MovieChat Forums > Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016) Discussion > What happened to no-maj born witches and...

What happened to no-maj born witches and wizards?

posted 8 years ago by ejs8882000
7 replies | jump to latest

One of the most interesting aspects of the American Wizarding world of the 1920's is that the community still lived by Rappaport's Law. Of course that means a very strict segregation between the wizard and no-maj (muggle) worlds throughout the U.S. (even more so than the UK) But what about a witch or wizard born to a no-maj family? Obviously they'd have to let the family know that their child is magical, but would they allow the parents to know about it? Would they have to obliviate them and completely separate their children from them forever? Or would they just be very strict with the parents and demand that they never tell ANYONE what their child is. Not even grandparents, aunts and uncles, etc. and if they tell, the consequences of their actions would be punishable perhaps? The laws for 21st century Wizarding United States might be different now and they're more like Britain so this is more of a question of the past. The same time period as the movie of course. Anyway I'm surprised JK Rowling hasn't elaborated on how it was done back in the day, and it would be interesting if she ever talks about it.

What does everyone else think?

[–] themodmazza 8 years ago

No-Maj/Muggle-born witches and wizards, seem to be a topic of debate all over the world, even in modern times. Partially, because not all the wizarding schools allow them to attend. It was confirmed in GoF, that Durmstrang does not accept muggle-borns. The U.S.A probably deals with them, in a similar fashion to the U.K. The parents are told by the school about the rules, and cannot tell anyone about their child. The only real difference, is that Rappaport's Law prohibits intermarriage with No-Majs. Heck, one of the American wandmakers was a no-maj/muggle-born.

[–] Otter (24464) 8 years ago

Honestly, the whole issue was never explained, and doesn't make any sense.

So No-Maj's can only marry muggles, or each other? Are their children allowed to become full wizards with the right to marry other wizards, or is US wizarding separated into purebloods and those with no-maj ancestry? Are no-maj children taken away from their parents' world and subjected to unpleasant secrecy requirements, only to find that they're official second-class wizards? How many of them leave the US or just go back into the muggle world in disgust?

Rowling doesn't seem to have thought the US wizarding society through, not the way she did with the Brit world we all know and love. She was more interested in commenting on the repressive politics of the era, which seems to be wasted effort as I'm the only Potter geek alive who seems to know anything about the subject.

[–] Dejay 8 years ago

I guess the parents were lied to and the children forced to lie as well. And the child would go to a special school without the parents knowing it was a magic school. And maybe regular inspections, interrogations and obliviation.

Pretty despicable regime.

[–] themodmazza 8 years ago

Hogwarts occasionally does that exact same thing. Just look at what Dumbledore did, when he went to the orphanage, to accept Tom Riddle. At least, Ilvermorny is a non-elitist school in regards to blood-purity. Durmstrang, which serves central and northern Europe, does not allow muggle-borns to attend.

[–] nxgn_not_not 8 years ago

power & control
how is this any different than most of yer gov-vern-ment-tals

currently surrounding u's

der hund verzehrt mein kind

[–] Dejay 8 years ago

how is this any different than most of yer gov-vern-ment-tals

Lol, hyperbole much?

It is an interesting study. In the US magical world, there is definitely a more political undertone to the story. But it's somewhat plausible since almost every one of those wizards and witches is more powerful than an atom bomb. And since they are all still forged by a mean and cruel environment, your only choice is a totalitarian state.

[–] TexasJack (12516) 8 years ago

Maybe they cast a charm on the parents of no-majs to prevent them from revealing the existence of wizards. I forget but I think there was a charm (Fidelius charm?) that operated that way on those who knew that the Order of Phoenix headquarters was 12 Grimmauld Place.