Yeah, ok, a bit more about Book 7

[ebonlock]

A couple of things that popped into my brain in this particular book that I wanted to put down somewhere and see if anybody else noticed either. First, was it just me or was this the first book where wizards used the exclamation, "God"? I can't remember a single instance of anyone referring to "God" before, particularly not wizards and had always assumed that for the most part their only religion was magic. I mean these people are the ones who separated themselves from the mundane world due to persecution at the hands of Christians so it would make perfect sense to me that they were practicing atheists. Given that most of what they do is a big fat no-no according to the Bible, again, this doesn't surprise me. So why now?

Second, is there some law in the wizarding world that women can either a) work or b) get married and be a stay at home mom? Look at all the witches in the stories, either they're teaching/Ministry/reporting spinsters or happy housewives. Sure you might argue that Tonks went into battle, so did Mrs. Weasley, etc. but do we have any evidence that either of them was working a regular 9-5 job before that? Tonks quite clearly hadn't returned to the Ministry after having Teddy (for obvious reasons) and we have no way of knowing what she might have done had she lived. But if you can find me one example of a witch who doesn't fit into one of these two seemingly exclusive categories I'd love to see it.

All done.

Comments

[ebonlock.livejournal.com]

No I don't recall you sending me that one, but I'd like to read it too if you don't mind. Regarding Bella/Molly, the first thing that popped into my mind was the Ripley/Queen Alien fight from Aliens, though at least there it was straightforward mom vs. mom. This particular battle was definitely representing what you discuss above.

I'm sure there's an entire thesis in Deathly Hallows alone on a variety of subjects, though. I am rather tempted to do a bit more digging on the religious question myself. I've long wondered if magic functions differently in societies who integrated it into spiritual belief. For example would Japanese wizards and witches have had the same need to hide away from the Muggle world without intense Christian prosecution? Without an Inquisition or a sharp demarcation between magic and spirituality, how would a wizarding society exist? Do "wizards" simply become "priests" in that case?

And are the wounds caused by the witch hunts in western wizarding responsible for keeping everyone but the Muggle born from even an understanding of religion; or is it more that they have no need for a theology when they comprehend not only the what happens after death, but actually have the power to prolong life indefinitely or decide the terms of their own afterlife. Do they need a concept of God at all, or is magic sufficient? Are they, actually, the ultimate humanists?

[scar-let.livejournal.com]

I missed the God references in the last book, but I had noticed their absense throughout the series in general. I definitely see what you mean by wizards being emblematic of uber-humanists...that especially works if you consider the Death Eaters as wizardly eugenicists.

I'll send along my Tipping the Velvet conference paper, I always feel like I'm pushing this academic nonsense on people though!