[HPforGrownups] The Weasley's lack of wealth

[Pamela Rosen]

No: HPFGUIDX 177927

Lorelei said: 
I have been wondering if there could be a deeper reason for making the 
Weasley family poor.  My first thought is it was simply a way to 
separate them from the rest of the elitist pure bloods.  However, it 
was also written that the fact Harry had money and Ron didn't was a 
source of conflict or jealously.  It just seemed to me (after rereading 
COS, POA and especially GOF) that it is mentioned alot to maybe be an 
important point.

Am I missing a deeper meaning, or am I overanalyzing  :)


Pam says:

I think that they are a counterpoint to the wealthy Potters, Blacks and Malfoys. Without the Weasleys, you wouldn't know that all wizards aren't wealthy.  And in truth, the Weasleys aren't in bad shape.  They just have a lot of kids, and they're putting seven kids through Hogwarts--for a long time, four at once!  One would have to assume that Mr. Weasley earns as much as any other Ministry official of his grade, which is a comfortable living, they just have to make it stretch further.  Mrs. Weasley doesn't have a paying job, and she certainly could, but she represents the stay-at-home mom choice. They have less money, but they're happy.  I also wondered why the Weasleys didn't have a house elf.  House elves are apparently not bought or sold like slaves, and there is no cost associated with them, and nobody seemed to have a moral problem with the concept of house elves until Hermione came along, so why not?  

I think the Weasleys represent JKR's vision of the perfect family, and in her world, where she's been both poor and wealthy, she knows that perfect and rich are not necessarily synonymous.  What family would you rather be a part of, The Blacks or the Weasleys?

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