Would a completely good Muggle be able to use a wand?












12















I was reading through this question Can a Muggle do anything with a wand? and Valorum’s answer said this:




JKR addressed this point in an interview in 2006;



"I been asked what would happen if a Muggle picked up a magic wand in my world. And the answer would probably be something accidental... possibly quite violent. Because a wand, in my world, is merely a vehicle — a vessel for what lies inside the person."




So then, what if you’re someone who is completely good and has no "violence" inside of you, would you then be able to use a wand?










share|improve this question









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  • 2





    If I'm reading the quote correctly, no. Being pure of heart would eliminate the "possibly quite violent" part, but not the "probably something accidental" part.

    – F1Krazy
    Mar 29 at 23:29











  • I think a tablet with a fancy, expensive drawing app might be a good analogy. Anyone can scribble on the screen, but it takes talent and practice to paint something people (beyond the immediate family) would consider art.

    – Gaultheria
    Mar 29 at 23:34






  • 1





    Yes, but there are only two Muggles pure of heart, Thor and Vision... Captain America, almost...

    – Harper
    2 days ago











  • I think it would be a bit like The Next Doctor's Sonic Screwdriver; only more "stick-y". Can a muggle use a stick? Yes.

    – Elliott Frisch
    2 days ago






  • 1





    @Gaultheria I like how you went with an expensive drawing app for a drawing example :) We're Muggles, not some backwards wizards with their paper and pens.

    – Misha R
    2 days ago


















12















I was reading through this question Can a Muggle do anything with a wand? and Valorum’s answer said this:




JKR addressed this point in an interview in 2006;



"I been asked what would happen if a Muggle picked up a magic wand in my world. And the answer would probably be something accidental... possibly quite violent. Because a wand, in my world, is merely a vehicle — a vessel for what lies inside the person."




So then, what if you’re someone who is completely good and has no "violence" inside of you, would you then be able to use a wand?










share|improve this question









New contributor




it makes u think is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
















  • 2





    If I'm reading the quote correctly, no. Being pure of heart would eliminate the "possibly quite violent" part, but not the "probably something accidental" part.

    – F1Krazy
    Mar 29 at 23:29











  • I think a tablet with a fancy, expensive drawing app might be a good analogy. Anyone can scribble on the screen, but it takes talent and practice to paint something people (beyond the immediate family) would consider art.

    – Gaultheria
    Mar 29 at 23:34






  • 1





    Yes, but there are only two Muggles pure of heart, Thor and Vision... Captain America, almost...

    – Harper
    2 days ago











  • I think it would be a bit like The Next Doctor's Sonic Screwdriver; only more "stick-y". Can a muggle use a stick? Yes.

    – Elliott Frisch
    2 days ago






  • 1





    @Gaultheria I like how you went with an expensive drawing app for a drawing example :) We're Muggles, not some backwards wizards with their paper and pens.

    – Misha R
    2 days ago
















12












12








12


2






I was reading through this question Can a Muggle do anything with a wand? and Valorum’s answer said this:




JKR addressed this point in an interview in 2006;



"I been asked what would happen if a Muggle picked up a magic wand in my world. And the answer would probably be something accidental... possibly quite violent. Because a wand, in my world, is merely a vehicle — a vessel for what lies inside the person."




So then, what if you’re someone who is completely good and has no "violence" inside of you, would you then be able to use a wand?










share|improve this question









New contributor




it makes u think is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.












I was reading through this question Can a Muggle do anything with a wand? and Valorum’s answer said this:




JKR addressed this point in an interview in 2006;



"I been asked what would happen if a Muggle picked up a magic wand in my world. And the answer would probably be something accidental... possibly quite violent. Because a wand, in my world, is merely a vehicle — a vessel for what lies inside the person."




So then, what if you’re someone who is completely good and has no "violence" inside of you, would you then be able to use a wand?







harry-potter magic magical-theory wandlore muggles






share|improve this question









New contributor




it makes u think is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











share|improve this question









New contributor




it makes u think is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 2 days ago









Bellatrix

78.2k16334390




78.2k16334390






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asked Mar 29 at 23:27









it makes u thinkit makes u think

693




693




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New contributor





it makes u think is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.






it makes u think is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.








