some slack, she's a low-level 
irritant.  And, I was disappointed that Molly's Order role didn't go 
anywhere.>>>>>>>>>

*nods*   Yes to all of the above.  I'm glad we see the "bad" sides of these characters more in OoP, but I was pretty well not sold on Molly to begin with and OoP only emphasized her shortcomings for me.  

Penny





  > 
  > I would like to defend Molly now.  
  She 
  > fuses and fretts and LOVES. She barks but she doesn't bite. She 
  would 
  > never disown one of her kids. She will always be there for them, 
  and 
  > if her encouraging and pushing her kids to be good at school is a 
  bad 
  > thing, then I think we have forgotten what a parent is. Even when 
  > Percy said those Horribly outrageous things to Arther she still 
  went 
  > to London to try to patch things up. She took Harry in without a 
  > second thought and loves him like her own child. She is a wonderful 
  > asset not only to the kids but the order. Everyone needs a mother, 
  > even the Order of the Pheonix, they need someone to care for 
  everyone 
  > and be there for everyone.
  > 
  > 
  > I asked before OOP what did Molly do with her time? If the 
  Weasley's 
  > were so strapped for cash why didn't she get a job, the kids are 
  out 
  > of the house most the year. However, now it is evident that that is 
  > where she is in her element. She seems most talented at running a 
  > household, and even though, especially today, not many people value 
  > that, I think she is a valuable asset being the person she is. 
  > 
  > Just my two knuts
  > 
  > ~Megalynn


  the only short-coming Molly has is that she loves her family too 
  much. I dunno if that is a short-coming, or an asset. She is the 
  typical mother.

  God Bless all of you out there who are moms... you gals really get 
  the raw deal...
  Ignacio*sniff... I think I am going to call my mom...* Becerra



        Yahoo! Groups Sponsor 
       
       

  ________HPFGU______Hexquarters______Announcement_______________

  Before posting to any list, you MUST read the group's Admin File!
  http://www.hpfgu.org.uk/admin

  Remember to use accurate subject headings and to snip unnecessary material from posts to which you're replying!

  Is your message...
  An announcement of merchandise, news, a website etc.? Send it to HPFGU-Announcements.
  Movie-related? Book-movie comparison? Send it to HPFGU-Movie.
  Referencing *only* the books? Send it to HPforGrownups.
  None of the above? OT? Send it to HPFGU-OTChatter.
  Unsure? Other questions? Ask your personal List Elf or the Mods, Elves, and Geists -- HPforGrownups-owner at yahoogroups.com or to reach just the Mods -- MagicalMods at yahoogroups.com

  Unsubscribing? Email hpforgrownups-unsubscribe at yahoogroups.com
  ____________________________________________________________ 

  Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. 


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]