The key question, as you say, is whether what the Potters stand for gets the Blacks so charged up that they would use the word "traitor," just as they do with the Weasleys. So, what kinds of conflict might make them use the term "traitor" in the first place?
The political issue is likely a huge factor, as well as the potential influence of the progressive purebloods. I agree with this. But I personally don't think that this is the key issue at the core of the hatred/anger generated by the Blacks; because they don't use the word "traitor" when referring to either Potter that we've seen. Granted, there isn't much of a case that can be made with James Potter, because we've never seen him in confrontation with another pureblooded wizard (and Snape wouldn't be in a position to call him a traitor), but as far as we know, this insult has never been levelled in his direction. As far as I know (because I don't have OotP with me right now), it has never been levelled in Harry's direction either, not by Bellatrix, Mrs. Black, Draco, Lucius, or Kreacher. Furthermore, there may be reasons to feel that the Blacks despise either James or Harry Potter (I mean, it's hardly illogical to assume that Regulus despised James for stealing Sirius away, to name one example), but I can't remember being given any indication that they actually do.
This is why I feel that the main issue here, aside from fear of spreading influence, is the label "traitor" at its most basic definition. The Weasleys do have significant political power from what we've seen, and they are putting it to use in ways that would cramp the old pureblood traditions, and I can easily see this frightening the old pureblood families, causing them to identify the Weasleys as a threat. But I think the deeper sting must come from the fact that at one point in time, the Weasleys were actually on the opposite side of this debate, on the Black side. At one point, they did not reject these family customs, they were expected to embrace them and they did. If there is fear of their influence, it is only another reason to hate them, not the main reason. The Blacks may have feared Sirius's influence in school, but I don't think that was the main reason he was blasted off the tapestry and labelled a traitor.
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Date: 2005-09-09 08:06 pm (UTC)The political issue is likely a huge factor, as well as the potential influence of the progressive purebloods. I agree with this. But I personally don't think that this is the key issue at the core of the hatred/anger generated by the Blacks; because they don't use the word "traitor" when referring to either Potter that we've seen. Granted, there isn't much of a case that can be made with James Potter, because we've never seen him in confrontation with another pureblooded wizard (and Snape wouldn't be in a position to call him a traitor), but as far as we know, this insult has never been levelled in his direction. As far as I know (because I don't have OotP with me right now), it has never been levelled in Harry's direction either, not by Bellatrix, Mrs. Black, Draco, Lucius, or Kreacher. Furthermore, there may be reasons to feel that the Blacks despise either James or Harry Potter (I mean, it's hardly illogical to assume that Regulus despised James for stealing Sirius away, to name one example), but I can't remember being given any indication that they actually do.
This is why I feel that the main issue here, aside from fear of spreading influence, is the label "traitor" at its most basic definition. The Weasleys do have significant political power from what we've seen, and they are putting it to use in ways that would cramp the old pureblood traditions, and I can easily see this frightening the old pureblood families, causing them to identify the Weasleys as a threat. But I think the deeper sting must come from the fact that at one point in time, the Weasleys were actually on the opposite side of this debate, on the Black side. At one point, they did not reject these family customs, they were expected to embrace them and they did. If there is fear of their influence, it is only another reason to hate them, not the main reason. The Blacks may have feared Sirius's influence in school, but I don't think that was the main reason he was blasted off the tapestry and labelled a traitor.