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ccbc-net digest 5 Jun 1999
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From: drabkin <arcanis>
Date: Sat, 5 Jun 1999 12:04:13 -0700
Andrew Ogus wrote:
The magic and the mundane are touching, in a way -- in "Sorcerer's Stone" it's obvious that the world of magic knows all about the world of the Muggles -- they observe, they discuss, they even bring a child for raising -- in much the same way, BTW, as the young Arthur was brought by Merlin to be raised in that myth's equivalent of a Muggle family.
But just as in all the Star Trek series, there's a Prime Directive in the world of Harry Potter, which is No Interference. If the magical world were to impinge too much on the Muggle world, there would be an irresistible temptation for irresponsible folk such as Voldemort -- or Malfoy -- to meddle with it and become tyrants in it. So the magical world has to stay separate and observant.
Andrew Ogus wrote:
There's a big distinction between being oblivious to an experience, and refusing to allow the experience to corrode or warp one. It's obvious that Harry Potter is not the person he might have been had he been raised in another family, and it's also made quite clear that the reason he was given to Muggles to raise was that there was a fear that this child would be made too much of, would be lionized and spoilt, if he were raised in the magical world. (And that would have happened, no doubt of it!) It's clear that Harry's modesty, friendliness, and readiness to learn what others have to teach him are all qualities he wouldn't have had otherwise.
(Remember how the sorting hat thought that Harry could have the ambition to fit into Slytherin?)
As for magicians letting things happen without intervention, see above
-- Merlin took Arthur to be raised by Muggles; there's a precedent. There are other precedents in mythology for the offspring of powerful and/or magical beings (deities, even, in some mythologies) being raised by mundane families without intervention, and it's always to learn something about the people that the young magical one will eventually lead, or save, or enlighten.
Marian Drabkin Richmond Public Library Richmond, CA
Received on Sat 05 Jun 1999 02:04:13 PM CDT
Date: Sat, 5 Jun 1999 12:04:13 -0700
Andrew Ogus wrote:
The magic and the mundane are touching, in a way -- in "Sorcerer's Stone" it's obvious that the world of magic knows all about the world of the Muggles -- they observe, they discuss, they even bring a child for raising -- in much the same way, BTW, as the young Arthur was brought by Merlin to be raised in that myth's equivalent of a Muggle family.
But just as in all the Star Trek series, there's a Prime Directive in the world of Harry Potter, which is No Interference. If the magical world were to impinge too much on the Muggle world, there would be an irresistible temptation for irresponsible folk such as Voldemort -- or Malfoy -- to meddle with it and become tyrants in it. So the magical world has to stay separate and observant.
Andrew Ogus wrote:
There's a big distinction between being oblivious to an experience, and refusing to allow the experience to corrode or warp one. It's obvious that Harry Potter is not the person he might have been had he been raised in another family, and it's also made quite clear that the reason he was given to Muggles to raise was that there was a fear that this child would be made too much of, would be lionized and spoilt, if he were raised in the magical world. (And that would have happened, no doubt of it!) It's clear that Harry's modesty, friendliness, and readiness to learn what others have to teach him are all qualities he wouldn't have had otherwise.
(Remember how the sorting hat thought that Harry could have the ambition to fit into Slytherin?)
As for magicians letting things happen without intervention, see above
-- Merlin took Arthur to be raised by Muggles; there's a precedent. There are other precedents in mythology for the offspring of powerful and/or magical beings (deities, even, in some mythologies) being raised by mundane families without intervention, and it's always to learn something about the people that the young magical one will eventually lead, or save, or enlighten.
Marian Drabkin Richmond Public Library Richmond, CA
Received on Sat 05 Jun 1999 02:04:13 PM CDT
