[HPforGrownups] Re: Why buy 5 sets of Lockhart's book?

[annegirl11 at juno.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 113826

Someone who didn't sign his/her name said:
> My own take on this is that despite poverty the Weasley's hold with 
> the old school (UK) view that every student should have a copy of 
> the recommended text. 

Plus, I don't get the sense that the Weasley's are dirt poor; they just
have a lot of kids and aren't Malfoy-level-rich. They spend money on
things that are really important, like school supplies (ie, investing in
the future) but dress robes that'll be worn once and pets that are useful
but not necesary they scrimp on.

Amy said:
> I consider myself middle class...in this old muggle world. I COULD 
>spend my money on designer clothes and such, but...I'd rather look 
>for bargains...go to rummage sales, Goodwill, clearance sales, and 
>then be able to take a cruise....thats my thoughts anyway...They have 
>enough money, just choose how to spend it more wisely. 

Yes, exactly. Molly always reminds me of Roseanne Conner (in their more
comfortable seasons): a mom whose primary objective is to stretch the
budget. Visiting their son in Egypt and spending money on the kids'
education is deemed a worthy investment, but she still has to tell her
kids, "no, we can't afford that" a lot. I grew up in a home like that. We
were perfectly comfortable, but I knew to not expect designer jeans or
rediculously overpriced sneakers every year. My parents would rather
spend the money on a yearly summer vacation.

Duffypoo said:
>I think they're rather hard up, myself, from reading in CoS, "Harry
enjoyed the break-neck journey >down to the Weasleys' vault, but felt
dreadful, far worse than he had in Knockturn Alley, when it was >opened. 
There was a very small pile of Silver Sickles inside, and just one gold
Galleon.  Mrs. >Weasley felt right into the corners before sweeping the
whole lot into her bag

That just means they don't have a lot of savings. With a lot of kids and
only one income, they probably spend about as much as they make. Which is
adverage for the middle-class family.

Magda said:
>But Ron's touchiness about his family's
>poverty ("why is everything I own rubbish?") didn't appear out of
>thin air. 

But he's a kid. And he's at an age where material things *do* affect your
standing with other kids. Take it from a middle class kid whose mother
dragged me to JC Penny for school clothes *every*damn*year* (to
non-Americans: not the cheapest of the cheap, but hardly a
fashion-forward department store, either): it sucks when everyone else
seems to have better things than you. But I only thought that because I
was only noticing the popular, rich kids' things. The fact that there
were probably more kids at school in knock-off jeans like mine than the
few in genuine Guess completely slipped past me. It's just one of those
arguments every kids have with their parents at some point. No matter how
rich you are, there always will be a kid who seems richer, better off,
*has a better life*, because that's kids and their insecurities.

>Molly was hateful at that point in GOF.  

I think that's a little harsh. She did say that there wasn't much option.
I think the mom-logic here was that he'll only wear the robes once, so
it's not like he'll be going around school in them every day. And she,
like most adults, probably doesn't realize the importance adolescents put
on clothes. Or, indeed, the daily drama adolescents go through because of
popularity and appearance. She could have hemmed the lace off of them,
though. Maybe there wasn't enough time, with all the other pre-school
stuff to do.

I can't find who brought it up first, but I think Molly probably thinks
maroon "looks good" on Ron. She seems like the semi-controlling but
well-meaning kind of mother who would force a color on her kid because
she thinks it looks good on him.

Aura

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