CHAPDISC: DH13, The Muggle-born Registration Commission

[a_svirn]

No: HPFGUIDX 181320

Thanks for the excellent questions, Lizzyben! 

> Questions for discussion:
> 
> 1. What do you think of the Trio's plan to infiltrate the Ministry?
> Was it well-planned, or could they have approached things a 
different
> way?

a_svirn:
They could have send Kreacher to kidnap Umbridge. 

> 2. Numerous characters mention that Yaxley's office has been jinxed
> to create a downpour. Could this be a sign of low-level sabotage
> against Death Eaters within the Ministry?

a_svirn:
I am pretty sure it is. 
 
> 3. Harry impersonates Albert Runcorn, a character whom we never
> actually meet. Based on other character's reactions to him, what 
kind
> of person do you believe Runcorn is? Do you believe he is a Death
> Eater?

a_svirn:
I'd say he is an informer who lays information against muggle-borns 
in order to improve his own career chances. In other words, the worst 
sort of opportunist. I don't think he's a death eater, though. 
 
 
> 6. Harry takes a number of impulsive actions in this chapter: taking
> Moody's eye, stupefying Umbridge, and helping the group of Muggle-
> borns to escape. These actions create both negative consequences
> (tipping off the Ministry), and also positive consequences (freeing
> the Muggle-born wizards). Do you believe that Harry's actions were
> rash, or were his actions justified?

a_svirn:
I think they were both. What astounds me is that the good guys were 
more interested in the law-level sabotage than in helping the hapless 
muggle-borns. 
> 
> 7. The Ministry is producing propaganda pamphlets against Muggle-
> borns, registering all wizards with Muggle-born blood, interrogating
> Muggle-born wizards, and imprisoning Muggle-borns in Azkaban. Do you
> believe that this is meant to be an analogy to the treatment of Jews
> in Nazi Germany? Or is it a general analogy to bigotry and prejudice
> against minority groups?

a_svirn:
It is pretty obvious that Rowling had Nazi Germany in mind when she 
wrote this chapter. Certainly, the whole thing is a bit more than 
mere bigotry. 

> 8. Umbridge accuses Mrs. Cattermole of taking another wizard's wand,
> and the Ministry propaganda accuses Muggle-borns of "stealing" magic
> from pure-blood wizards. What does this mean? Does the Ministry
> believe that Muggle-borns are literally stealing wands; or that
> Muggle-borns steal magic by their very existence in the wizarding
> world? How could this propaganda succeed when all wizards had seen
> Muggle-born wizards perform magic on their own at Hogwarts? Do you
> believe that the Ministry propaganda has convinced the wizards, or
> are they simply too intimidated to contradict the Ministry?

a_svirn:
How could Nazi propaganda succeed? In part it was due intimidation 
for sure, but there was a good deal of general indifference (why 
should concern ourselves about *them*?) and opportunism as well: lots 
of ordinary folks profited from ethnic purges, after all. And they 
had such a good excuse. 
 
> 9. In this chapter, the Ministry's "courtrooms" are used to 
terrorize
> and intimidate the powerless. What is the novel's view of the legal
> system? What does JKR seem to be saying about law versus instinct as
> a basis for morality?

a_svirn:
Well, the WW legal system sucks throughout all seven books. I am not 
sure whether it is supposed to be a commentary on the real world 
justice. Though it does seem that she does not care much about being 
impartial to all sides. 

a_svirn