tf_mods (![[info]](http://www.insanejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} tf_mods) wrote,@ 2008-03-01 01:00:00 |
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Pureblood Families
Please note: This information is intended as guidance only.
Family obligation
An obligation could be considered a duty, or more crudely a debt.
The belief in 'family obligation' means that your first loyalty must be to your family. Your actions and behaviour must reflect in a proper manner upon you and other members of your family. Anything which may be perceived as detrimental to the image of your family, or harmful to its aspirations must be suppressed.
Family obligation must always come before personal happiness. For example; Dasiy Middleton's parents have made lots of money in trade, they are aspiring to join the ranks of the most elite pureblood families. It is their greatest wish to dine with the most prominent members of society, to be respected by them. Daisy's parents have worked hard to attain an invitation to the most prestigious event of the year - a dinner held by a family considered to be the epitome of pureblood refinement. This invitation may secure them connections, further invitations, a good reputation amongst the very people they wish to become.
Daisy is young and enjoys socialising with her friends. She loves to flirt, and enjoys the freedom being away from her parents affords. One night she is at a bar with her friends; she drinks far too much alcohol, kisses several men, and ends the night falling asleep in her seat only to be carried home by her friends.
However normal this behaviour amongst her friends, and however greatly Daisy enjoys her experience, her parents will certainly not be happy. Their hard work and reputation would be ruined in a moment if the story of Daisy's behaviour ever spreads. This is an example that is not unlikely to happen, however there will be severe repercussions for Daisy. She may face restrictions on her socialising, severe reprimands from her family, and potentially being disowned by her parents.
The level of tradition and ambition will vary from family to family, but the idea of 'family obligation' is strong amongst pureblood families (even to a lesser extent with the more liberal pureblood families, such as the Longbottoms). In applications and within the game, it is important that these factors are taken into account. We want to see that you have thought realistically about your characters family, their personality and behaviour, and how these things conflict or not.
Pureblood status and its relationship to money.
The prominent pureblood families in wizarding society (Black, Malfoy etc) have a long and prestigious history. Their family tree will extent far back, with generations of wizards and witches who have worked hard, made personal sacrifices and conformed to family obligation in order to achieve the 'rightful' place of their family. The acquisition of money goes along with these ambitions; in order to live to the expected standard, in order to hold their own amongst other families, they must have the funds to do so. In the course of any family history wealth will wax and wane, as members invest wisely or gamble foolishly. However, it is likely that misfortune in regards to gold will follow into the reputation of the family.
When families begin to become wealthy their aspirations usually grow. When pureblood families who have drifted through middle-class society have gathered a level of money suitable to afford them an upper-class lifestyle, they will naturally try to attain this level. The ease of this transition will depend upon the connections, determination and skilfulness of the family in question. Families who try for new social levels after coming into money are frequently guarded with disdain ("I see the Middleton family have been invited, new money of course.") They will need to try very hard to fit in to their new setting - they must uphold standards to a greater perfection than even the very people they wish to be. Family obligation will be high amongst these families.
Pureblood characters and family links
We know that all pureblood families are linked in some way. Any pureblood witch or wizard desiring an equally pureblooded spouse will struggle to find one not connected to his or her family tree by blood or marriage. The group to choose from narrows even further if the witch or wizard seeks a particularly prestigious family. However not all purebloods will be closely related, and some families have several branches on their family tree.
If you are applying for an established character, then you will need to be aware of these links. Whether it is to use them to your characters benefit, or otherwise.
If you are applying for an Original Character who is pureblood, we would recommend that you consider where that character's family will fit in to the family tree, and therefore their relation to other characters already in the game. A good starting point is the Black family tree, which may provide some inspiration http://www.hp-lexicon.org/images/blackf
Pureblood sexuality
We are not going to tell you what the sexuality of your character is or should be, unless it is an unrealistic contradiction to canon. However, if your character is pureblood there are factors to be taken into account. Regardless of true sexuality, any pureblood witch or wizard with a traditional pureblood family will be expected to make a 'good' heterosexual marriage. Obviously family pressure and obligation will make this a tough time for your character if they are in fact gay. It will of course depend on how traditional your characters family is, but in a typically strict pureblood family the decision to forgo the opposite sex will be met with extreme disapproval. If you have decided that this is your characters route, we will be looking to see that you are aware of the consequences of this.
