Identifying Enemies (was:Bullying WAS: Re: Prodigal Sons)

[a_svirn]

No: HPFGUIDX 140953


> Betsy Hp:
> Molly doesn't come right out and *say* it. But I think it's 
implied 
> that she sees them as somewhat...lesser than.  Her "packed with 
> Muggles" comment (p.91) in PS/SS (introductary statement too, 
> interestingly enough) is suggestive to me.  In CoS she comments 
about 
> Arthur's car, "Muggles *do* know more than we give them credit 
for, 
> don't they?" (p.66)  

a_svirn:
Yes, it does sound patronizing. But then, the great muggle-lover 
Arthur is rather patronizing too. 

> Betsy Hp:
In OotP, there's her reaction to Arthur's 
> interest in using Muggle medical techniques, "but even you, 
Arthur, 
> wouldn't be *that* stupid --" (p.507) 

a_svirn:
Well, it *was* stupid. 


> Betsy Hp:
Finally there's her general 
> distaste for Arthur's interest in anything Muggle. 
> 
> Again, I think Molly's prejudice is of a polite sort.  Quite 
> Victorian in it's way.  I'm sure if she lived in a certain time 
> period she'd have been all over sending missionaries to "civilize" 
> the unfortunate "savages" throughout the world, and would honestly 
> feel she was doing something good.

a_svirn:
Personally I don't see her bothering to civilize "savages". It's 
more of a Hermione's sort of thing. 

> 
> Betsy Hp:
<snip> 
> The interesting thing to me is that Molly *knew* Rita wasn't the 
most 
> trustworthy reporter at large.  Rita had just finished telling all 
> sorts of stories about Arthur, like two months previously.  
Coupled 
> with her general distrust of Muggles, her sudden distrust of 
Hermione 
> (a known Muggle-born) strikes me as a tiny bit suspicious.
>

a_svirn:
But it was Rita who drew public attention to Hermione's origins, not 
Molly. Yes, Rita is not the most reliable source in the WW, but she 
manages sometimes to hit the truth, especially if it sensational 
enough. And, frankly, the accusations against Hermione might seem 
quite plausible to Molly for the reasons that had nothing to do with 
her being muggle-born. Consider for a moment: her classmate asserted 
that Granger is "brainy" enough to contrive a highly potent and 
dangerous potion. And little did she know how right she was! Yet 
Molly knew perfectly well that Hermione's record when it came to 
illicit potion-brewing was not what one might call pristine. 

a_svirn