ÿþ<html> <head> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <meta name="GENERATOR" content="Microsoft FrontPage Express 2.0"> <title>academia</title> </head> <body bgcolor="000000"> <table border=0 width=100% cellpadding=30 cellspacing=10 height=100%><tr><td align=center valign=middle> <table border=0 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0> <tr> <td><img src="/uni.jpg"></td></TR> <tr> <td bgcolor="222222"> <table border=0 cellpadding=50 cellspacing=0 bgcolor="222222"><tr><td> <font face="verdana" color="ececec" size=2> <P> </style> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="2050"/> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapelayout v:ext="edit"> <o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1"/> </o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--> </head> <body lang=EN-AU link=blue vlink=purple style='tab-interval:36.0pt'> <div class=Section1> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span class=GramE><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Squibs in the <span class=SpellE>Wizarding</span> World.</span></b></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Verdana'><br> <br> <span class=GramE>By <span class=SpellE>Starkiller</span>, (c) 2006.</span><br> <br> <a name=cutid1></a><br> <br> <br> I never really gave much thought to the place and role of Squibs in the <span class=SpellE>Wizarding</span> World. I just took what we were given within the text about them and didn't bother to consider it any further. However, as I started writing an OC that was a Squib and very defensive about it, it got me thinking  just how are Squibs viewed in the <span class=SpellE>Wizarding</span> World? <br> <br> The <span class=SpellE>Wizarding</span> World exhibits certain prejudices that they don't see anything particularly wrong with  the House Elves is the biggest example of this, what Hermione describes as being a slave race. Her attempts to 'liberate' the House Elves gains no supporters, despite Ron telling her repeatedly that the House Elves like their role as the servants/slaves to the Wizards, she continues to try to gain equality for them. J. K. Rowling dedicates a lot of time to Hermione's quest for House Elf equality, attempting to make the plight of the House Elves something that the reader will empathise with Hermione about. Whatever message she was making within the text, however, was lost with the appearance on film of 'Jar-Jar Dobby' as Dobby has been unfortunately nick named. <br> <br> Squibs, however, are rarely, if ever, presented in any sort of positive light. Within the text, the reader's first introduction to Squibs is the school caretaker, Argus Filch. In chapter nine of 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,' entitled 'The Writing on the Wall,' Ron describes what it is that makes <span class=GramE>Filch</span> a Squib, and introduces the reader to the <span class=SpellE>Kwikspell</span> Course. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>&quot;Well -- it's not funny really -- but as <span class=GramE>it's</span> Filch,&quot; he said. &quot;A Squib is someone who was born into a <span class=SpellE>wizarding</span> family but hasn't got any magic powers. <span class=GramE>Kind of the opposite of <span class=SpellE>Muggle</span>-born wizards, but Squibs are</span> quite unusual. If <span class=SpellE>Filch's</span> trying to learn magic from a <span class=SpellE>Kwikspell</span> course, I reckon he must be a Squib. It would explain a lot. Like why he hates students so much.&quot; Ron gave a satisfied smile. &quot;He's bitter.&quot;</span></i><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Verdana'> [1<span class=GramE>]</span><br> <br> In an interview, J. K. Rowling has addressed the concept of blood status within her books. She speaks in broad terms, but <span class=GramE>its</span> clear that she is referring to pure-blood versus half-blood and so on. In the 'Entertainment Weekly' article of October 2000, J. K. Rowling said, <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>&quot;Because bigotry is probably the thing I detest most. All forms of intolerance, the whole idea of &quot;that which is different from me is necessary evil.&quot; I really like to explore the idea that difference is equal and good. But there's another idea that I like to explore, too. Oppressed groups are not, generally speaking, people who stand firmly together -- no, sadly, they kind of subdivide among themselves and fight like hell. That's human nature, so that's what you see here. This world of wizards and witches, they're already ostracized, and then within themselves, they've formed a loathsome pecking order.