Example:
If Daisy Middleton decides that she loves a woman and doesn't want a marriage, her family are more than likely to disown her. It is not necessarily disapproval of her sexuality (there may be plenty of purebloods for whom their sexuality is a guarded secret) but of a choice which conflicts with their aspirations and obligations. To join their family to a more prestigious one, and to produce heirs to the line.
Even if your character does come from a family who would disapprove of a non-heterosexual lifestyle, it is possible for them to conceal their true sexuality. We do not want you to feel restricted, but to address the issues present depending on your characters nature and decisions.
Private vs public lives
The conflict of family obligation and personal happiness will vary according to a character's personality and the nature of their family. However we can assume that there is at least a little to be found in any traditional pureblood family. Whether it be a sexuality that must be hidden, or a strong desire to become a muggle footballer. How your character deals with their own personal drives and ambitions in relation to family expectations is entirely down to you - but where confliction exists, it must be addressed.
It is not only these factors which inhibit the public lives of our pureblood families. With a reputation to uphold, our strict traditional families will have raised their children to behave in a certain way. Their manners will be carefully refined (though perhaps applied to only those worthy of them!), their ettiquette will be flawless, and of course they would never discuss family problems in public. The control of their behaviour will extend to their relationships and how they are conducted in public. Displays of affection may be seen as vulgar if ill timed, and pureblood marriages may at surface level seem cold and unloving, though this may not be the case at all behind closed doors. Equally when it comes to their children; though mothers and fathers may display less affection for their children than one might usually expect, this does not necessarily indicate that there is no affection.
Whilst passions and wild behaviour might be frowned upon in public, the business of the family behind closed doors is no ones to dictate.
Relationships
This is a wide topic that will not be discussed fully here. Relationships vary from couple to couple. There will be pureblood marriages arranged solely for convieniance, and couples who love each other very much. If you are considering a relationship that already exists when applying, or entering into one in game there are a few points worth considering:
- Traditional pureblood families will expect their children to marry pureblood witches or wizards - how will your character cope with this, if they choose otherwise are they prepared to be disowned?
- Pureblood girls may be expected to 'wait until marriage' - if your character isn't doing this, are they concealing it from their family?
- What is the public/private balance of your character's relationship with their spouse? - Is it a loveless marriage? A warm one? How do they behave in front of others, and in private?
Please note: This information is intended as guidance only.
Family obligation
An obligation could be considered a duty, or more crudely a debt.
The belief in 'family obligation' means that your first loyalty must be to your family. Your actions and behaviour must reflect in a proper manner upon you and other members of your family. Anything which may be perceived as detrimental to the image of your family, or harmful to its aspirations must be suppressed.
Family obligation must always come before personal happiness. For example; Dasiy Middleton's parents have made lots of money in trade, they are aspiring to join the ranks of the most elite pureblood families. It is their greatest wish to dine with the most prominent members of society, to be respected by them. Daisy's parents have worked hard to attain an invitation to the most prestigious event of the year - a dinner held by a family considered to be the epitome of pureblood refinement. This invitation may secure them connections, further invitations, a good reputation amongst the very people they wish to become.
Daisy is young and enjoys socialising with her friends. She loves to flirt, and enjoys the freedom being away from her parents affords. One night she is at a bar with her friends; she drinks far too much alcohol, kisses several men, and ends the night falling asleep in her seat only to be carried home by her friends.
However normal this behaviour amongst her friends, and however greatly Daisy enjoys her experience, her parents will certainly not be happy. Their hard work and reputation would be ruined in a moment if the story of Daisy's behaviour ever spreads. This is an example that is not unlikely to happen, however there will be severe repercussions for Daisy. She may face restrictions on her socialising, severe reprimands from her family, and potentially being disowned by her parents.
The level of tradition and ambition will vary from family to family, but the idea of 'family obligation' is strong amongst pureblood families (even to a lesser extent with the more liberal pureblood families, such as the Longbottoms). In applications and within the game, it is important that these factors are taken into account. We want to see that you have thought realistically about your characters family, their personality and behaviour, and how these things conflict or not.
Pureblood status and its relationship to money.
The prominent pureblood families in wizarding society (Black, Malfoy etc) have a long and prestigious history. Their family tree will extent far back, with generations of wizards and witches who have worked hard, made personal sacrifices and conformed to family obligation in order to achieve the 'rightful' place of their family. The acquisition of money goes along with these ambitions; in order to live to the expected standard, in order to hold their own amongst other families, they must have the funds to do so. In the course of any family history wealth will wax and wane, as members invest wisely or gamble foolishly. However, it is likely that misfortune in regards to gold will follow into the reputation of the family.
