Very thoughtful essay. Many of these things have been bothering me about the Weasley family for quite sometime now, particularly Molly's apparent lack of any hobbies and a social life. Though I think Molly is an excellent character, I've always found her role as the fussy housewitch to be a little limiting. Arthur has always struck me as more than a little bit irresponsible as well.
There are no wizarding prep/primary schools. Wizarding kids are all taught at home. Some appartently are sent to (Muggle) schools. I'm not sure how it works, discretion wise, but it's from an interview by JKR (if one considers those as canon)
otherwise mostly agreeing with you. ^^ I love both Percy and Arthur, they're my favourite Weasleys. They both have a lot of flaws, though.
And he was perfectly welcome in his family home in HBP.
Actually, I believe he had food thrown at him (credit for the throwing was claimed by three of his siblings and though I don't recall if it was that time or another of the "make fun of Percy at the family table" incidents but at least once Arthur laughed at Percy when his siblings made fun of him) I wouldn't exactly call that "perfectly welcome"
First off: I knit for a hobby. In fact, in this day and age it is *not* cheaper to knit a sweater than to buy one. Knitting might very well be Molly's hobby
( ... )
Arthur long ago gave up on trying to have any input in his household affairs. Molly is the type of woman who will not tolerate anything if it isn't done her way. I wonder if this was always the case with them or it just started when they had children.
What I really wonder is why the Weasely's are so "poor". By all accounts, Arthur comes from an old family with numerous ties to the Blacks. And the Blacks don't marry just anyone. Perhaps the Weasely money ran out a long time ago or it was settled on the eldest son. Are there primogeniture laws in the Wizard world? I found it interesting that in one of the books Ron stated that Arthur didn't have to be poor. He also stated that Arthur had quite an influential crowd around him from the MOM. That led me to believe that Arthur's old family name still has some clout.
Maybe that is why Molly is so frustrated. She wanted the blue-blood prestige but it all fell apart on her.
The lack of money might be down to their money management skills, like spending the Daily Prophet money on one holiday. And I have to say, after all the kids except Ginny and Ron having left the house, and Arthur's promotion, Ron still doesn't have 3 Galleaons to pay his brothers (which, by the way, was pretty nasty of the twins, IMHO). This means they really are poor.
I tend to disagree with you there, jedirita, if you have seven kids and still refuse a better paying job, I call this selfish, when at least one of them used a second hand wand (which is the most important thing to a wizard, and has to be uniuqe) for two years.
And Arthur keeping his job doesn't necesserily mean he wants to be with his family more. He does go on raids, and the kids are away most of the year anyway. Not only that, but a better paying job doesn't neceserrily mean more hours. The thing is he doesn't want one.
Yes, money management plays a big part in the Weasely dilemma. Sometimes I get the impression that they seem to be spending to keep up appearances. But they are fooling noone.
The Twins. I love them but sometimes they creep me out. What they did to Ron, especially in front of Harry, was awful.
Molly holds the purse strings to whatever money is available. I don't think she throws the galleons around to the kids for their discretionary purposes. But she did buy that Pygmy Puff for Ginny. I think there is a lot of rivalry broiling between the Weasely brood and it's taking a toll. Bill and Charlie practically ran away when they finished school. Percy tries to ignore his family. The Twins taunt Ron about money. Ginny just slinks around and tries to be inconspicuous.
Something is broken in the family. I wonder if it will be finally addressed in the final novel.
As each new book comes out, the gender stereotypes seem more and more obvious: Molly as distracted housewife, Arthur as bumbling dad, the boys and their hijinks, the girls waiting to scold them, Merope and (to some degree) Tonks wasting away for the want of love, Ginny patiently waiting for Harry to come around, etc.
I agree with the idea that Molly may almost welcome the war, and being a member of the Order. At least, she seems to enjoy being a shoulder for Tonks to cry on, and having people to dinner on a regular basis. The other part, where her family is in constant peril (and her son's about to "rush" into marriage), I don't think she likes too much.
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Some appartently are sent to (Muggle) schools. I'm not sure how it works, discretion wise, but it's from an interview by JKR (if one considers those as canon)
otherwise mostly agreeing with you. ^^ I love both Percy and Arthur, they're my favourite Weasleys. They both have a lot of flaws, though.
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Actually, I believe he had food thrown at him (credit for the throwing was claimed by three of his siblings and though I don't recall if it was that time or another of the "make fun of Percy at the family table" incidents but at least once Arthur laughed at Percy when his siblings made fun of him) I wouldn't exactly call that "perfectly welcome"
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What I really wonder is why the Weasely's are so "poor". By all accounts, Arthur comes from an old family with numerous ties to the Blacks. And the Blacks don't marry just anyone. Perhaps the Weasely money ran out a long time ago or it was settled on the eldest son. Are there primogeniture laws in the Wizard world? I found it interesting that in one of the books Ron stated that Arthur didn't have to be poor. He also stated that Arthur had quite an influential crowd around him from the MOM. That led me to believe that Arthur's old family name still has some clout.
Maybe that is why Molly is so frustrated. She wanted the blue-blood prestige but it all fell apart on her.
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I tend to disagree with you there, jedirita, if you have seven kids and still refuse a better paying job, I call this selfish, when at least one of them used a second hand wand (which is the most important thing to a wizard, and has to be uniuqe) for two years.
And Arthur keeping his job doesn't necesserily mean he wants to be with his family more. He does go on raids, and the kids are away most of the year anyway. Not only that, but a better paying job doesn't neceserrily mean more hours. The thing is he doesn't want one.
Reply
The Twins. I love them but sometimes they creep me out. What they did to Ron, especially in front of Harry, was awful.
Molly holds the purse strings to whatever money is available. I don't think she throws the galleons around to the kids for their discretionary purposes. But she did buy that Pygmy Puff for Ginny. I think there is a lot of rivalry broiling between the Weasely brood and it's taking a toll. Bill and Charlie practically ran away when they finished school. Percy tries to ignore his family. The Twins taunt Ron about money. Ginny just slinks around and tries to be inconspicuous.
Something is broken in the family. I wonder if it will be finally addressed in the final novel.
Reply
I agree with the idea that Molly may almost welcome the war, and being a member of the Order. At least, she seems to enjoy being a shoulder for Tonks to cry on, and having people to dinner on a regular basis. The other part, where her family is in constant peril (and her son's about to "rush" into marriage), I don't think she likes too much.
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