  • 2





    If I'm reading the quote correctly, no. Being pure of heart would eliminate the "possibly quite violent" part, but not the "probably something accidental" part.

    – F1Krazy
    Mar 29 at 23:29











  • I think a tablet with a fancy, expensive drawing app might be a good analogy. Anyone can scribble on the screen, but it takes talent and practice to paint something people (beyond the immediate family) would consider art.

    – Gaultheria
    Mar 29 at 23:34






  • 1





    Yes, but there are only two Muggles pure of heart, Thor and Vision... Captain America, almost...

    – Harper
    2 days ago











  • I think it would be a bit like The Next Doctor's Sonic Screwdriver; only more "stick-y". Can a muggle use a stick? Yes.

    – Elliott Frisch
    2 days ago






  • 1





    @Gaultheria I like how you went with an expensive drawing app for a drawing example :) We're Muggles, not some backwards wizards with their paper and pens.

    – Misha R
    2 days ago
















  • 2





    If I'm reading the quote correctly, no. Being pure of heart would eliminate the "possibly quite violent" part, but not the "probably something accidental" part.

    – F1Krazy
    Mar 29 at 23:29











  • I think a tablet with a fancy, expensive drawing app might be a good analogy. Anyone can scribble on the screen, but it takes talent and practice to paint something people (beyond the immediate family) would consider art.

    – Gaultheria
    Mar 29 at 23:34






  • 1





    Yes, but there are only two Muggles pure of heart, Thor and Vision... Captain America, almost...

    – Harper
    2 days ago











  • I think it would be a bit like The Next Doctor's Sonic Screwdriver; only more "stick-y". Can a muggle use a stick? Yes.

    – Elliott Frisch
    2 days ago






  • 1





    @Gaultheria I like how you went with an expensive drawing app for a drawing example :) We're Muggles, not some backwards wizards with their paper and pens.

    – Misha R
    2 days ago










2




2





If I'm reading the quote correctly, no. Being pure of heart would eliminate the "possibly quite violent" part, but not the "probably something accidental" part.

– F1Krazy
Mar 29 at 23:29





If I'm reading the quote correctly, no. Being pure of heart would eliminate the "possibly quite violent" part, but not the "probably something accidental" part.

– F1Krazy
Mar 29 at 23:29













I think a tablet with a fancy, expensive drawing app might be a good analogy. Anyone can scribble on the screen, but it takes talent and practice to paint something people (beyond the immediate family) would consider art.

– Gaultheria
Mar 29 at 23:34





I think a tablet with a fancy, expensive drawing app might be a good analogy. Anyone can scribble on the screen, but it takes talent and practice to paint something people (beyond the immediate family) would consider art.

– Gaultheria
Mar 29 at 23:34




1




1





Yes, but there are only two Muggles pure of heart, Thor and Vision... Captain America, almost...

– Harper
2 days ago





Yes, but there are only two Muggles pure of heart, Thor and Vision... Captain America, almost...

– Harper
2 days ago













I think it would be a bit like The Next Doctor's Sonic Screwdriver; only more "stick-y". Can a muggle use a stick? Yes.

– Elliott Frisch
2 days ago





I think it would be a bit like The Next Doctor's Sonic Screwdriver; only more "stick-y". Can a muggle use a stick? Yes.

– Elliott Frisch
2 days ago




1




1





@Gaultheria I like how you went with an expensive drawing app for a drawing example :) We're Muggles, not some backwards wizards with their paper and pens.

– Misha R
2 days ago







@Gaultheria I like how you went with an expensive drawing app for a drawing example :) We're Muggles, not some backwards wizards with their paper and pens.

– Misha R
2 days ago












2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















35














No, you've misunderstood the quote.



JKR isn't saying that the result would be violent because violence is what lies inside a Muggle (though it does sound like something the Malfoys might come up with) but that the result of a Muggle using a wand would be uncontrolled because the Muggle lacks the ability to control magic - that's the power that lies inside a wizard, and which the wand is a vessel for.