&quot;</span></i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'> [2<span class=GramE>]</span><br> <br> Squibs are explained to be a much rarer birth than a wizard or witch born to non-magical parents. Within the text, J. K. Rowling has introduced us to two Squibs  Argus Filch, who is a figure of ridicule and derision, tinged with pity, and <span class=SpellE>Arabella</span> <span class=SpellE>Figg</span>, a woman who is a member of the Order of the Phoenix and treated dismissively by her contemporaries, as seen by the way she is spoken to in 'Order of the Phoenix' when rescuing Harry and Dudley from the <span class=SpellE>Dementors</span> after <span class=SpellE>Mundungus</span> Fletcher abandoned his post of watching over Harry. It appears, from the text, that Squibs can see magical beings, such as ghosts and <span class=SpellE>thestrals</span>, but are unable to see <span class=SpellE>Dementors</span>. No reason for this is really given, though I hypothesise that the intent of the author in this instance is to indicate that the fact Squibs have little to no magical ability means that the <span class=SpellE>Dementors</span> are unable to suck the joy from their souls or care to. Does this then mean that within her own text, J. K. Rowling has contradicted herself as regards bigotry and blood status, insofar as her treatment of Squibs? This is purely a hypothetical question, but it is one that is worthy of consideration.<br> <br> The word 'Squib' comes from the English 'firework that refuses to ignite properly.' Essentially, this means that Squibs, if we take this definition, are wizards and witches that are duds, unable to work properly within their society. It is sad that a group of people who are just as valid members of a society are treated little better than the House Elves for whom Hermione launches her campaign of liberation  after all, Squibs are fellow human beings and the continued oppression of them, the dehumanising of them and the lack of voice for their equality shows a far deeper sense of bigotry than the pure-blood versus half-blood bigotry presented in the text. <br> <br> There has been suggestion that the numerous cats that follow the Squibs in the text are equivalent to guide dogs, functioning for the Squibs much the way that a guide dog functions for the blind. <br> <br> Another point for the argument that says there is bigotry towards those who are born as Squibs is the fact that Neville <span class=SpellE>Longbottom's</span> family was <b>initially worried that he would be a Squib,</b> (emphasis mine.) The HP Lexicon backs up this statement with the following quote:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Neville is the son of Frank and Alice <span class=SpellE>Longbottom</span>, famous and well-liked <span class=SpellE>Aurors</span>, born in 1980. He attends Hogwarts. For some years, it was wondered if he might be a Squib, but <b>fortunately this wasn't the case.</b> <span class=GramE>(Emphasis mine.)</span></span></i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'> [3<span class=GramE>]</span><br> <br> Life as a Squib within a society that places the value of people on what their magical strength and prowess is would be difficult indeed. The invention of the <span class=SpellE>Kwikspell</span> Course that Filch subscribes to in order to try to make him a real wizard, is proof that there is demand enough within those who are born as Squibs to try to change themselves in order to be more accepted within their society. The fact that Filch is taking the <span class=SpellE>Kwikspell</span> course is the subject of much ridicule within the Gryffindor House, particularly the mirth of the <span class=SpellE>Weasley</span> twins, Ron and Harry. This derision from the students goes further along to prove the unequal place of Squibs within the <span class=SpellE>Wizarding</span> World.<br> <br> The newly released information from J. K. Rowling regarding the Black family and the family tree has shed further insight onto the nature of acceptance or lack thereof of Squibs. The Blacks are a highly respected, pure blooded <span class=SpellE>wizarding</span> family, with a long and proud line. While Sirius Black takes great delight in rebelling against that line, it appears that with few exceptions, he is in the minority. On the Black family tree, is the following information that suggests the treatment of Squibs within the <span class=SpellE>Wizarding</span> World has been an ongoing thing for centuries and thus is so deeply engrained within their society it is not considered  by the Wizards  to be anything out of the ordinary. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Marius Black (disowned, dates unknown<span class=GramE>)</span><br> Son of Cygnus and Violetta (<span class=SpellE>Bulstrode</span>) Black.<br> 3 siblings: 1 older brother <span class=SpellE>Pollux</span>, older sister Cassiopeia (1915-1992), and younger sister <span class=SpellE>Dorea</span> (1920-1977).<br> <span class=GramE>Disowned for being 'a squib' represented by a burn hole in the Black Family Tree.