donnaimmaculata (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
donnaimmaculata) wrote2007-03-21 04:52 pm
donnaimmaculata) wrote2007-03-21 04:52 pm
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In what way do magical powers define witches and wizards?
I'm currently re-reading HBP and a question has begun to form that has been nagging on the back of my mind for ages. In very simple words that question is: What does magic really mean for witches and wizards? How integral a part of their selves is it?
Basically, witches and wizards define themselves over magic. Magic is part of what they are. It's not just an extra skill but rather an inherent power that, carefully cultivated and honed, results in extra skills that are used to faciliate many aspects of life. Right? Magical powers are a bit like intelligence: a gift of nature based on which extra skills can be acquired. This would make witches and wizards the prodigies of the human species, and the way many witches and wizards talk about Muggles, it is apparent that this is what they consider themselves when compared to Muggles.
Magic is often used as a substitute for machinery or physical exertion. - An example that springs to mind is Hermione's "Muggle Studies" book which features an illustration of "Muggles lifting heavy objects". It implies that the act of "lifting heavy objects" is something out of the ordinary for witches and wizards, who use charms instead. However, we know that underage witches and wizards are not allowed to use spells outside school. They must lift heavy objects manually. (IIRC, this is what Fred and George do in PS, when they help Harry heave his trunk onto the Hogwarts Express.) They are not allowed to use their powers and their skills - even though these do already exist - until a certain age. To me, this implies that magical powers are not, in fact, as inherent and "natural" a part of a witch's and wizard's life as it seems. Their use is strictly regulated. (People who were kicked out of Hogwarts are not allowed to use magic, either (cf. Hagrid).) So, if magical powers are inherent, like intelligence, this would mean that the use of intelligence is restricted by law.
Moreover, as illustrated on the example of Tonks in HBP, magical powers can be reduced and, possibly, even lost due to suffering and emotional distress. OotP implies that being a Metamorphmagus is what Tonks is, what she has been since always and what defines her sense of self. "Metamorphmagi are born, not made" (paraphrased), as she tells Harry on first meeting him. And yet, even though she is a Metamorphmagus, this does not mean that she will always remain one. If she loses the powers that have defined her all her life her because of an unhappy relationship/lovesickness/worrying about loved ones, what does that mean for her sense of self? If magical powers are an inherent part of what witches and wizards are, they are more than just extra skills. And if they are more than just extra skills, their loss must be truly shattering.
So, I'm not sure how to approach the concept of magical powers. On the one hand, they come intrinsically, as a gift of nature. On the other hand, witches and wizards are painfully aware of these powers as something "special". Magical powers are actually treated like privileges of birth: wizards are the aristocrats, Muggles are the serfs, and HBP!Tonks is the impoverished relation.
Any thoughts, anyone?
Basically, witches and wizards define themselves over magic. Magic is part of what they are. It's not just an extra skill but rather an inherent power that, carefully cultivated and honed, results in extra skills that are used to faciliate many aspects of life. Right? Magical powers are a bit like intelligence: a gift of nature based on which extra skills can be acquired. This would make witches and wizards the prodigies of the human species, and the way many witches and wizards talk about Muggles, it is apparent that this is what they consider themselves when compared to Muggles.
Magic is often used as a substitute for machinery or physical exertion. - An example that springs to mind is Hermione's "Muggle Studies" book which features an illustration of "Muggles lifting heavy objects". It implies that the act of "lifting heavy objects" is something out of the ordinary for witches and wizards, who use charms instead. However, we know that underage witches and wizards are not allowed to use spells outside school. They must lift heavy objects manually. (IIRC, this is what Fred and George do in PS, when they help Harry heave his trunk onto the Hogwarts Express.) They are not allowed to use their powers and their skills - even though these do already exist - until a certain age. To me, this implies that magical powers are not, in fact, as inherent and "natural" a part of a witch's and wizard's life as it seems. Their use is strictly regulated. (People who were kicked out of Hogwarts are not allowed to use magic, either (cf. Hagrid).) So, if magical powers are inherent, like intelligence, this would mean that the use of intelligence is restricted by law.
Moreover, as illustrated on the example of Tonks in HBP, magical powers can be reduced and, possibly, even lost due to suffering and emotional distress. OotP implies that being a Metamorphmagus is what Tonks is, what she has been since always and what defines her sense of self. "Metamorphmagi are born, not made" (paraphrased), as she tells Harry on first meeting him. And yet, even though she is a Metamorphmagus, this does not mean that she will always remain one. If she loses the powers that have defined her all her life her because of an unhappy relationship/lovesickness/worrying about loved ones, what does that mean for her sense of self? If magical powers are an inherent part of what witches and wizards are, they are more than just extra skills. And if they are more than just extra skills, their loss must be truly shattering.
So, I'm not sure how to approach the concept of magical powers. On the one hand, they come intrinsically, as a gift of nature. On the other hand, witches and wizards are painfully aware of these powers as something "special". Magical powers are actually treated like privileges of birth: wizards are the aristocrats, Muggles are the serfs, and HBP!Tonks is the impoverished relation.
Any thoughts, anyone?
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