Although author J.K. Rowling’s transphobic views may have rightfully tainted her reputation, it hasn’t stopped the Harry Potter fandom from continuing to love the franchise, or from H๏τly debating some of the finer points of the series. I was surprised to learn that one piece of discourse concerns Molly Weasley, one of my favorite characters in Harry Potter.
Apparently, some people find Molly’s character unlikable, overbearing, and downright mean. Others have gone so far as to accuse her of being a bad mom – which is where I would draw the line. Molly is a fantastic mom, and the arguments against her are unfair and untrue. Of course, she’s not perfect, but no parent is. Those who would question Molly’s parenting abilities clearly need to explore the character more closely rather than judging her at face value.
No, Molly Doesn’t Love Harry More Than Ron
It’s A Common Misconception
One of the biggest debates among the Harry Potter fandom is the idea that Molly Weasley loves Harry more than her own kids. Whenever Harry comes to visit the Burrow, she dotes on him and treats him like a guest of honor. When she makes Christmas sweaters for the children, the one she makes for Harry is nicer than the rest. And when the Weasleys take the flying car to rescue Harry from Privet Drive, they return home to be shouted at by Molly, who then gives Harry a warm welcome and says she doesn’t blame him.
Ron, in particular, seems to bear the brunt of Molly’s ire. He’s humiliated when she sends him a Howler at Hogwarts after the fiasco with the flying car in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Whenever Ron and Harry get into mischief, Molly comes down especially hard on Ron, which makes him feel like she loves Harry more than him.
It isn’t that she favors him over Ron, or any of her other children.
Sure, these examples don’t put Molly in the best light, but it has nothing to do with loving Harry more than her own kids. Molly knows that Harry grew up without a mother of his own, and the trauma that he suffered at the hands of the Dursleys for 11 years. It isn’t that she favors him over Ron, or any of her other children. Instead, it’s her motherly nature kicking in, wanting to show Harry the love and protection that he never received growing up.
Ron’s Insecurities Are Not Entirely Molly’s Fault
Other Family Members Could’ve Stepped Up
Over the course of the Harry Potter series, it becomes more and more apparent that Ron Weasley has more than his fair share of insecurities. His best friend is The Boy Who Lived, after all, which is impossible to live up to. Then there’s Hermione, who is a brilliant student, while Ron struggles with his grades. Although the Weasleys aren’t poor, they can’t always afford brand new books and clothing, and Ron has to settle for secondhand items and hand-me-downs. It also doesn’t help being a middle child in a family of seven kids, causing him to be often overlooked.
Which brings me to my point – the Weasleys have seven children! Besides keeping the household running smoothly and being a member of the Order of the Phoenix, Molly has to spread her attention between seven kids, plus Harry. Heck, the twins are enough of a handful on their own, much less Molly having to worry about making sure they are all fed, clothed, and safe. As a mother, she already has too much on her plate, yet still manages to juggle all of her responsibilities with as much grace as she can muster.
Besides, Molly shouldn’t be the only one in the family responsible for Ron’s welfare. He does have five older siblings, after all, who could have very well taken him under their wing. Okay, maybe Fred and George weren’t the most ideal role models, but Charlie or Bill could have made more of an effort to be present in his life – and so could Ron’s father, for that matter.
Percy’s Estrangement From The Weasleys
Percy Was Blinded By His Own Ambition
One of the standout character subplots from the Harry Potter book series was the estrangement between Percy Weasley and the rest of his family. After graduating from Hogwarts, Percy went to work at the Ministry of Magic, like his father, Arthur. Unlike Arthur, however, Percy’s ambitions have him siding more often than not with those in power, such as Bartemius Crouch, and the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge. In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Percy has a huge argument with Arthur about him siding with Dumbledore, which results in Percy getting kicked out of the Burrow.
Despite what some in the fandom may believe, Percy’s disownment had nothing to do with Molly. In fact, she was heartbroken about the whole affair, and still attempted to keep in contact with her son even after everything that had happened. She even sent him the traditional handmade Weasley sweater at Christmas, only to have him send it back, bringing her to tears and having to be consoled by Fred and George.
