On the Molly-and-Ginny-bitchiness towards Fleur, and the presence of the Veelas as "mascots" in GoF -
I wonder if JKR isn't trying to make Veelas out to be the sorority girls/cheerleaders of the Wizarding world. It may not have started out that way, but the general human female reaction to them recalls the way women react to perceived threats in general. Hermione's reaction in GoF certainly points to this. If she's attracted to Ron (who, as pauraque points out, is a being a real git), at this point she's going to be having many issues about being the "brainy" girl. There are other things in this book pointing that way (Hermione's teeth, the way she dresses for the ball, etc).
Later, Molly's reaction to Fleur is horribly superficial, as is Ginny's. Not jealousy per se, but definitely typical female cattiness. This is pretty in-character for Molly especially, since we see her in very traditional roles (and overbearing mother who doesn't like the woman her eldest son brings home is one of those roles).
If it were a matter of inter-species dating/mating being taboo, I would think JKR would get one of the usual suspects to comment on it. Draco making a snide comment about Fleur in Harry's hearing, some kind of slam on Bill/Fleur later in HBP.
I'm sure there is something of the "why aren't human females good enough for Bill?," or some plain old prejudice going on, but it seems more likely to me that it's female bitchiness.
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Date: 2005-10-21 03:12 pm (UTC)I wonder if JKR isn't trying to make Veelas out to be the sorority girls/cheerleaders of the Wizarding world. It may not have started out that way, but the general human female reaction to them recalls the way women react to perceived threats in general. Hermione's reaction in GoF certainly points to this. If she's attracted to Ron (who, as pauraque points out, is a being a real git), at this point she's going to be having many issues about being the "brainy" girl. There are other things in this book pointing that way (Hermione's teeth, the way she dresses for the ball, etc).
Later, Molly's reaction to Fleur is horribly superficial, as is Ginny's. Not jealousy per se, but definitely typical female cattiness. This is pretty in-character for Molly especially, since we see her in very traditional roles (and overbearing mother who doesn't like the woman her eldest son brings home is one of those roles).
If it were a matter of inter-species dating/mating being taboo, I would think JKR would get one of the usual suspects to comment on it. Draco making a snide comment about Fleur in Harry's hearing, some kind of slam on Bill/Fleur later in HBP.
I'm sure there is something of the "why aren't human females good enough for Bill?," or some plain old prejudice going on, but it seems more likely to me that it's female bitchiness.