Character by Paige

Character by Paige - February 2014 Scholarship Essay

A recurring theme in the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling is the mistreatment of house-elves. Elves that are employed by Hogwarts work in the kitchen and perform simple tasks such as carrying luggage. They are often treated poorly by students and staff alike. Other elves work for individual families; the treatment of these elves varies. In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Hermione, a main character of the novels, is visibly upset when she notices the mistreatment of a particular elf. Her friend Ron says “Hermione, will you give it a rest with the elf!” Sirius Black responds to Ron with “If you want to know what a man’s like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.” Variations of this quote have been used before and after the publication of Rowling’s novel; each time I hear it, the absolute accuracy of the words hits me.

I don’t think that this quote refers to one person actually being superior to another. Rather, it is discussing an individual’s perception of the situation. There are many instances in which two individuals are in such circumstances that, however momentarily, one is playing the superior role. An example of this is the relationship between a waiter and a costumer at a restaurant. Despite their lives outside of this specific relationship, these two people have roles that they engage in during this interaction. Normally, the waiter would refer to the customer as Sir or Ma’am, as well as acting overly nice in other ways, because they are dependent on the customer for tips. This puts the customer in a position of power. This so-called superior position is often taken advantage of by the person in power. People who take advantage of this power are the people that this quote is talking about. How someone reacts to being in a powerful position reveals their true character.

As everyone is, I am often put into situations in which I have either the superior or inferior position. In times when I am in a superior position, I remember this quote. For example, I do not take advantage of people who rely on me for something like tips at a restaurant. I also think of this quote when I am in the inferior position, like when I want a politician to listen to my point of view. If the politician is condescending or rude, I know that it is more a reflection on his/her character than my own.