Chapter Discussion: Chapter Sixteen, Goblet of Fire: The Goblet of Fire

[Geoff]

No: HPFGUIDX 192258

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Cheryl" <cheri0427 at ...> wrote:
>
Geoff:
> > I seem to recall that, at various times in the past, contributors to this group 
> > have suggested that the Wizarding World is reminiscent of the UK in the 
> > Middle Ages in its attitudes towards the disadvantaged, the weak and, in 
> > contrast, to the aristocracy (ie purebloods) and powerful.
> > 
> > Would this fit your views? Or do you see different reasons?

Cheryl:
> Yes, that would fit my view. They broke with the rest of the world in the Middle Ages, and then grew in a very different way. In a lot of ways, they haven't grown much since that time (but it is interesting that they have a Ministry of Magic instead of a King, which to me seems like they may have been more in lighted than Muggles at the time). I see Voldemort as being the "last gasp" to try to keep the Magical world just the same and follow the old ways. I hope that after he is defeated the Magical world would move into move progressive policies. 

Geoff:
Interesting your comments about Voldemort. Being a little bit speculative, 
in connection with a possible move to a more progressive society, I wonder 
whether pressure for change may come from a different direction, namely 
Harry and possibly folk like Hermione. We see that wizarding society is very 
focused on pureblood traditions; each generation aims to uphold the status 
quo, and we see this in the students of Harry's generation who are the 
pureblood group, not just in Slytherin where the drive is strongest, but in 
the other houses including Gryffindor and to an extent in "maverick" 
pureblood families such as the Weasleys.

Harry is perhaps well suited to be a person who begins to break the mould 
which you highlight. He is for instance a half-blood and, having been
abruptly brought into the Wizarding World only when he was eleven is 
someone who can see it with a fresh mind and no inherited prejudices.
Agreed, there are other powerful half-bloods: Voldemort and Snape come 
to mind but the former arrived at Hogwarts with a large amount of baggage, 
perhaps more than Harry while Snape had grown up knowing the world of 
magic. 

Having defeated Voldemort, Harry is a powerful wizard and as the "Chosen 
One" now carries a fair amount of clout in the Wizarding World. Although 
we are not given any detail between the end of DH and the Epilogue, he 
must have been invited, probably unwillingly(!), to many functions to speak 
and open activities and buildings and after becoming head of the Aurors, 
he would be in a position to influence the thinking of the Ministry at least 
in the way in which law and order operates. 

Similarly, Hermione will be having an effect with her work for magical 
creatures and with Magical Law Enforcement and work to modify pro-
pureblood laws, these points about our characters having been highlighted 
by JKR in various interviews and comments.