Snape, "blood," and Phineas Nigellus (Was: It's "blood" that counts)

[kkersey_austin]

No: HPFGUIDX 148191

Carol:
>  still think Hagrid is a hypocrite,
> but probably an unwitting one, and he does place a high value on his
> "blood" connection to Grawp, for what it's worth. (Anyone agree or
> disagree about the hypocrisy?) 

Elisabet takes this on:
Hmmm. My feeling is that Hagrid doesn't see the relationship with
Grawp as one of blood, but as *family*. Not exactly the same thing. I
think Hagrid is hungry for a family connection, and to have someone to
care for. For Hagrid, the blood relationship is just an excuse to take
charge of his "little" brother. We see that longing when Hagrid is
forced to hand over baby Harry; no blood there. In any case, immediate
family is a little different from "blood", which is a more generic
sort of thing. Being proud of being a pureblood is different than
being proud of being a member of a particular family, or even being
proud of being distantly related to a particular person. So, no, I
don't think he's particularly hypocritical in this case.


Carol:
> Also, I stand by my argument that the prejudice against Muggleborns
> is blood-based (see upthread), and the "Mudblood" epithet brings 
> the basis for the prejudice out into the open.

Elisabet again:
I totally agree.  My point was that the term "Muggle-born" could be
(and is!) used in a neutral way - e.g. in OotP by Sirius when
discussing the Black family tree with Harry, and by Hermione
describing herself in HBP (when she explains to Slughorn why she
couldn't be related to some famous Wizard named Granger). It's sort of
like someone saying that my family is from the Ozarks, which is rather
a far cry from calling me a hillbilly. 

Unlike the term mudblood, which as you point out "brings the basis for
the prejudice out into the open", the word Muggle-born is neutral. If
it is used offensively, it is in the context of who is using the term
and *why* - Harry picks up on Slughorn's prejudice when he describes
him as being "much too suprised that a Muggle-born should make a good
witch." (HBP Ch4) 

Incidentally, I do think there is a hint of embarrassment in the way
Hermione tells Slughorn that she's Muggle-born. Not saying she is
actually embarrassed at her parentage, but she is sensitive to the
awkwardness of the subject in that case, and is aware that it might
lower her status in his eyes. I think she'd have preferred that he
didn't know. She's always walking the line between assimilation into
the wizarding world and its values and rebellion against its injustices...


Elisabet