Weasley Poverty - In Perspective

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 123752


In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "va32h" <va32h at y...> wrote:
 
I wonder if this subject isn't being a bit over-thought.
 
Harry's being rich is a plot device. How else is an orphaned child 
whose caretakers despise him going to pay for his unusual schooling? 
Well, conveniently, he has inherited a bunch of wizard gold from his 
parents.
 
Ron's poverty is another plot device. First, it sets up a surce of 
conflict between him and Harry that runs throughout the book. 
Second, it sets up a conflict between Draco and Ron (and by 
association Harry). 

snip.

I don't understand why a book series that is based primarily on the 
notion that there is an alternate world full of people with magical 
powers is criticized for not having enough cold hard realism.
 

Alla:

To some extent I agree with you - that Weasleys' poverty IS a plot 
device, BUT It does not mean that we cannot consider some realistic 
reflection of the social issues in the book.

And about your last remark - I can only speak for myself of course. I 
don't criticise the book for not having enough realism, because 
indeed there is only as much realism as possible in the books about 
magic, but I ABSOLUTELY want the characters to be realistic on some 
level, because again I think that in OOP JKR dived in too 
many "reallistic" issues to just let them drop. Same on the character 
development level - even if the characters ARE people with magical 
powers, they are still people and I want their reactions to be 
recognisable to me, otherwise I would not be able to identify with 
characters.

Of course, it is VERY hard to blend realism with magic, but I want to 
believe that it is possible for JKR.


Just my opinion,

Alla