Mark Reads Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Chapter 8

In the tenth chapter of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the ramifications of the appearance of the Dark Mark are dealt with. There's also a great bargain of commentary on slavery, oppression, privilege, and why Percy is so goddamn annoying. Intrigued? So it's time for Mark to read Harry Potter.

CHAPTER 10: MAYHEM AT THE Ministry building

Nosotros haven't had 1 of these in a while, but I recall it'south fourth dimension for a (sort of) serious, pseudo-intellectual review. Shall we?

• "He'll be all right," said Mr. Weasley quietly as they marched off onto the moor. "Sometimes, when a person's retention'due south modified, it makes him a fleck disoriented for a while…and that was a big thing they had to brand him forget."

No, manifestly, I don't want you to tell me how much (or if at all) Rowling addresses this issue; I've seen quite a few of yous speak candidly about the topic of wizard-caused Muggle memory loss, and I wanted to create the opportunity for us to speak more than openly about it.

I'thou probably reading a lot into this, simply the coincidental mode in which the many wizards use the Obliviate spell speaks volumes well-nigh wizard privilege. Rowling doesn't spell this out for the reader, merely there's an undertone of understanding to the way she writes nearly these instances.

And in example I'm already frightening y'all away with big, scary words, allow me to step dorsum and explicate my intentions here. When I apply the word "privilege" in this context, I'm talking about the advantages (legal, social, personal, etc) given to a person considering they belong to a specific grouping, either being born into it or becoming a part of it later in life. In this case, wizards enjoy the privilege that comes with existence wizards and it's a privilege that a Muggle will never have.

You lot can apply privilege to your own life. I have male privilege. I benefit from living in a social club that pays men more than women, that trusts our opinions, that doesn't judge our sexual exploits, that…well, you become the idea. There'south class privilege, relating to wealth and money and how those things touch on what you have admission to and what you can and cannot be a part of. There's able-bodied privilege, meaning that many people enjoy an innumerable number of benefits because they aren't disabled, struck by chronic disease, etc.

You'll run into me talk a lot about heterosexual and cisgender privilege (cis privilege, for short). In fact, I believe I spoke a lot about those 2 topics back when I was reviewing Twilight. Heterosexual people benefit profoundly from beingness heterosexual. (I feel like I don't have to explain this one.) Cisgender privilege, meaning, in short, that you're comfortable with the gender you've been assigned at-birth and y'all benefit from this, is of smashing importance to me, especially every bit someone who is cisgender and has seen the terrible erasure, discrimination, and extreme acts of violence (read=murder) of my transgender brothers and sisters. (Transgender = contrary of cisgender.)

Why am I talking nigh all of this WHILST READING HARRY POTTER? Considering the wizarding world's casual apply of the "Obliviate" spell is an human action of privilege. I'm glad to see that it bothered some of you how often wizards seem to rely on it. Like I said, it'southward a privilege that magician's savor that Muggles can rarely, if e'er, replicate. And wizards apply it to their advantage constantly.

I'd like to see a bit more on this issue in-book. I don't think this is bad, lazy, or offensive writing on Rowling'south part. On the contrary, I still feel she wrote things this manner considering information technology seemed obvious to her that the wizard culture would accept these sort of things as…well, just the way things are.

And we'll get to more of that sort of thinking in a second.

Oh shit are you bored by my endless ranting oh god I AM SORRY.

• "I shouted at you earlier you left!" Mrs. Weasley said, starting to sob. "It's all I've been thinking about! What if Y'all-Know-Who had got you, and the last thing I ever said to you was that you didn't become enough O.Due west.50.s? Oh Fred…George…"

Poor Mrs. Weasley. 🙁

I'g intrigued by the introduction of the reporter for The Daily Prophet, Rita Skeeter. I like the not-so-subtle parody of media frenzy, specially given what our modern media has turned into. I imagine nosotros'll be seeing more of Skeeter and…hmmm. I don't know. I have no idea how Rowling will portray her.

• "But nosotros don't know where Sirius is…he could be in Africa or somewhere, couldn't he?" said Hermione reasonably. "Hedwig'due south not going to manage that journey in a few days."

Ugh, why practise I miss Sirius Blackness? I want to know then much more almost him, nonetheless he is NOWHERE TO Exist Establish. ULTIMATE TRAGEDY .

• "Ron," said Hermione, in an I-don't-think-you lot're-being-very-sensitive voice, "Harry doesn't want to play Quidditch right now….He's worried, and he'due south tired….We all need to go to bed…."

  "Aye, I want to play Quidditch," said Harry all of a sudden. "Hang on, I'll become my Firebolt."

  Hermione left the room, muttering something that sounded very much like "Boys."

lol GENDER ROLES but lol I actually laughed at this.

• "Well, Male parent feels he'southward got to make upwards for his error at the lucifer, doesn't he?" said Percy. "If truth exist told, he was a tad unwise to make a public statement without immigration information technology with his Head of Department get-go–"

  "Don't you dare blame your father for what that wretched Skeeter woman wrote!" said Mrs. Weasley, flaring up at once.

Percy, what is wrong with you? Finish following rules and then mayhap you lot won't be such an detestable arse.

• "If you ask me, Mr. Crouch is very lucky no one at the Daily Prophet knows how mean he is to elves!" said Hermione angrily.

  "Now look hither, Hermione!" said Percy. "A loftier-ranking Ministry building official like Mr. Hunker deserves unswerving obedience from his servants–"

  "His slave, you hateful!" said Hermione, her vocalism rising passionately, "because he didn't pay Winky, did he?"

Bless your heart, Hermione. Your heart'due south in the right place.

I can easily bring this back to the opening conversation: both parties are speaking from the privilege of a) not being a non-human and b) non being a firm-elf. Clearly, Percy is being an entitled, privileged douche. That'southward non hard to pick upwardly.

But information technology'due south important to note that intent DOES NOT erase affect. While information technology's great that Hermione is willing to stick up for house-elves and support them, the only person who should be speaking about the house-elf experience is…well, a firm-elf. No one can ever imagine or determine exactly what makes up the experience of some other group, peculiarly one without the privilege you relish.

Hermione's intent is positive. But the affect she may have on the House-Elf liberation move might not necessarily be so practiced.

Always heard someone say, "Check your privilege"? That's what Hermione needs to do: realize she'southward speaking from a position of privilege and allow the bodily oppressed people/creatures to speak for themselves.

oh god what has harry potter turned me into

Our heroes/friends are headed to Hogwarts again for Year Four. Shit has already gotten and so real at this indicate and they're not even at schoolhouse.

Oh god, I am so unprepared.

pennslitione.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.buzznet.com/2010/07/mark-reads-harry-potter-goblet-10/?view-all

Share this post