parental roles in HP books

[susanmcgee48176]

No: HPFGUIDX 136315

> 
> ***Much of Rowling's understanding of the origins of evil has to do 
> with the role of the father in family life. "As I look back over the 
> five published books," she says, "I realize that it's kind of a 
> litany of bad fathers. That's where evil seems to flourish, in 
> places where people don't get good fathering."***
> 


So we have a number of fathers to examine, and to see if in fact most 
of the evil characters have bad fathers....also have to look at 
mothers in my next post and see if in fact they are all the stereotype 
of noble, self-sacrificing, wonderful creatures...I disagree with JKR, 
in that I think her characters, like many people are influenced by 
both fathers and mothers....

Fathers:

Tom Riddle, Jr. father to Tom Marvolo Riddle, later styling himself 
Lord Voldemort. LV has bitter hatred against his father who he 
believes abandoned his mother just because she was a witch. He knows 
that his father never was interested in him, and left him to languish 
in the orphange. He kills his father, and later uses his bone to 
reincarnate. Phew! Well, even giving Tom Riddle, dad, some slack if we 
assume he was enchanted into marrying Merope Gaunt Riddle, he's not 
such a good dad.
And LV is evil. (see next post on mothers  - Merope Gaunt)

Tobias Snape, father to Severus Snape. We have a glimpse of Tobias 
from the Pensieve in the OoP. Many have assumed, I believe rightly, 
that Tobias was abusive to Eileen Prince (see next post  mothers.) 
Snape may be an example of some of the damaging effects witnessing 
domestic violence has on a child. He seems to have taken on his 
father's cruelty to others with less power. Whether he's on the side 
of LV or DD ultimately, I suggest that this is one of the bad father 
litanies JKR was discussing.

Lucius Malfoy, father of Draco Malfoy. Lucius bullies and lectures 
Draco. Lucius himself is a DE. Draco is also cruel and vicious and a 
bully. Draco is, however, loved by his mother (see next post Mothers - 
Narcissa Black Malfoy).

Mr. Goyle, father of Gregory Goyle. A Death Eater father with a son 
who toadies to Draco and who is fast on his way to be a DE himself. 
Mother unknown

Mr. Crabbe, father of Vincent Crabbe. Same as above. Mother unknown.

Bartemius Crouch, Sr., father to Barty Crouch, Jr. Father is rigid, 
overcontrolling, fanatic who does great injustice to many, including
Sirius Black who he sends to Azkaban without a trial, and his own son. 
Barty Sr. is portrayed as sacrificing his own son to his personal 
ambition and lust for power -- first in his neglect while the son was 
growing up and then in sending him to Azkaban. Barty Crouch, Jr. is 
hiimself evil, emulates his hero LV, and kills his father. BC, Jr., 
evil spawn of another in the litany of evil fathers. See next post 
mothers.

Nott, a death eater, father of Theodore Nott, a crony of Draco's.

Marvolo, father of Morfin and Merope. Well, poor Marvolo gets killed 
by grandson Lord Voldemort, but that's the nicest thing we can say 
about him. Filthy, bigoted, abusive, inbred, and like father, like 
son....Morfin obviously has major mental health issues and also ends 
up in Azkaban, framed by Lord Voldemort. Marvolo hasn't been very 
supportive of his daughter's self-esteem...see next post, mothers

Sirius' father. We don't know his name. We know that he favored 
Regulus, was an adherent of LV and a fanatic pure blood (although not 
a DE. Sirius was so unhappy at home that he left as soon as he could, 
and was taken in by Harry's paternal grandparents. See below Sirius' 
mother. JKR says Sirius is a case of "arrested development." He ended 
up being very unhappy, although it's hard to say whether this was 
solely due to his parents' rejection (and his rejection of their 
beliefs) or to his unjust imprisonment and loss of his best friends.
See next post - Mother Black.

Vernon Dursley, father to Dudley Dursley and stepfather to Harry.
Vernon is no cartoon character, and is not added for comic relief.
He, too, is a bully, and has raised a bully. JKR has said that the 
Dursleys have hurt Dudley as much as they have hurt Harry. In fact, 
Dudley beats up Harry, participates in scapegoating him, enlists 
others to ostracize him, etc. etc. Bully father/bully son. (See next 
post Petunia)

Grandfather Potter, father to James, seems like a nice guy, takes 
Sirius in.

James Potter, father to Harry....despite some bad acting out as a 
teenager, James is still the heroic father, saving Snape from Sirius, 
fighting Lord Voldemort, beloved of Lily and Sirius, esteemed by DD., 
etc. See Below, mother.

Mr. Thomas, biological father of Dean Thomas, who abandoned Dean as an 
infant. Mr. Thomas left his family in order to protect them, refused 
to join the DEs, and was later killed by him.

Hagrid's father, a human wizard, of whom Hagrid has wonderfully warm 
memories, who loves him and teaches him to be proud of 
himself. "('Never be ashamed,' my ol' dad used ter say "there's some 
who'll hold it against you, but they're not worth botherin' with.)"  
Mother Fridwulfa is a slightly different sort (see next post).

Dr. Granger, father of Hermione Granger. Seems like a nice guy; 
obviously proud of Hermione. see next article mother

Arthur Weasley, father to Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred, George, Ron, and 
Ginny. I love Arthur. I think he and Molly are great parents, and will 
defend Molly in my next post. Arthur obviously loves his kids, cares 
about Harry, is kind and loving to MollyWobbles, is protective of the 
Muggles, is one who DD immediately turns to as an ally after Voldemort 
rises....Works hard, is not ambitious, but does his duty. Great 
glimpse of Arthur at the Quidditch world cup. Accompanies Harry to the 
hearing, stands by him, and opens his home to him repeatedly despite 
increased danger, and annoying security measures in HBP.

Frank Longbottom, father to Neville Longbottom. Frank and Alice are in 
St. Mungo's having been tortured by dear Bella. All we know about 
Frank is that he was an auror and very brave. We can imagine that 
Neville might have had an easier time if his father had been around to 
raise him.

Amos Diggory, father to Cedric Diggory. Amos is inordinately proud of 
Cedric, boasts about him and is devasted by his death.

Mr. Lovegood, very eccentric, or slightly crazy, editor of the 
Quibbler, father to Luna Lovegood who takes after him.

Posted by Susan McGee, northern California.
If you want to join Harry Potter for Grownups Over 40, please email me 
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