[Essay-a-thon Entry] Concerning Prejudice & the Weasleys

[storyteller]

This is written for alchemyangel351, who wanted an exploration of whether the Weasleys were really models of non-prejudice. I assumed you meant towards the Muggles, but my apologies if you wanted me to approach prejudice towards other aspects.

“There is no prejudice so strong as that which arises from a fancied exemption from all prejudice.”- William Hazlitt

Comments

[alchemyangel351]

Thank you, that was very interesting. I did indeed mean prejudice towards Muggles and was thinking of examples like Molly's squib cousin

[storyteller]

In regards to the Muggle cousin, I believe they don't talk to that person much for the reason that they don't know how to interact with that person. Muggles are one thing, but I guess they feel like the squib is like someone who had the opportunity to be "normal", but by the cruelty of fate was jipped. I guess they might see them as uncomfortable to deal with

[sir_hellsing]

They look upon Muggles as weak, ignorant counterparts. Voldemort sees them as capable of great and terrible things. You can't hate someone without knowing or loving them first.

Oh word. I am wondering myself how accurate the history books are about witches hunt, because the MoM has never been known for censorship.

Voldermort not only was mistreated, he lived in the 40s, World War II, I can't blame the lad Riddle to have been terrified. So far wizards have troubles to operate simple machines the muggles create (the most capable are the muggle born, quite the menace). And, as far wizardry spells power are concerned, I still haven't seen a spell as powerful as an atomic bomb

[sophierom]

Well done! I think you've captured the essence of the Weasleys' - particularly Arthur's - understanding of Muggles. Even if he and Molly are condescending toward Muggles, they approach Muggles with the spirit of good will. And your closing point about Voldemort is brilliant.

Some questions: Are Muggle really an "inferior race"? Or, are they simply different? You write that "the Weasleys act in the best way one can when dealing with an inferior race. One cannot treat them 'equally'." What, exactly, do you mean by 'inferior race"? Because I think the Weasleys do treat them with some measure of equality. Equality, in our current social context, doesn't have to mean "same." Instead, it is the recognition that all humans, no matter what their skills or talents, have "certain inalienable rights." In this sense, then, Arthur doesn't treat Muggles as an inferior race; he treats them as his equals because he believes that, as humans, they have every right to breathe the same air that he does.

But their treatment of Muggles,

[storyteller]

I do think that Muggles are "inferior", meaning that they are capable of less than wizards. Wizards are capable of learning physics and building atomic bombs, if they so chose to study them. A Muggle could not do a killing curse if they tried for a hundred years. I'm not saying a Muggle couldn't come up with a better alternative (hence, a gun), but he/she could not do it as a magical person could

Beware - this is wordy! Part I

[sophierom]

I do think that Muggles are "inferior", meaning that they are capable of less than wizards. Wizards are capable of learning physics and building atomic bombs, if they so chose to study them. I've always wondered about this ... not about wizards' ability to learn Muggle sciences, but about their ability to use those sciences and still use magic. Doesn't Hermione mention that electronics can't be used at Hogwarts because of all the magical interference? Would this, I wonder, make a person with magical ability less able to develop muggle technology, which harnesses an alternate source of energy (non-magical)? I don't know ... but I always like to consider this possibility

Part II

[sophierom]

don't think that admiring them like you admire native Africans on the Discovery Chanel is tantamount to seeing them as equal. And I do think that it would be impossible for long term magical/Muggle relations to last, for the sole fact that I am a pessimist, and people hate what they can't have.

I agree with this, though I think that, if Muggles found out about wizards, Arthur would be the "native African on the Discovery Chanel". His culture would be the one threatened and attacked and in danger of being wiped out, not Muggle culture.

How would you propose making witches and wizards see that Muggles are different, but equal?I think it would mean that the wizarding society would have to take Muggle culture seriously. All of the talk of wizarding superiority - whether benevolent or malevolent - is ultimately wizarding culture's unwillingness to admit that Muggles have developed a very powerful society

[szee03]

Good essay! I enjoyed it

[storyteller]

I do agree that many Muggle devices would be infinitely useful to Wizards if Magic didn't interfere with them. How much easier would Hermione's research in the library be if they had computers that looked based on word searches? And owls are tedious indeed, as is fire talking.

[kylandra]

This is really interesting, and I certainly wouldn't place any prejudice displayed by the Weasleys on par with the more harsh and aggressive prejudice displayed by Voldemort or the DEs