MAC*

[Torill]

No: HPFGUIDX 179825

I am sorry to say that Molly Weasley is one of the characters
who annoys me the most in the books. I see her as a completely
self-centered and emotionally immature person. She doesn't
seem to have an adult's understanding of how her actions and
emotional outbursts affect other people. Or if she has, she
considers other people's reactions as invalid or insignificant,
or both. And unlike other flawed characters on the "good" side
in the series, she has nothing, in either her background story
or her immediate situation, that may serve as an excuse for this
behaviour.

She is true to her own values and goals, sure, which is all
about family life and "family values". Nothing wrong in that
per se, but she does come across as horribly narrow-minded.
"Scarlet women" anyone? Except, of course, when she was the
girl roaming the grounds at Hogwarts after hours in the company
of a boy, that is. That was different, because that was Molly!

She always seeks to get what she wants and enjoy what she likes,
and if anyone has any other inclination or preference, she is
capable of seeing this as nothing short of a personal insult.
An example of just how childish she can get in this respect,
is the Christmas party, where she furiously keeps turning the
volume up on the wireless, to stop her guests from being able
to pay attention to anything else than what she likes and wants
in way of entertainment. Her reasons for wanting to listen to
that particular programme are fairly private, so it's incredible
how she assumes everyone else must be just as delighted and
interested as she is! Even Arthur feels this as embarassing,
and makes excuses to Harry for her behaviour... but he doesn't
seem to think it would be possible to ask her to turn it off
or at least down since their guests are not interested - you
don't openly oppose Molly at the Burrow, unless your name is
Fred or George!

Another example of her immature behavioiur is how she comes
bustling into Harry's bedroom in Fleur's wake, with no other
purpose than to make sure it is understood that she was the
one who was supposed to give Harry his breakfast tray. The
fact that Fleur may have her own, independent friendship
with Harry after their experiences in the Tournament, and
have her own valid reasons to want to do something for Harry
that have nothing to do with Molly, seem to be completely
beyond Molly's imagination or concern. Molly doesn't like
Fleur or want her as a daughter-in-law, then of course Fleur
is not going to be allowed to do anything for Harry, Molly's
very own favorite! (And this is not meant as a discussion of
Fleur's conduct or manners, of course - which also may be said
to be lacking in several respects!)

That it is so important to her to deny Fleur that small pleasure
of serving Harry his breakfast, demonstrates a considerable lack
of generousity on Molly's part. But she is the kind of woman that
will only be generous on her own terms, and to her own favorites
- then on the other hand she may lavish more attention and fuss
and care on them than they actually want or need. Again, her
"gifts" will be more about her own needs than the needs of
others.

This is also demonstrated I think by the way Molly plays
favorites among her own children, openly and unabashedly.
On a couple of occations, see below, she even acts as if
she favours Harry over Ron! Also, she thinks nothing of
criticing the twins in front of Harry in their absence.
(And in their presence too, for that matter..) She has
no qualms about telling Harry, a minor and a guest, not
a family member, and a school mate of the twins to boot,
about all her worries over the twins, with no concern for
how disloyal to her family this is, or how embarassing it
may be for Harry to have to listen to it. No, this is just
what she feels at the moment, so then she just blurts it
out, regardless of the situation or who is listening! The
"what are we, next door neighbours?" remark from the twins
is maybe a funny line, but the reality behind it is grim
enough imo, and not funny at all.

She is also horribly insensitive on several occations, with
no respect or concern for the needs and feelings of others,
her own children included. It is not only that she never
remembers or cares - not sure which it is - that Ron can't
stand maroon. Although that detail repeated over and over
may still amount to a message of little concern for his
individuality. She can be more blatantly incosiderate than
that. Take for instance the way she presents Ron with his
impossible dress robes in GoF. Would it have killed her to
acknowledge and validate his disappointment over how ugly
they are? Molly is supposed to be an accomplished witch when
it comes to domestic spells, isn't she? So how about saying
something like: I can change the colour or remove the lace
trimmings for you if you like, just tell me what you want
and I will do my best to fix it!

Not Molly. No, first she fondly presents Harry with brand new,
modern and stylish robes in front of Ron, and gushes about how
she was careful to get Harry a colour that would "bring out his
eyes". Then she presents second hand and outdated  - and maroon!
- robes to Ron in front of his richer friend, and still expects
him to react as if they were of the same kind as Harry's new
and modern ones, with the careful and considerate choice of
colour that she never honours Ron with. When Ron shows a very
predictable and understandable reaction to this - he is fourteen,
for goodness sake! - she snaps that he can go naked, and stomps
out of the room like a moody teenager! Just how insensitive and
childish can a mother get?

When Ron makes her feel uncomfortable by calling attention
to the fact that she is presenting him with ugly second hand
robes that does not suit him, she feels completelly entitled
to take it out on him in front of Harry. But Ron is not allowed
to have any reactions when she makes him feel uncomfortable by
this blatant demonstration of their poverty in front of his
friend. That's Molly for you.

And how I hate the way she speaks of and to Sirius, in his own
house and in front of his friends and his Godson too - with a
complete lack of compassion and respect! He, as one of the
most heavily traumatised characters in the series, shows
every sign of a severe clinical depression and post traumatic
stress reactions - and she calls it "having the sullens" and
teaches the kids (Hermione especially) to see him as selfish!
A variation of "please don't bleed on the carpet, it creates
such a mess for the rest of us" imo...

Not to mention how she tries to make it seem like no one else
but she cares for Harry and his interests, how she is immediately
ready and willing to disfavour Hermione in very petty and hurtful
ways (a small Easter egg when the boys have big ones!) after only
one  article from the horrible Rita Skeeter she has no reasn to
trust, having had Hermione as a guest in her house..

Ok, this rant must stop now - I think you may have understood
already how I really can't stand Molly! ;)

torillgrnhaug