Ginevra

[lauren_silverwolf]

No: HPFGUIDX 98988

JoAnna wrote:
> Incidentally, do you think the fact that Ginny's the first Weasley 
> girl born in several generations will become plot point?  I'm 
> inclined to think not - if it was, I'd imagine JKR would have 
> mentioned it by now.  However, there were a lot of new plot points 
> developed in book 5, so it's possible.  Thoughts?

One thing that's not been mentioned yet in regards to the source of 
the name Ginevra is that it also shares it roots from Genever -  a 
spirit made from Juniper berries, which we know today as Gin. 

Back in 18th Century England gin was very simple to make, and thus 
cheap and popular with the poor. It was particularly popular with 
women, who liked the taste and drank large quantities to escape their 
miserable existance. It was at this point it obtained its nickname -
 "Mother's Ruin". There are possibly 2 reasons for this. Firstly, gin 
was thought to affect fertility, and to bring on the termination of 
unwanted pregnancies. Secondly, as seen in Hogarth's painting "Gin 
Lane", it made women drunk & irresponsible mothers (a drunk woman 
allows her baby to fall, unnoticed to the floor). 

I'm wondering whether "Mother's Ruin" is a pointer towards Ginny & 
Molly's relationship deteriorating in the future. I'm not for one 
minute suggesting any alcoholism or unwanted pregnancies! However, we 
have seen Ginny grow from a shy child, into a spunky teenager. One 
thing we've not witnessed yet, though, is how this has altered the 
Molly/Ginny relationship dynamic (and, as all mothers with teenage 
daughters know - it's not necessarily smooth sailing). I'd like to 
see this in the next book – but I'm hoping that it's not a complete 
portent of doom for poor Molly...

Lauren.