</span></span></i><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Verdana'> [4<span class=GramE>]</span><br> <br> In looking at the wonderfully detailed timeline provided by the HP Lexicon, one can see that Squibs in <span class=SpellE>Wizarding</span> society have dated back (at least) to the seventeenth century. In 1632, Thaddeus <span class=SpellE>Thurkell</span> was born. His claim to fame is that he fathered seven Squib sons and turned them all into hedgehogs in disgust, as written on the Famous Wizards collector cards. This is the only mention in the timeline of Squibs at all, so it is fair to say that they do not play any role that is perceived as useful or wanted within the <span class=SpellE>Wizarding</span> World. <br> <br> Neville <span class=SpellE>Longbottom</span> is represented within the text as being one who was feared to be a Squib by his family. As he is Harry's friend, and the books are from Harry's point of view, there is less derision and contempt levelled at Neville, although there is a fair amount of pity, condescension and concession given to Neville, for example, the idea that one shouldn't mind Neville, he's not that bright, he's almost a Squib. <span class=GramE>(Paraphrasing mine.)</span> In the text, the quote that shows that Neville himself is indoctrinated into the idea that being a Squib is something to be highly ashamed of reads as follows.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>'They went for Filch first,' Neville said, his round face fearful, 'and everyone knows I'm almost a Squib.'</span></i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family: Verdana'> [5<span class=GramE>]</span><br> <br> In her essay, '<span class=SpellE>Imagi</span>(c)nation in Harry Potter and the <span class=SpellE>Philospher's</span> Stone,' Connie Ann Kirk writes of Neville's early life:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>(He was raised by his Gran,) watched him with great anticipation for signs of magical ability, which he claims did not manifest until he was eight. At that time, he bounced when Great-uncle <span class=SpellE>Algie</span> accidentally dropped him from a window, and Gran cried tears of joy.</span></i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'> [6<span class=GramE>]</span><br> <br> And in the essay 'That Had to Hurt& or Did it?' by Steve Van Der Ark:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Neville's family thought he might be a Squib. In order to test him, his great-uncle tried to surprise the little fellow by nearly killing him. He pushed him off a pier into the ocean, for example (PS7). Apparently, the magic-ness in him, if there is any, will manifest itself in a surprise of that kind. Then he got dropped from an upper story window and he bounced! This built-in protection indicated to his family that he was in fact magical. In the <span class=SpellE>Muggle</span> world, this great-uncle would be up on child endangerment charges. In the <span class=SpellE>Wizarding</span> World, there's a celebration.</span></i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'> [7<span class=GramE>]</span><br> <br> Wizards can be born as Squibs, but as early childhood development seems not to have the emphasis placed upon it in the <span class=SpellE>Wizarding</span> World that it does in our society, this can take a few years to manifest. Whether or not this is due to different standards of early childhood development and knowledge is not demonstrated within any of the texts or within interviews with J. K. Rowling and so therefore is not something upon which I can discuss with any material to support my argument. It is noted that all children who are <b>not</b> Squibs are sent an invitation to attend Hogwarts. <br> <br> From Neville <span class=SpellE>Longbottom</span>, we move to the family of Gaunt. Within the text, the <span class=GramE>Gaunt</span> family is an ancient pure blood line, but they have degenerated from proud and powerful to almost Squib level, from years of inbreeding. We only have Dumbledore's collection of memories from various sources that can be viewed in a <span class=SpellE>pensieve</span> to examine the <span class=GramE>Gaunt</span> family, so some bias is to be expected. <br> <br> <span class=SpellE>Merope</span> Gaunt, the mother of Tom Riddle, is described in the text by her father as being <b>akin</b> to a Squib; her father is abusive to her and uses the term with great derision and scorn, Harry notes that she looks utterly defeated. Her story is tragic: she falls in love with the handsome <span class=SpellE>Muggle</span>, Tom Riddle senior, and after her father and brother were sent to Azkaban, she used a potion to make him fall in love with her and conceived a child  Tom Riddle who became <span class=SpellE>Voldemort</span>. <span class=SpellE>Merope</span> stopped using the potion on her husband and after it wore off, he cast her out of his house and she ended up in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">London</st1:place></st1:City>, sick and destitute, having to give birth in a shelter during the late 1920's. <br> <br> There is little further evidence of the treatment of Squibs within the <span class=SpellE>Wizarding</span> World in the text. The only other individual who could be considered to be a Squib were it not for his talent with the <span class=SpellE>Obliviate</span> charm is Gilderoy Lockhart. Despite his penchant for having an ego larger than <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">China</st1:place></st1:country-region>, he is a subject of great scorn from the boys, great admiration from the girls, and great disgust from the professors until his own <span