Loyalty to Draco & Patronage ...was: Re: Crabbengoyle / Socks / Duffers / ...

[bboyminn]

No: HPFGUIDX 188550



--- , "Catlady (Rita Prince" <catlady at ...> wrote:
>
> Potioncat wrote in <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/188488>:
> 
> << I never thought [Crabbe and Goyle] were so much loyal to Draco, as they were using him. >>
> 
> I always thought they were loyal to Draco, until that last scene in the Room of Requirement showed that Crabbe was (like the description of Peter Pettigrew) only attaching himself to the biggest bully available for his own benefit. Goyle, however, remained loyal to Draco even after Crabbe had stated that Draco was out of power. That may be because Goyle was too stupid to understand what Crabbe said.
> 
> 

bboyminn:

I think we are seeing something of a feudal Patronage system 
going on here. I suspect the senior Crabbe and Goyle are
subservient to the senior Malfoy. Crabbe and Goyle benefit
because I think Lucius sends certain economic advantages their
way. I think Lucius benefits by having a couple of stooges to
do his dirty work for him.

I think this relationship continues with the junior members of
the respective families. Young Crabbe and Goyle befriend and
protect Draco on the assumption, that like their fathers,
when Draco takes over the family business, he too will take
care of them in exchange for certain favors. 

However, in the last ROR scene, Draco and his father have 
lost all their power. Since neither Draco or his father can
protect young Crabbe and Goyle, since Draco can not longer
give them the place of privilege and economic advantage they
were hoping for, they see no reason to remain loyal to Draco.

When you think about it, it is actually a very Sytherin
attitude they are displaying. 

I suspect, given Malfoy's wealth, they have a very large
Patronage network, that by the end of the book has pretty
much fallen apart. 

The feudal and patronage system was very much a case of being
loyal to the biggest bully on the block. When a bigger bully
came along, and it appeared he would dominate over the 
previous bully, you shift alliances. However, if you have
any hope of keeping your head, you don't want to side with
the wrong bully.

Crabbe and Goyle have seen a new bully capable of expanding
their wealth and pseudo-power beyond what Malfoy is now
capable of doing. New bully - new allegiance. 

Steve/bboyminn