Edit to clarify: magic itself is also a power lying inside a wizard, which the wand is a vessel for, but it is the corresponding ability to control it that is relevant in this particular scenario.



By way of analogy, imagine a three-year-old driving a car. The outcome would probably be unintentional, and possibly quite violent, but that's not because it is in the nature of children to be violent but because they lack the ability to control the vehicle. Their character doesn't matter, only their ability.






share|improve this answer


























  • In the other words, it is not that they don't have magical power, it is just that they can't control it.

    – onurcanbektas
    Mar 30 at 3:01






  • 8





    @onurcanbektas Or that magic is an ambient property that wizards and witches can channel.

    – forest
    Mar 30 at 3:49











  • @forest, see Bellatrix's answer, which clarifies that the magic causing an uncontrolled reaction would have been left over in the wand from the previous user. That makes my analogy a bit weaker, but I think it still addresses the meaning of the quote.

    – Harry Johnston
    2 days ago













  • For greater illumination, read the Pottermore article on the history of Ilvermorny's founders. A Muggle tries to use a wand. It does not end well.

    – EvilSnack
    2 days ago



















26














No, Muggles can’t use wands.



Muggles can’t use wands, whatever their moral alignment or personal feelings towards violence. As Dumbledore explains in his notes on “Babbitty Rabbitty and the Cackling Stump”, the violent reaction comes from within the wand itself, as wands can hold residual power that may be discharged from the wand.




“While the “rogue” ability to perform magic sometimes appears in those of apparent non-magical descent (though several later studies have suggested that there will have been a witch or wizard somewhere on the family tree), Muggles cannot perform magic. The best — or worst — they could hope for are random and uncontrollable effects generated by a genuine magical wand, which, as an instrument through which magic is supposed to be channeled, sometimes holds residual power, which it may discharge at odd moments — see also the notes on wandlore for “The Tale of the Three Brothers.”
- The Tales of Beedle the Bard




The reaction that a wand can have when being waved by a Muggle has nothing to do with the “goodness” of the Muggle waving it. It’s simply the magic stored inside the wand being released when the Muggle (who can’t do magic) tries to use it.






share|improve this answer
























  • Her quote seems seems poorly worded then. The sentence Because a wand, in my world, is merely a vehicle — a vessel for what lies inside the person." implies the opposite, that magic is within a person and not within a wand.

    – Alex
    2 days ago











  • @Alex All further references to what happens when a Muggle tries to use a wand indicate that the reaction is from the wand. “As Isolt watched, James finished marking the graves he had dug by hand, then picked up the two broken wands that had lain beside the Boot parents. Frowning he examined the sparking core of dragon heartstring that protruded from Mr Boot’s, then gave it a casual wave. As invariably happens when a No-Maj waves a wand, it rebelled. James was sent flying backwards across the clearing, hit a tree and was knocked out cold.” - Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

    – Bellatrix
    2 days ago













  • I'm not disagreeing with you; it's just that she doesn't seem to have expressed her point well in that interview.

    – Alex
    2 days ago











  • Dumbledore is a character, Rowling is a writer, notes on “Babbitty Rabbitty" are just that, notes. I don't see any reason to assume that the notes cited above express the "whole truth" of the matter or the entire spectrum of opinions of the authors. As a writer I consider it a good form allowing my characters to have opinions and/or knowledge that is different from my own.

    – ArtemGr
    yesterday








  • 1





    @ArtemGr, on the other hand, Tales was written at leisure, whereas an answer to an interview question has to be created on the spot - and is therefore less likely to be well-thought-out, clearly expressed, and consistent with the rest of the work.

    – Harry Johnston
    yesterday












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2 Answers
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2 Answers
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active

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active

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active

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35














No, you've misunderstood the quote.



JKR isn't saying that the result would be violent because violence is what lies inside a Muggle (though it does sound like something the Malfoys might come up with) but that the result of a Muggle using a wand would be uncontrolled because the Muggle lacks the ability to control magic - that's the power that lies inside a wizard, and which the wand is a vessel for.



