Nel Question #4: Class and Elitism

[Tonks]

No: HPFGUIDX 125695


1. I see the distinction of Wizard/Muggle as the difference between 
those who see the deeper reality of the world from those who do 
not.  To put it another way, the mystics from those who are more 
grounded in the physical world.  I think that everyone is born with 
the capacity to be a wizard, but only some children keep that alive 
in them.  Most allow the *world* to change them into worldly 
creatures like the Dursleys.  I see Hogwarts like a monastery.  A 
monastery, especially a Benedictine one is a place that is called "a 
school of the Lord's service".  Only some are called to that type of 
life or *school*.  I see Hogwarts like that.  The children who are 
still in touch with the mystical world at the age of 11 are invited 
to come and learn more.  

2.  I think that JKR is telling us by the example of Muggles that 
the spiritual world is the *real* world and those who are caught up 
in just the physical world are missing something very important.  
The physical world will pass away and what is fashionable today is 
gone tomorrow. The Dursleys and people like them are chasing the 
wrong things. The spiritual world will continue after the physical 
one is gone. I think that this is the message that JKR is presenting 
here.

Regarding Squibs: I think it is clear that Squibs are seen in a 
better light than Muggles. Perhaps they are people who know about 
the spiritual world and understand the importance, but for some 
reason can not fully participate in it.  I haven't sorted out just 
why that is.

3.  I am not sure on this one.  Hogwarts doesn't seem like a really 
cushy place.  Cold dungeons, etc.  And except for the Draco types, I 
don't get the sense that the students are elitist in their thinking 
like I presume a student at Eton would be.

4.  I think that Harry is special in that he has a special purpose, 
but I don't get the sense that he is a member of the elite.  The 
elite in the WW are the folks like the Malfoys who have money and 
political power.  They are more like the elite Muggles in this 
respect.  DD is respected, but I am not sure the term elite applies 
to him either. 

5.  "Doing what is right over what is easy".  Choice is more 
important than blood.  Some families like the Weasleys follow what 
most of us would think is the right way so being in that family 
would make doing what is right easier.  Being a member of the Black 
family would predispose one to being like them, so here when one 
follows the right path it will be harder because it mean turning 
against the blood ties. In the WW world as in the RW families want 
their memebers to share the same values, experiences, etc.

6. I think that Stan Shunpike could have been a student at Hogwarts. 
Maybe he was in Hufflepuff and didn't quite get past the OWL level. 
As to class distinctions:  I see Harry and Hermione as from middle 
class Muggle homes and Ron from a pureblood Wizard home, but poor. 
The Weasleys value education perhaps in a way that Shumpike's family 
did not. But we see signs that Ron is not quite in the same social 
class as Harry and Hermione by his use of poor grammar and the 
occasional profanity. He does not have that *Noble* air about him. 
It is very subtle and does not jump out at you, but it is there. I 
think we see the world from the view of Harry and Harry is who he 
is. If we want the child reader to have a hero that is a good 
example I don't think that we want him to be someone with poor 
grammar and low morals. (Now before you all jump on me, I am not 
equating low morals with the lower classes. But often poor grammar 
does go with lower classes, I guess because education does not have 
the same value as it does in the middle class.) 


Tonks_op