class=SpellE>Obliviate</span> backfires and lands him in St. <span class=SpellE>Mungo's</span>. <br> <br> In all these instances, from those we know to be Squibs like Argus Filch and <span class=SpellE>Arabella</span> <span class=SpellE>Figg</span>, to those we are told could almost be Squibs like Neville <span class=SpellE>Longbottom</span>, the Gaunt Family and Gilderoy Lockhart, there is a constant thread of scorn directed at those who are suffering the misfortune of being born without or with minimal magical ability through no fault of their own. I am reminded a little of Apartheid in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">South Africa</st1:place></st1:country-region> in the 1980's, but that is my own observation. <br> <br> [Note: I have bolded the word 'akin' in relation to <span class=SpellE>Merope</span> being <span class=SpellE>refered</span> to as a Squib by her father for clarity.]<br> <br> _____________________________<span class=GramE>_</span><br> [1] 'The Writing on the Wall,' chapter nine, 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.' J. K. Rowling, <st1:place w:st="on">Bloomsbury</st1:place> Press, 1998.<br> [2] Interview with J. K. Rowling, Entertainment Weekly, 7th September 2000<br> [3] Neville <span class=SpellE>Longbottom</span>, HP Lexicon, <a href="http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/neville.html">http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/nevil<wbr>le.html</a>, 2006<br> [4] The Black Family Tree, The Black Family Tree (BFT) <br> created by Rowling for the International Book Aid charity auction, Feb 21 2006<br> [5] 'The Duelling Club,' chapter eleven, 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,' J. K. Rowling, Bloomsbury Press, 1998.<br> [6] '<span class=SpellE>Imagi</span>(c<span class=GramE>)nation</span> in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone,' Connie Ann Kirk, <a href="http://www.hp-lexicon.org/essays/essay-imagicnation.html">http://www.hp-lexicon.org/essays/es<wbr>say-imagicnation.html</a>, 2003<br> [7] 'That Had to Hurt& or did it?,' Steve Van Der Ark, <a href="http://www.hp-lexicon.org/essays/essay-that-had-to-hurt.html">http://www.hp-lexicon.org/essays/es<wbr>say-that-had-to-hurt.html</a>, 2002.<br> <br> <br> References<span class=GramE>:</span><br> <br> HP Lexicon, 'Neville <span class=SpellE>Longbottom</span>,' <a href="http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/neville.html">http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/nevil<wbr>le.html</a>, 2006.<br> HP Lexicon, 'The Gaunt Family,' <a href="http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/gauntfamily.html">http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/gaunt<wbr>family.html</a>, 2006.<br> <span class=GramE>HP Lexicon, 'Timelines and Calenders,' <a href="http://www.hp-lexicon.org/timeline.html">http://www.hp-lexicon.org/timeline.h<wbr>tml</a>, 2006.</span><br> <span class=GramE>HP Lexicon, 'Wizards Young and Old,' <a href="http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizworld/wizard-life.html">http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizworld/wiza<wbr>rd-life.html</a>, 2006.</span><br> <span class=GramE>Inman, Lisa, 'Magical Ability and Magic Wands,' <a href="http://www.hp-lexicon.org/essays/essay-magical-ability.html">http://www.hp-lexicon.org/essays/es<wbr>say-magical-ability.html</a>, 2001.</span><br> Kirk, Connie Ann, '<span class=SpellE>Imagi</span>(c<span class=GramE>)nation</span> in Harry Potter and the <span class=SpellE>Philospher's</span> Stone, <a href="http://www.hp-lexicon.org/essays/essay-imagicnation.html">http://www.hp-lexicon.org/essays/es<wbr>say-imagicnation.html</a>, 2003.<br> <span class=GramE>Rowling, J. K, 'Harry Potter and the <span class=SpellE>Philospher's</span> Stone,' <st1:place w:st="on">Bloomsbury</st1:place> Press, 1997.</span><br> <span class=GramE>Rowling, J. K, 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,' <st1:place w:st="on">Bloomsbury</st1:place> Press, 1998.</span><br> Rowling, J. K, Interview, <span class=SpellE>Entertaiment</span> Weekly, 7th September, 2000.<br> <span class=GramE>Rowling, J. K, 'Harry Potter and the Order of the <st1:City w:st="on">Phoenix</st1:City>,' <st1:place w:st="on">Bloomsbury</st1:place> Press, 2002.</span><br> <span class=GramE>Rowling, J. K, 'Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince,' <st1:place w:st="on">Bloomsbury</st1:place> Press, 2005.</span><br> <span class=GramE>Rowling, J. K, 'The Black Family Tree,' International Book Aid Charities, 2006.</span> <br> Van Der Ark, Steve, 'That Had to Hurt& or Did it<span class=GramE>?,</span>' <a href="http://www.hp-lexicon.org/essays/essay-that-had-to-hurt.html">http://www.hp-lexicon.org/essays/es<wbr>say-that-had-to-hurt.html</a>, 2002.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <p>Questions? Comments? Wanna stroke my ego? Then<font color="#FF0000"> <a href="mailto:starkiller@anarchisma.net">e-mail</a> </font> me.</p> </font></td> </tr></table> </td></tr> <tr><td align=right> <a href="/index.html"><img src="/back.jpg" border=0></a> </td></tr> </table> </td></tr></table> </body> </html>