Mudblood can only be used to refer to muggle-born witches and wizards, making it a strictly racial and not socioeconomic term; many muggleborns, including Hermione, are actually quite well off. And it is definitely a big deal. Did you miss the gigantic brawl that ensued after Malfoy first called Hermione a Mudblood? I believe Ron was vomiting slugs for a day afterwards.
I meant that was the interpretation I had when I first read it. If I were to replace “mudblood” with “pig” or “ugly” or something, that scene would have been no more confusing to me, as I thought those Gryffindor folks were the sorts to fly off the handle and get violent in response to a simple insult.
Yes, it’s apparent that in-universe folks and fans react that way sometimes, but I didn’t get that at all from the first few movies or first book.
I’ll suggest that the Wiemar republic may be a better analogy than any period in American history.
The anti-Mudblood campaign is revving up in Lily’s time, and it’s reasonable to see a serious threat there.
However, it’s conceivable that Harry simply doesn’t know much about wizarding world history. He’s certainly been busy enough with other things.
Yeah, there’s a lot of parallels.
Mudblood can only be used to refer to muggle-born witches and wizards, making it a strictly racial and not socioeconomic term; many muggleborns, including Hermione, are actually quite well off. And it is definitely a big deal. Did you miss the gigantic brawl that ensued after Malfoy first called Hermione a Mudblood? I believe Ron was vomiting slugs for a day afterwards.
See, I figured that brawl was all just the Weasleys overreacting because they’re stupid.
You should leave the possibility open that they’re more familiar with the wizarding world than you are.
I meant that was the interpretation I had when I first read it. If I were to replace “mudblood” with “pig” or “ugly” or something, that scene would have been no more confusing to me, as I thought those Gryffindor folks were the sorts to fly off the handle and get violent in response to a simple insult.
That’s how J.K. Rowling has described it in interviews and such.