J. K. Rowling: Poverty Depression
on Saturday, July 31, 2021J. K. Rowling Money Quote saying poverty beats down with thousands of humiliating hardships, while some imagine it is noble. J. K. Rowling said:
“Poverty entails fear and stress and sometimes depression. It meets a thousand petty humiliations and hardships. Climbing out of poverty by your own efforts that is something on which to pride yourself but poverty itself is romanticized by fools” — J. K. Rowling
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In this quote, J.K. Rowling seems to be strongly challenging the notion that poverty can be romanticized or seen as some kind of noble struggle. Specifically:
- Rowling acknowledges that overcoming poverty through one’s own efforts is an achievement worthy of pride and respect.
- However, she argues that poverty itself should not be romanticized and entails very real “fear and stress and sometimes depression.”
- Rowling also notes that poverty involves “a thousand petty humiliations and hardships” that are difficult to endure.
The best interpretation is that Rowling believes portraying poverty as some kind of bohemian ideal ignores the daily psychological tolls and indignities that living in poverty imposes on people according to her perspective gained from experiencing financial hardship herself. While self-sufficiency is admirable, Rowling argues the condition of poverty should not be romanticized or seen as enviable by those who have not truly experienced its challenges from within.