Edit to clarify: magic itself is also a power lying inside a wizard, which the wand is a vessel for, but it is the corresponding ability to control it that is relevant in this particular scenario.



By way of analogy, imagine a three-year-old driving a car. The outcome would probably be unintentional, and possibly quite violent, but that's not because it is in the nature of children to be violent but because they lack the ability to control the vehicle. Their character doesn't matter, only their ability.






share|improve this answer


























  • In the other words, it is not that they don't have magical power, it is just that they can't control it.

    – onurcanbektas
    Mar 30 at 3:01






  • 8





    @onurcanbektas Or that magic is an ambient property that wizards and witches can channel.

    – forest
    Mar 30 at 3:49











  • @forest, see Bellatrix's answer, which clarifies that the magic causing an uncontrolled reaction would have been left over in the wand from the previous user. That makes my analogy a bit weaker, but I think it still addresses the meaning of the quote.

    – Harry Johnston
    2 days ago













  • For greater illumination, read the Pottermore article on the history of Ilvermorny's founders. A Muggle tries to use a wand. It does not end well.

    – EvilSnack
    2 days ago
















35














No, you've misunderstood the quote.



JKR isn't saying that the result would be violent because violence is what lies inside a Muggle (though it does sound like something the Malfoys might come up with) but that the result of a Muggle using a wand would be uncontrolled because the Muggle lacks the ability to control magic - that's the power that lies inside a wizard, and which the wand is a vessel for.



Edit to clarify: magic itself is also a power lying inside a wizard, which the wand is a vessel for, but it is the corresponding ability to control it that is relevant in this particular scenario.



By way of analogy, imagine a three-year-old driving a car. The outcome would probably be unintentional, and possibly quite violent, but that's not because it is in the nature of children to be violent but because they lack the ability to control the vehicle. Their character doesn't matter, only their ability.






share|improve this answer


























  • In the other words, it is not that they don't have magical power, it is just that they can't control it.

    – onurcanbektas
    Mar 30 at 3:01






  • 8





    @onurcanbektas Or that magic is an ambient property that wizards and witches can channel.

    – forest
    Mar 30 at 3:49











  • @forest, see Bellatrix's answer, which clarifies that the magic causing an uncontrolled reaction would have been left over in the wand from the previous user. That makes my analogy a bit weaker, but I think it still addresses the meaning of the quote.

    – Harry Johnston
    2 days ago













  • For greater illumination, read the Pottermore article on the history of Ilvermorny's founders. A Muggle tries to use a wand. It does not end well.

    – EvilSnack
    2 days ago














35












35








35







No, you've misunderstood the quote.



JKR isn't saying that the result would be violent because violence is what lies inside a Muggle (though it does sound like something the Malfoys might come up with) but that the result of a Muggle using a wand would be uncontrolled because the Muggle lacks the ability to control magic - that's the power that lies inside a wizard, and which the wand is a vessel for.



Edit to clarify: magic itself is also a power lying inside a wizard, which the wand is a vessel for, but it is the corresponding ability to control it that is relevant in this particular scenario.



By way of analogy, imagine a three-year-old driving a car. The outcome would probably be unintentional, and possibly quite violent, but that's not because it is in the nature of children to be violent but because they lack the ability to control the vehicle. Their character doesn't matter, only their ability.






share|improve this answer















No, you've misunderstood the quote.



JKR isn't saying that the result would be violent because violence is what lies inside a Muggle (though it does sound like something the Malfoys might come up with) but that the result of a Muggle using a wand would be uncontrolled because the Muggle lacks the ability to control magic - that's the power that lies inside a wizard, and which the wand is a vessel for.



Edit to clarify: magic itself is also a power lying inside a wizard, which the wand is a vessel for, but it is the corresponding ability to control it that is relevant in this particular scenario.