When families begin to become wealthy their aspirations usually grow. When pureblood families who have drifted through middle-class society have gathered a level of money suitable to afford them an upper-class lifestyle, they will naturally try to attain this level. The ease of this transition will depend upon the connections, determination and skilfulness of the family in question. Families who try for new social levels after coming into money are frequently guarded with disdain ("I see the Middleton family have been invited, new money of course.") They will need to try very hard to fit in to their new setting - they must uphold standards to a greater perfection than even the very people they wish to be. Family obligation will be high amongst these families.
Pureblood characters and family links
We know that all pureblood families are linked in some way. Any pureblood witch or wizard desiring an equally pureblooded spouse will struggle to find one not connected to his or her family tree by blood or marriage. The group to choose from narrows even further if the witch or wizard seeks a particularly prestigious family. However not all purebloods will be closely related, and some families have several branches on their family tree.
If you are applying for an established character, then you will need to be aware of these links. Whether it is to use them to your characters benefit, or otherwise.
If you are applying for an Original Character who is pureblood, we would recommend that you consider where that character's family will fit in to the family tree, and therefore their relation to other characters already in the game. A good starting point is the Black family tree, which may provide some inspiration http://www.hp-lexicon.org/images/blackf
Pureblood sexuality
We are not going to tell you what the sexuality of your character is or should be, unless it is an unrealistic contradiction to canon. However, if your character is pureblood there are factors to be taken into account. Regardless of true sexuality, any pureblood witch or wizard with a traditional pureblood family will be expected to make a 'good' heterosexual marriage. Obviously family pressure and obligation will make this a tough time for your character if they are in fact gay. It will of course depend on how traditional your characters family is, but in a typically strict pureblood family the decision to forgo the opposite sex will be met with extreme disapproval. If you have decided that this is your characters route, we will be looking to see that you are aware of the consequences of this.
Example:
If Daisy Middleton decides that she loves a woman and doesn't want a marriage, her family are more than likely to disown her. It is not necessarily disapproval of her sexuality (there may be plenty of purebloods for whom their sexuality is a guarded secret) but of a choice which conflicts with their aspirations and obligations. To join their family to a more prestigious one, and to produce heirs to the line.
Even if your character does come from a family who would disapprove of a non-heterosexual lifestyle, it is possible for them to conceal their true sexuality. We do not want you to feel restricted, but to address the issues present depending on your characters nature and decisions.
Private vs public lives
The conflict of family obligation and personal happiness will vary according to a character's personality and the nature of their family. However we can assume that there is at least a little to be found in any traditional pureblood family. Whether it be a sexuality that must be hidden, or a strong desire to become a muggle footballer. How your character deals with their own personal drives and ambitions in relation to family expectations is entirely down to you - but where confliction exists, it must be addressed.
It is not only these factors which inhibit the public lives of our pureblood families. With a reputation to uphold, our strict traditional families will have raised their children to behave in a certain way. Their manners will be carefully refined (though perhaps applied to only those worthy of them!), their ettiquette will be flawless, and of course they would never discuss family problems in public. The control of their behaviour will extend to their relationships and how they are conducted in public. Displays of affection may be seen as vulgar if ill timed, and pureblood marriages may at surface level seem cold and unloving, though this may not be the case at all behind closed doors. Equally when it comes to their children; though mothers and fathers may display less affection for their children than one might usually expect, this does not necessarily indicate that there is no affection.
Whilst passions and wild behaviour might be frowned upon in public, the business of the family behind closed doors is no ones to dictate.
Relationships
This is a wide topic that will not be discussed fully here. Relationships vary from couple to couple. There will be pureblood marriages arranged solely for convieniance, and couples who love each other very much. If you are considering a relationship that already exists when applying, or entering into one in game there are a few points worth considering:
- Traditional pureblood families will expect their children to marry pureblood witches or wizards - how will your character cope with this, if they choose otherwise are they prepared to be disowned?
- Pureblood girls may be expected to 'wait until marriage' - if your character isn't doing this, are they concealing it from their family?
- What is the public/private balance of your character's relationship with their spouse? - Is it a loveless marriage? A warm one? How do they behave in front of others, and in private?
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