Weasley Family Dynamics (was:Re: The Molly Question (long!)...)

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 164923

> >>Debbie:
> Molly is hardly the exemplar of perfect motherhood, but as a       
> slightly imperfect mom myself, I'll have to take issue with the    
> wholesale condemnation.
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
I'd unleashed the hounds. <g>  But pulling back a bit, I agree that 
Molly is more than likely supposed to be more a character of comedy 
than anything else.  A "Mrs. Bennet" (of "Pride and Prejudice") type 
I think.

> >>Betsy Hp:
> >But Molly has no say in Arthur's career decisions. Her strong
> >dislike of his current position contrasts strongly with Arthur's  
> >love for it. If it was ever discussed nothing was resolved, IMO.

> >>Debbie:
> I don't read this the same way at all.  Molly *does* dislike       
> Arthur's current (former) position, but I think she appreciates    
> that his principles, i.e., his fondness for Muggles, have held him 
> back.

Betsy Hp:
I suppose my sense that this is a very real issue comes from Arthur's 
enjoyment of his job, and Molly's hatred of it.  Plus, Arthur not 
being thrilled by his transfer and Molly's joy over it.

I think Arthur didn't like that his cause wasn't taken seriously 
while Molly didn't like that Arthur was taken for his cause. 

> >>Debbie:
> I know some people see Molly as not sharing his principles, but I   
> don't agree.  I think Ron's very forcefully expressed views on the 
> subject at age 12 reflect what he learned at home.  And Molly      
> probably did most of that teaching.  Besides, Molly lost two       
> brothers in VWI to the followers of an anti-Muggle maniac. Surely   
> she sees how divisive that sort of thinking is.

Betsy Hp:
Eh, The Black family didn't care too much for Voldemort either.  I 
doubt they were ready to start rethinking the WW's position on Muggle-
Wizard relations. And we know that Ron got his Muggle friendly comic 
books from his dad.

Molly has always been a bit squirrely about Muggle stuff, IMO.  Her 
fit over Arthur's stitches, her quick turnaround on Hermione, her 
opening commentary about the Muggles in the subway...  I just sense 
something there. 

I wouldn't go so far as to say that Molly is full out anti-muggle, 
but she does seem a bit suspicious of outsiders, and muggles are that 
by definition.  And so I especially see her having issue with Arthur 
taking up Muggle-rights to the detriment of his career and the family 
finances.

> >>Debbie:
> <snip>
> I don't see the Weasley kids as linked to one parent or another.  

Betsy Hp:
Well, since I do see a schism within the Weasley household, and have 
for some time, I do tend to seperate out the children by linking them 
to one parent or the other.  I'll admit that physical appearance is a 
big part of my system (though JKR uses physical appearance as short-
hand for other things, so I think I'm okay here).

Ron, Percy and Bill all physically resemble their father.  While 
Charlie and the twins are more physically like their mother.  Tall 
and lean versus short and stocky.  (Ginny has put herself firmly into 
her mother's camp in HBP, so I'll assume she tends more towards curvy 
than lean.)

But more than that, I think Ron and Percy and Bill are a bit less 
physical in actual than their siblings.  And a bit more intellectual, 
or at least a bit more interested in cerebral persuits. (Chess, etc.) 

> >>Debbie:
> I could make a good case that Percy and Ron are like Molly in their 
> sensitivities.  For example, of all the Weasleys, the two most      
> outwardly sensitive about the family's poverty are Molly and Ron.
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
Heh, see I lean towards Percy and Ron (which would also tie in Arthur 
and Bill) being more emotionally sensitive than Molly and the twins 
and Ginny (and I guess that would mean Charlie).

Ron is bothered by the families poverty.  So he tries his damndest to 
*not* draw attention to it.  He'd prefer it never be mentioned.  
(IIRC, Harry recognized that Ron's "I *hate* being poor" was 
something he'd do best to not mention or comment on.)  Whereas Molly 
seems to wear her poverty like a badge, dragging her son's friend 
into the family vault so he can get a good look at just how little 
they have, reminding all of her children that they are poor and so 
can't have nice things.

To be objective (or at least to try <g>) perhaps Molly is doing her 
best to not have the poverty be a big thing, not be an elephant in 
the room.  But her way of handling it as just one other obstacle to 
work around is *very* different from how Ron would handle it.  (And 
to be perfectly honest, I couldn't say which method is better.)

> >>Debbie
> who could write a dissertation on the Weasley family dynamics, but 
> is trying to spare the list <g>

Betsy Hp:
I find the Weasley family dynamics rather fascinating myself.  And I 
was getting bored of all the speculative theories, so thought I'd 
bore the list in my own way. <really big evil grin... huge, even>

Betsy Hp