Parenting in Pureblood Culture: a response to JosephineStone

[terri_testing]

Thank you for introducing this topic; not only did I read you with interest, but it gave me a nudge to go back and re-read Jodel’s essays on the Weasleys, children, feminism….

and to formulate explicitly some ideas that I’ve been churning for some time.

Comments

[oryx_leucoryx]

Brilliant! Connecting dots, following breadcrumbs - whether intentionally placed to mark a path or randomly scattered

[terri_testing]

Erg. I wrote a totally brilliant response to your comments,and hit back instead of post. The world will never cease lamenting what we lost in that error

[terri_testing]

RE Squibs. I think there's a lot of interesting doublethink going on in the WW On the one hand, anyone weak is in danger of being called a Squib. Or even a Muggle, On the other, the whole basis of Seclusion, and thus of wizarding society, is that never the twain shall meet. One is magical, or not

[oryx_leucoryx]

Based on Rowling's interviews, she intended to introduce a character who never did any magic before arriving at Hogwarts. (Fans often interpreted the hints to mean that one of the adult Muggles or Squibs would turn out to be magical, but when asked, this was how she explained it.) She also says somewhere that there is no minimal level of magic required to attend Hogwarts. Yet she shows us 2 Squibs clearly interacting with the magical world in ways Muggles cannot.

[mary_j_59]

Yes, this is brilliant! It makes coherent sense of the Weasley's very dysfunctional child rearing practices. The ending actually made me feel for Molly, trapped by her culture and its expectations. But I still feel worse for Ron.

And - though you might be right as to what was driving Molly to have all those kids - I always thought that she kept going till she got her girl. A pity that Ginny didn't prove to be a more interesting character, after all that effort!

[terri_testing]

Thank you!

...I always thought that she kept going until she got her girl ....

Was it you, then, who introduced that idea? I admit, I accepted that as the final word on the Weasley Familty Size Question for years.

Except, when I looked, Ginny in books one and two was being scolded, and given used goods for her first year at Hogwarts (books at least--Lucius sneered at them) and generally ignored. Arthus exclaims ("flabergasted)), after it has come out out Tom's Diary had possessed her; "Ginny! Haven't I taught you enything! What have I always told you? Never trust anything that can think for itself if you cant't see where it keeps its brain? Why didn't you show the diary to me, or to your mother? A suspeciaous obejct like that, it was slearly full of Dark Magic-- " But neither of her parents noticed that she had the thing for nearly a month at the Burrow (although I suppose it's possible that she's such a fan of the twins that she decided to scorn schoolwork, and never so much as cracked any of her books to look at them

[terri_testing]

Ack! didn't mean to post yet.

I was starting to insert, re-reading book two, the last night before Hogwarts started, Molly cooked a sumptuous feast containing all HARRY's favorites. Urg.

Really, I'm reminded of the treatment of younger daughters in Heyer novels--no sense wasting money on 'em until it's time to kit them up to attract a desirable parti. Make sure they're acquiring the accomplishments that will be looked for later, is about it--and Ginny's good on that, she's got that bat-bogey hex down pat by the tuime Harry really starts noticing her.

[oryx_leucoryx]

They never give her a broom, not even an old decrepit one like the one Ron had initially, she had to break into the shed in order to learn to fly. I wonder what she rode when she played for Gryffindor.

The twins did have semi-decent brooms, presumably bought once they made the team in their second year? Or perhaps inherited from Bill and Charlie?

[sweettalkeress]

Oh, wow, this is really fascinating. I never thought of this, but it does make perfect sense.

[nx74defiant]

It would also explain the lack of pre-Hogwarts friendships. You don't have to explain the disappearance of a child no one outside the family ever met. Once they have received their Hogwarts letter it is safe to have them associate outside the family.

[melaniedavidson]

That makes a chilling amount of sense.

[terri_testing]

Ooh, yes. I never even thought of that, but it does explain that nicely. Shades of the Dumbledore family!

[vermouth1991]

... ...

F*&k, that makes so much sense.

[oryx_leucoryx]

Everyone speaks of Molly's favoritism towards Percy, but we only met him the year he became Prefect and worthy (of robes and an owl, at least). It occurred to me that Scabbers may not have been Percy's rat originally. Percy may have inherited Scabbers when he started Hogwarts from Bill, who was just then appointed prefect. The previous year Percy may have not warranted any attention either.

[hwyla]

And Bill may have only been allowed to keep the 'found' Scabbers as a pet because he was turning 11 and received his Hogwarts letter (IF the letter comes before your 11th birthday). His 11th birthday would be later in Nov'81.