[HPforGrownups] Re: OOtP: Misunderstood Molly (Was Molly's Shortcomings)

[Pinguthegreek]

No: HPFGUIDX 66442

Mary said :
What everyone forgets is that just about everyone in the Order is in 
the business of risking life and limb to protect those they love. 
Emotions are running high, and things are said in the heat of the 
moment that probably should not be said.  Molly, especially, has more 
at risk than anyone.  There is no greater source of anxiety to a 
mother than having her children in danger - and all of hers (and yes -
Harry is included here) are.  Many moms will do anything - SAY 
anything to keep them safely under her control. It may not be 
healthy, but it IS human. That's why I love J.K.R.'s portrayal of 
Molly.  She is NOT June Cleaver, as mentioned in another post - she 
is scattered and distracted, unorganized and cranky - but she makes a 
home (not a perfect one, but a reasonably happy one) whereever she 
is, and loves her family fiercely.  So fiercely, that she tends to 
blunder when she feels them slipping away from her - hence her 
strained relationship with her twins, and her nearly hysterical joy 
at Ron becoming a prefect. Is her behavior wildly inconsistent?  You 
bet! That's what makes her such an interesting character, and the one 
I identify most closely with. The fact that she's carrying these 
tremendous fears around with her, even as she risks her own life for 
the order raises her to goddess status in my book.

I just want to add something here too : 
She's also probably asking herself a lot of questions about her parenting, following Percy's behaviour. In my mind. she is trying to work out how and why he said what he did. Did she really raise a son of hers that way ? If I were her, I would probably swing too far in the direction of doing anything to keep the rest of my family safe and together in the face of such a predicament. This woman is frantic throughout the whole book. Don't forget that she may well be aware of the level of danger Harry faces, not just that he is in danger. Even if she does not know the prophecy. 

I think that Molly is admirable not as a domestic goddess but as a human being. In the face of everything she is still there. I love her strength. 

Michelle


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