[HPforGrownups] Chapter Discussion: Goblet of Fire Ch. 8: The Quidditch World Cup

[Pat Flynn]

No: HPFGUIDX 191785

> 1. Why would Ron say 'So that's a house-elf? Weird things, aren't
> they?'
> Would he not have come across one before now? And if not, as a member
> of an old wizarding family he would know all about them and their
> belief in their subservience to wizards.
> 
> Liz:
> The Weasleys are an old pure blood family, yes, but they strike me very
> much as commoners. I do not think they want to be served and would
> probably feel uncomfortable with a creature like a House-elf.
> Therefore, I don't think Ron would have ever seen one, remember the
> mark of a good house elf is not to be seen, so if he had visited other
> families, he shouldn't have seen one. Why he doesn't know about them? I
> think that is down to his family, Molly would never tolerate being
> served upon and would IMO therefore not see the need to educate her son
> in them, unless he asked, of course.
> 

I think Molly's attitude may have been a common one in her generation of
Wizarding families, even pureblood families.  The Weasley family is
described as extensive, so Ron probably visited many cousins, etc. and never
encountered one.  I picture the WW as undergoing a social rift - there were
some purebloods who were desperately clinging to the old traditions - and
thus making them ripe for Voldemort's influence - while others, like the
Weasleys, were rejecting some of the old customs in favor of tolerance of
Muggles and Muggle-borns, etc.

Pat