Book 1 Questions -- wands

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 147634

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "inyia" <inyia at ...> wrote:
>
> > Geoff:
> > We know that for a fact. Ron has his wand broken in the 
> > Ford Anglia crash at the beginning of COS but he then shows
> > Harry a brand new replacement wand when they first meet up at 
> > Florean Fortescue's Ice-Cream Parlour in POA.

> Inyia:
> 
> ...
> 
> We must remember that at the beginning of PoA the Weasley have
> received a Prize; ... so surely they saved a little of money 
> and bought a wand to Ron, what seems so insatisfying is ... 
> the Weasley can afford little gifts to their children because
> they bought Hermes to Percy..., and not bought a wand to Ron;
> later on they bought Ron the Wand because it was broken, but 
> they could simply buy a new one to some of their other children
> ... And finally, when Ron is made Prefect they bought him a 
> Broom, not a simply broom not the best but a good one...
> 
> Well I think I am embarrassing myself and maybe going away from the
> question itself.
> 
> Inyia
>

bboyminn:

I'm not completely sure what your point is. Are you asking or
wondering why Mr.and Mrs. Weasley didn't buy Ron a new wand instead of
buying Percy a new owl? And why they bought Ron a new wand when Ginny
also probably needed one? Or perhaps, you are wondering why Ron had to
have a used wand as an original but Ginny got a new one right away?

Regardless, I think I can add some prespective. The Weasleys are not
poor. They do not live in a ditch. They do not have to catch furry
critters in the wild and stew them up for food. They do not dress in
rags, but neither do they dress in the latest 'mall' fashions. 

The Weasleys are what I would call working class, or perhaps a more
international designation would be labor class. Mr. Weasley has a job
and a steady income. He owns a significant plot of land in a country
where land is very expensive. The Weasleys are never lacking for food,
as is indicated by Harry's third and fourth helpings at every meal.
The Weasleys have a house. OK, it's a quirky odd 'nothing fancy'
house, but it gives them adequate shelter from the elements and is
well furnished with a nice cozy feel to it. 

Mostly the Weasleys are just like the rest of us, they have the money
they need but not an unlimited supply of it, so they have to set
priorities. They feel that it is important to reward their children
when they achieve some success, so they buy Percy an Owl as a reward
for achieving Prefect. At the time, Ron has a perfectly servicable
wand that belonged to his brother, so he doesn't need a new one. It is
a matter of setting priorities, Percy needs a reward to encourage
success, and Ron has a wand. 

Later when they win that money, they use it to give their kids what
may be a once in a lifetime experience; a trip to see their brother in
Egypt. In that particular year, Ron needs a wand and there is nothing
that can be done about it. That is, Ron is actively in school and
therefore /must/ have a wand, so since they have a little extra money,
they buy him a new one. At that time, Ron's need was the highest
priority so his need got the money.

Really, for most of us normal people, unless we happen to be extremely
rich or have a LOT of credit cards, we do not get everything we want.
We priorities, we plan, we weigh our options, and eventually when we
are a little money ahead, we get what we want. Only the very rich,
always get everything, but they are a small minority in this world.
Most of us need to plan and spend our money wisely which is exactly
what the Weasleys do, they make the best possible use, in their view,
of the money they have. And, I'd say they do a pretty fair job of it.

I'm not sure if the covers your question or not, but my main point is
that many readers have a distrorted view of just how poor the Weasleys
actually are. They get by just fine.

For what it's worth.
Steve/bboyminn