By way of analogy, imagine a three-year-old driving a car. The outcome would probably be unintentional, and possibly quite violent, but that's not because it is in the nature of children to be violent but because they lack the ability to control the vehicle. Their character doesn't matter, only their ability.







share|improve this answer














share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer








edited 2 days ago

























answered Mar 30 at 0:20









Harry JohnstonHarry Johnston

13.9k23368




13.9k23368













  • In the other words, it is not that they don't have magical power, it is just that they can't control it.

    – onurcanbektas
    Mar 30 at 3:01






  • 8





    @onurcanbektas Or that magic is an ambient property that wizards and witches can channel.

    – forest
    Mar 30 at 3:49











  • @forest, see Bellatrix's answer, which clarifies that the magic causing an uncontrolled reaction would have been left over in the wand from the previous user. That makes my analogy a bit weaker, but I think it still addresses the meaning of the quote.

    – Harry Johnston
    2 days ago













  • For greater illumination, read the Pottermore article on the history of Ilvermorny's founders. A Muggle tries to use a wand. It does not end well.

    – EvilSnack
    2 days ago



















  • In the other words, it is not that they don't have magical power, it is just that they can't control it.

    – onurcanbektas
    Mar 30 at 3:01






  • 8





    @onurcanbektas Or that magic is an ambient property that wizards and witches can channel.

    – forest
    Mar 30 at 3:49











  • @forest, see Bellatrix's answer, which clarifies that the magic causing an uncontrolled reaction would have been left over in the wand from the previous user. That makes my analogy a bit weaker, but I think it still addresses the meaning of the quote.

    – Harry Johnston
    2 days ago













  • For greater illumination, read the Pottermore article on the history of Ilvermorny's founders. A Muggle tries to use a wand. It does not end well.

    – EvilSnack
    2 days ago

















In the other words, it is not that they don't have magical power, it is just that they can't control it.

– onurcanbektas
Mar 30 at 3:01





In the other words, it is not that they don't have magical power, it is just that they can't control it.

– onurcanbektas
Mar 30 at 3:01




8




8





@onurcanbektas Or that magic is an ambient property that wizards and witches can channel.

– forest
Mar 30 at 3:49





@onurcanbektas Or that magic is an ambient property that wizards and witches can channel.

– forest
Mar 30 at 3:49













@forest, see Bellatrix's answer, which clarifies that the magic causing an uncontrolled reaction would have been left over in the wand from the previous user. That makes my analogy a bit weaker, but I think it still addresses the meaning of the quote.

– Harry Johnston
2 days ago







@forest, see Bellatrix's answer, which clarifies that the magic causing an uncontrolled reaction would have been left over in the wand from the previous user. That makes my analogy a bit weaker, but I think it still addresses the meaning of the quote.

– Harry Johnston
2 days ago















For greater illumination, read the Pottermore article on the history of Ilvermorny's founders. A Muggle tries to use a wand. It does not end well.

– EvilSnack
2 days ago





For greater illumination, read the Pottermore article on the history of Ilvermorny's founders. A Muggle tries to use a wand. It does not end well.

– EvilSnack
2 days ago













26














No, Muggles can’t use wands.



Muggles can’t use wands, whatever their moral alignment or personal feelings towards violence. As Dumbledore explains in his notes on “Babbitty Rabbitty and the Cackling Stump”, the violent reaction comes from within the wand itself, as wands can hold residual power that may be discharged from the wand.




“While the “rogue” ability to perform magic sometimes appears in those of apparent non-magical descent (though several later studies have suggested that there will have been a witch or wizard somewhere on the family tree), Muggles cannot perform magic. The best — or worst — they could hope for are random and uncontrollable effects generated by a genuine magical wand, which, as an instrument through which magic is supposed to be channeled, sometimes holds residual power, which it may discharge at odd moments — see also the notes on wandlore for “The Tale of the Three Brothers.”
- The Tales of Beedle the Bard




The reaction that a wand can have when being waved by a Muggle has nothing to do with the “goodness” of the Muggle waving it. It’s simply the magic stored inside the wand being released when the Muggle (who can’t do magic) tries to use it.






share|improve this answer
























  • Her quote seems seems poorly worded then. The sentence Because a wand, in my world, is merely a vehicle — a vessel for what lies inside the person." implies the opposite, that magic is within a person and not within a wand.

