Filch (was Re: Squib!!!

[Beatrice23]

No: HPFGUIDX 180937

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "potioncat" <willsonkmom at ...> 
wrote:
>
>  
> > Carol adds: 
> > Argus Filch, the only other Squib who appears as a character, 
though
> > others are alluded to, seems to have no connection with the Muggle
> > world. He lives and works at Hogwarts and would like nothing 
better
> > than to be a normal wizard rather than a failed one. 
> 
> Potioncat:
> Let's think about Argus just a moment. Why is he at Hogwarts? *snip*

Beatrice Responds:

I always thought that Filch's position at Hogwarts was a bit like 
Hagrid's in a way.  He is a squib who desperately wants to be part of 
the magical community (hence the magical correspondence course in 
CoS), just a Hagrid is a half-giant who is expelled from Hogwarts and 
by rights is exiled from the magical community. As a half-giant, 
Hagrid could not become a part of the muggle world, perhaps Filch is 
a misfit in his own right as a squib and Dumbledore takes pity on 
them both and allows them to have positions within Hogwarts.  Thus, 
both characters can remain in a "safe" environment that they are 
fimiliar with and have some contact with the wizarding world where 
neither truly belongs.  This perhaps is most important, because it 
demonstrates DD's compassion toward those who are outcasts in the WW 
world and sets the stage for the cracks in the utopian community 
early on demonstrating the bigotry and intollerance that lies just 
beneath the surface of this society.

The character of Filch is also important to the plot of the novel.  
Filch is an obstacle to the night time wanderings of the trio, he is 
the anthesis and nemesis of the Weasley twins (with whom he is 
frequently at odds)  in addition to introducing us to "squibs" who 
are an important class (if you will) in the wizarding world.  Thus 
JKR can introduce the idea of squibs early on to Harry and the 
reader.  The idea of Squibs is important when we think about Gran's 
initial treatment of Neville and how she supects he "might not be 
magic enough to attend Hogwarts."  (SS/PS).  Also, Mrs. Figg is a 
squib and Merlop is a kind of squib by default.  Merlop may have 
magical ablilities, but she is religated to a squib like state by the 
abuse that she suffers.  Also JKR indicated that she originally 
intended to have a cousin of the Weasleys (who would be the daughter 
of a Weasley squib cousin) in the novels.  I believe that she was 
supposed to be introduced in GoF? 

Finally, as the  person who cleans up parts of the castle, perhaps 
Filch can accomplish cleaning that houseelves might have to reveal 
themselves to the students to achieve.  eg.  it is easy for a house 
elf to sneak into the dorms when students are in class or at meals to 
tidy up, but they can't clean the entrance hall in the middle of the 
day without being visable to all.  Perhaps, Filch in a way is also 
someone who can generally oversee the houseelves and act as a go 
between if you will between the elves and the rest of the staff.