[HPforGrownups] Re: Morality and Harry Potter

Bart Lidofsky bart at moosewise.com
Mon Mar 5 15:42:03 UTC 2012


No: HPFGUIDX 191900

Bart:
>       The prohibition on the use of underage magic always seemed like an
> artificial and forced plot device to me. Especially the way it is
> enforced; it essentially means that kids from magical household can use
> magic freely under parental supervision, while muggleborns are
> prohibited. How can they do their summer homework? How can they even
> keep in practice (not exercising skills for 2 months, especially newly
> learned skills, is a great way to lose them)? What about homeschooled
> children? And, what about subconscious use of magic (as was the case
> with Aunt Marge)? Note that Harry got into trouble because of the use of
> elf magic near him, while, in the Weasley household, there is magic
> going on all the time, not to mention the Weasley kids practicing
> Quidditch (flying on a broom isn't magic?).
>
> snip>

Nikkalmati:

> You seem to be saying it is not fair, not that it is not believable (i.e. a plot device).

Bart:
     A certain level of unfairness becomes unbelievable; if one set of 
students can practice over the summer, and the other can't, it would 
evidence itself on the WW students doing much better than the MB 
students, yet, by all evidence given in the book, there is no such 
problem. Also, especially with the disdain of muggles and doing things 
the muggle way apparent in the WW, prohibiting use of magic outside of 
school just seems unnatural.

     Bart




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