I tend to think that wizards don't generally suffer the sort of illnesses that Muggles do. That said, I think they could develop cures for most of them very quickly, or already have potions available that would be effective in treating many of them. The wizarding attitude toward the Muggle world is that it's Not Our Problem.
As for these attitudes, most obvious in the memory charms and the witch burning comments, I have to say I like them. Not because I find them funny or don't have any moral issues with them; quite the opposite. I think the wizarding world is far more interesting (though much less pleasant) when you have all this evidence of hypocrisy and lack of regard for Muggles as human beings even from those who ardently oppose anti-Muggle groups. Both the Death Eaters and the "light" side are far more interesting from that perspective.
That's probably nothing to do with why JKR put it in there, and Harry may never realize it, but I think it makes the series more interesting nonetheless. I'll be thrilled if Harry does eventually pick up on it enough to be uneasy, at the very least (though not so much if it's a brief twinge, then he forgets about it). OTOH, if Harry *doesn't* pick up on it, that doesn't actually mean that JKR didn't put it in there to add moral depth or make the wizarding world more complicated. Plenty of authors add layers that their main characters never pick up on, and it's a very consistent attitude, suggesting it's intentional, even if we aren't supposed to look at it so carefully or take it so seriously.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2004-11-10 05:47 am (UTC)As for these attitudes, most obvious in the memory charms and the witch burning comments, I have to say I like them. Not because I find them funny or don't have any moral issues with them; quite the opposite. I think the wizarding world is far more interesting (though much less pleasant) when you have all this evidence of hypocrisy and lack of regard for Muggles as human beings even from those who ardently oppose anti-Muggle groups. Both the Death Eaters and the "light" side are far more interesting from that perspective.
That's probably nothing to do with why JKR put it in there, and Harry may never realize it, but I think it makes the series more interesting nonetheless. I'll be thrilled if Harry does eventually pick up on it enough to be uneasy, at the very least (though not so much if it's a brief twinge, then he forgets about it). OTOH, if Harry *doesn't* pick up on it, that doesn't actually mean that JKR didn't put it in there to add moral depth or make the wizarding world more complicated. Plenty of authors add layers that their main characters never pick up on, and it's a very consistent attitude, suggesting it's intentional, even if we aren't supposed to look at it so carefully or take it so seriously.