The Fundamental Message.../ Heroes...

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 176465

magpie:
<snipping>
> In DH Hermione tells Griphook that they are the same as far as the 
> DEs are concerned. She's a Mudblood, that's why they tortured her.
> I think we're supposed to take that as the truth, as if they are 
> the same, even though it's not. Hermione isn't the same as 
> Griphook.  Hermione's part of the dominant group who is being 
> victimized due to in-fighting within that group. After months of
> this she returns to her previous status at the top of the heap.
> Muggle-born persecution matters to the story. Goblin persecution
> does not. They can "take are of themselves" according to Hermione
> herself and they will remain part of the world-building and not 
> part of the theme. Harry's sleeping through the Goblin Rebellion
> lessons is just fine.

Jen:  I read this scene a different way because of the prior 
context.  Griphook asserts that the war is about wand-carriers vs. 
magical creatures: "As the Dark Lord becomes even more powerful, your 
race is set still more firmly above mine!  Gringotts falls under 
Wizarding rule, house elves are slaughtered, and who amongst the wand-
carriers protests?"*  Griphook considers the wizarding race as a 
whole to be gaining power, whether they work directly with Voldemort 
or merely benefit by not opposing his actions.  Hermione protests 
this view of affairs, noting there are humans actively opposing 
Voldemort's takeover and how some of them, Muggleborns like her, have 
also lost rights in the process.  

Jen

*(DH, chap. 24, pps. 488-489, Am. Ed.)