Poverty
Here's the only thing that bothers me about the internal logic of the Harry Potter universe: why are there poor wizards? I can understand that there would be laws against making money by magic, that counterfeiting could be a wizard crime as well as a muggle one. But why can't a poor family like Ron's simply transform its tiny home and shabby clothing into nicer ones? Has anyone come up with a theory on this?
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(7/18/00 7:20 pm) Reply
Re: Poverty
I would say that the Ministy Of Magic probably made a law against having wizards just zap themselves clothes and houses and money cause there would be chaos if it happened. And besides, if it was allowed to just zap yourself money, it would be done because of greed and greed is the path to the dark side
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Re: Poverty
I noticed that too... and what about food!? How come while Sirius was in hiding he was near-starving and subsisting on rats? Why couldn't he just conjure up some good eatin' vittles? He wasn't barred from using magic like Harry was while out of school with his muggle family.
Re: Poverty
well, remember in the 3rd book when the ministry of magic knew that Harry had used magic? Well, it is probably the same in the case of Sirius Black. They can detect when an underage wizzard uses magic and where they did it, so it is probably the same with everyone, if they wanted too. Sirius is a wanted man, the ministry was probably on the look out for him to use his powers or something.
Re: Poverty
Amen, Captain Tarpols! (Why do I have this image of Vader saying, "I felt a tremor in the Force"?)
You know, the Weasleys aren't in poverty. Sure, they don't always have the best or the nicest or the newest, but they aren't dirt poor and living on alms. Mr. Weasley has a job, after all. I suspect that wizards have pension plans and disability insurance and welfare and similar things (hopefully more effecient than the Muggle systems I've seen) to look after those who are in desparate need, but the Weasleys really aren't that badly off. It's a hard thing sometimes to see your friends have a lot more than you do. There are many parents who go into considerable debt to make sure they and their kids have the newest toys on the block, and some day, they're going to have to pay for it. The Weasleys might be able to do this (Bagman sure got himself in trouble!), but they are proud, as Harry observes, and prefer to get by on what they earn.
I do recall, though, Mrs. Weasley shooting food from the end of her wand, so it might be that that's how they eat, sometimes, if Mr. Weasley doesn't bring home enough.
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I agree
with what Captain Tarpols said about the Ministry knowing if Sirius magicked himself food etc. The Ministry probably also would know if people suddenly started magicking their houses to become mansions etc. I guess there must be a limit to what you can magick from your wand, and the Ministry have put up laws for things like changing your house etc.
I think it's good that some wizards are shown as poor, others rich, and others in the middle. I like books to be a little realistic sometimes, and not too perfect.
Edited by EllethStar at: 7/22/00 10:01:35 am
Re: I agree
And wouldn't it be a little boring, too, if everyone was well off and could get what they wanted whenever they wanted it?
About the thing with Sirius, maybe there's more to just making something appear than, well, saying a few words. Maybe you can only create from what is there. So, Sirius could transfigure something into food...
But then, it would seem like he could take a rock and turn it into a hamburger, so maybe i'm wrong...and my theory doesn't help with the house, or clothing either...
Maybe this is one of the few glitches in the story. Maybe there is nothing to explain it. But in the long run, I think it's better for it, although it would be nice to have a rule explaining it.
Re: I agree
Did anyone think that there's no spell to make you clothes and better houses and money. In the first 3 books, I didn't even notice the Weasleys were poor!
Re: I agree
I don't think it matters how poor, or how rich you are, it matters what is inside. It doesn't matter if your the richest person on the planet, it is what you think, cause being rich and have no brain can't get you into college, so you have to be good and don't have to be rich to get what you need.
(Why do I have this image of Vader saying, "I felt a tremor in the Force"?)
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