[HPforGrownups] Chapter Discussion: Goblet of Fire Ch.11: Aboard the Hogwarts Express

[Bart Lidofsky]

No: HPFGUIDX 192040

Shaun:

1. Mr Weasley is asked to - and apparently is willing to - use his position at the Ministry of Magic to help Mad-Eye Moody avoid punishment for attacking Muggles. What does it say about the Wizarding World that even the 'good guys' are apparently willing to ignore their laws when they are inconvenient?

Bart:
Standard operating procedure for any bureaucracy. It does set the stage 
of the Ministry in Denial in the next book, however. Also note, that 
bureaucracies tend to operate under relatively inflexible and often 
onerous, if not impossible, rules. The only way anything can get done is 
usually through the exchange of favors in violation of the rules. Also, 
it betrays more about the attitude towards Muggles, which is not much of 
one. It appears that, as long as no memorable harm is done, wizards will 
be wizards. Fine them, and send them on their way.

Shaun:
> 2. The Wizarding World is concerned about secrecy - to the extent that it is a significant issue to use magic in front of Muggles. But apparently, there is far less concern about potential giveaways like carrying owls through London in Muggle taxis, accidental setting off of magical fireworks, and the mere fact that hundreds, if not thousands of Wizarding children and their families all descend on one Muggle train station en masse at once. If you were in charge of a Ministry department, trying to ensure the Wizarding World remained secret, would you make any changes to how things operate?

  Bart:
     One problem with bureaucracies is that people who are actually 
dedicated to doing their job right find themselves at the bottom of the 
heap. The primary purpose of a bureaucracy is to keep the bureaucracy 
going, and only actually do their jobs if that helps out the primary 
purpose. Therefore, what one would have to do to become in charge of a 
Ministry department tends to be antithetical towards actually wanting to 
make a change. Therefore, if I were in charge of a Ministry department, 
I would not be the sort of person who would make any serious changes.

Shaun:
> 3. Adults seem to enjoy keeping secrets from Harry. This might be understandable in cases where they are hoping it will help keep him safe (whether they are right or not) but here, Mrs Weasley, Bill, and Charlie all seem to take pleasure in teasing him (along with Ron and Hermione) by dropping hints that something is going to happen. What do you think of the fact that so much is concealed from Harry, even when there doesn't seem to be a good reason for it?

Bart: In this case, it appears that the reason for the secrecy is 
because it's supposed to be a surprise. The idea is to keep the Daily 
Prophet and radio stations from getting wind of it before the actual 
event happens. So those involved needed to be sworn to secrecy. The 
Malfoys, considering themselves to be superior to the Ministry, of 
course would consider such considerations to be beneath them.

Shaun:
> 4. Once again, we are reminded of the fact that the Weasley's are not well off. But Mr Weasley has what seems to be a fairly high level position at the Ministry, and while they do have a large family, their older children (Bill, Charlie, and possibly, Percy) are presumably financially independent by now - what do you think they spend their money on when it actually leaves them short of what is needed to pay for things their children need for school?
>
Bart:
     There was a popular play/movie from about 50 or so years ago called 
"No Time For Sergeants". In it, the main character, a backwoods private, 
annoys his drill sergeant so much that the sergeant makes him "Permanent 
Latrine Orderly." The joke there is that the private actually considers 
it to be an honor, and works as hard as he can to make the latrines a 
model of cleanliness, until an officer discovers what is going on, and 
becomes furious.

     The relevance of this is that JKR makes it rather clear that, from 
the Ministry point of view, Weasley is the Permanent Latrine Orderly, 
doing a job that, normally, nobody really wants to do. The fact that he 
not only does it, but does it enthusiastically, makes him very low in 
the Ministry hierarchy, rather than high. And, of course, Molly chooses 
to stay at home rather than earn money herself. This situation mirrors 
the Mundane world, where economics has altered so that, for most 
families, two incomes is required to maintain a decent standard of 
living, And if you notice, the Weasleys have money for all the 
necessities of life; it's the luxuries where they fall short. So, like 
many families, they live from paycheck to paycheck, with little or 
nothing put aside for any extras that arise.

     Interestingly enough, as wizards, their standard of living is 
actually a lot higher than most Muggles in the equivalent situation.

     Still, the economy of the WW is still something of a mystery; they 
don't appear to have a population level large enough to have a 
self-sufficient economy, so, logically, it would appear that they do 
rely on Muggle products to a certain extent. But as this is never 
mentioned in the books, it is not at all clear how wealth becomes 
generated. There certainly is some small scale farming (the Weasleys 
have chickens), but nothing implying production on a large scale (like 
parchment and paper, the main supplies of food, etc.).

     Bart