Percy eventually saw the error of his ways and apologized, but he had a lot to make up for all the pain he caused, especially to his poor mother.
When it comes down to it, Percy’s breaking away from the Weasleys was his own fault. He was blinded by his ambition to climb the political ladder at the Ministry, and his admiration for authority figures like Fudge and Rufus Scrimgeour clouded his judgment. He unfairly blamed his father for the Weasley family’s financial struggles, and called Arthur a laughingstock at the Ministry. True, Percy eventually saw the error of his ways and apologized, but he had a lot to make up for all the pain he caused, especially to his poor mother.
Arthur’s Parenting Is More Questionable Than Molly’s
He Often Undermined Molly
Some Harry Potter fans seem pretty quick to call Molly’s parenting skills into question but somehow conveniently forget that the Weasley children have a mother and a father. Arthur Weasley is just as responsible for them as she is, and yet he shirks his duties constantly. True, his job at the Ministry keeps him busy, and he does provide support financially. Yet, between work hours, he is often distracted by his obsession with Muggle “artifacts,” or has his nose buried in The Daily Prophet.
Besides barely paying attention to what his children are up to, Arthur is also guilty of undermining Molly’s authority. When she looks to him for support about the kids stealing the flying car, he only gives a minor reprimand before asking them about how the drive went. And when Percy was promoted at the Ministry, instead of being proud of his son, he accused him of spying on the family due to their loyalty to Dumbledore. It was also Arthur who disowned Percy, causing a rift between him and the rest of the family.
Now I’m not saying that Arthur is a bad dad – only that he is equally guilty of any neglect the children may have suffered. Molly’s role as the Weasley matriarch is a trying one, and placing the blame solely on her for the family’s troubles is unfair – and, frankly, a bit Sєxist.
Molly’s Mama Bear Moment Proves That She’s The Best Mother In The Franchise
She Fiercely Defends Her Children
If Molly’s love and devotion to her kids isn’t enough to convince the haters, then her peak moment in The Deathly Hallows should be enough to get anyone on her side. Interestingly enough, the books make no mention of what Molly’s patronus animal is – but if I were to guess, it would be a bear, given how viciously she defends her brood.
Die-hard Harry Potter fans likely remember the pivotal moment in the Battle of Hogwarts when Death Eater Bellatrix Lestrange gleefully turns her wand on Ginny Weasley, intent on casting the infamous Killing Curse. Molly steps in to defend her child, saying “Not my daughter, you B****,” which is an iconic line from both the movies and the books. She duels Bellatrix and comes out the winner, defeating one of Voldemort’s most powerful and loyal followers.
Everything that Molly does, and has ever done, has been to protect the ones she loves, and she has repeatedly risked her own life for the lives of her children.
This is undoubtedly Molly’s most badᴀss moment in the Harry Potter series, and not only because it’s the only time we hear her curse. Everything that Molly does, and has ever done, has been to protect the ones she loves, and she has repeatedly risked her own life for the lives of her children. It’s the core of what it means to be a parent, and it’s where Molly truly shines.
Harry Potter
- Created by
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J.K. Rowling
- First Film
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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
- First TV Show
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Harry Potter
- Cast
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Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Tom Felton, Alan Rickman, Matthew Lewis, Bonnie Wright, Evanna Lynch, Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon, Richard Harris, Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter, Alfred Enoch, Harry Melling, Gary Oldman, Robert Pattinson, Warwick Davis, Oliver Phelps, James Phelps, David Bradley, David Thewlis, Katie Leung, Jason Isaacs, Imelda Staunton, David Tennant, Jamie Campbell Bower, Timothy Spall, Robbie Coltrane, Eddie Redmayne, Jude Law, Katherine Waterston, Ezra Miller, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Johnny Depp, Mads Mikkelsen
- TV Show(s)
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Harry Potter
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