    – Alex
    2 days ago











  • @Alex All further references to what happens when a Muggle tries to use a wand indicate that the reaction is from the wand. “As Isolt watched, James finished marking the graves he had dug by hand, then picked up the two broken wands that had lain beside the Boot parents. Frowning he examined the sparking core of dragon heartstring that protruded from Mr Boot’s, then gave it a casual wave. As invariably happens when a No-Maj waves a wand, it rebelled. James was sent flying backwards across the clearing, hit a tree and was knocked out cold.” - Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

    – Bellatrix
    2 days ago













  • I'm not disagreeing with you; it's just that she doesn't seem to have expressed her point well in that interview.

    – Alex
    2 days ago











  • Dumbledore is a character, Rowling is a writer, notes on “Babbitty Rabbitty" are just that, notes. I don't see any reason to assume that the notes cited above express the "whole truth" of the matter or the entire spectrum of opinions of the authors. As a writer I consider it a good form allowing my characters to have opinions and/or knowledge that is different from my own.

    – ArtemGr
    yesterday








  • 1





    @ArtemGr, on the other hand, Tales was written at leisure, whereas an answer to an interview question has to be created on the spot - and is therefore less likely to be well-thought-out, clearly expressed, and consistent with the rest of the work.

    – Harry Johnston
    yesterday
















26














No, Muggles can’t use wands.



Muggles can’t use wands, whatever their moral alignment or personal feelings towards violence. As Dumbledore explains in his notes on “Babbitty Rabbitty and the Cackling Stump”, the violent reaction comes from within the wand itself, as wands can hold residual power that may be discharged from the wand.




“While the “rogue” ability to perform magic sometimes appears in those of apparent non-magical descent (though several later studies have suggested that there will have been a witch or wizard somewhere on the family tree), Muggles cannot perform magic. The best — or worst — they could hope for are random and uncontrollable effects generated by a genuine magical wand, which, as an instrument through which magic is supposed to be channeled, sometimes holds residual power, which it may discharge at odd moments — see also the notes on wandlore for “The Tale of the Three Brothers.”
- The Tales of Beedle the Bard




The reaction that a wand can have when being waved by a Muggle has nothing to do with the “goodness” of the Muggle waving it. It’s simply the magic stored inside the wand being released when the Muggle (who can’t do magic) tries to use it.






share|improve this answer
























  • Her quote seems seems poorly worded then. The sentence Because a wand, in my world, is merely a vehicle — a vessel for what lies inside the person." implies the opposite, that magic is within a person and not within a wand.

    – Alex
    2 days ago











  • @Alex All further references to what happens when a Muggle tries to use a wand indicate that the reaction is from the wand. “As Isolt watched, James finished marking the graves he had dug by hand, then picked up the two broken wands that had lain beside the Boot parents. Frowning he examined the sparking core of dragon heartstring that protruded from Mr Boot’s, then gave it a casual wave. As invariably happens when a No-Maj waves a wand, it rebelled. James was sent flying backwards across the clearing, hit a tree and was knocked out cold.” - Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

    – Bellatrix
    2 days ago













  • I'm not disagreeing with you; it's just that she doesn't seem to have expressed her point well in that interview.

    – Alex
    2 days ago











  • Dumbledore is a character, Rowling is a writer, notes on “Babbitty Rabbitty" are just that, notes. I don't see any reason to assume that the notes cited above express the "whole truth" of the matter or the entire spectrum of opinions of the authors. As a writer I consider it a good form allowing my characters to have opinions and/or knowledge that is different from my own.

    – ArtemGr
    yesterday








  • 1





    @ArtemGr, on the other hand, Tales was written at leisure, whereas an answer to an interview question has to be created on the spot - and is therefore less likely to be well-thought-out, clearly expressed, and consistent with the rest of the work.

    – Harry Johnston
    yesterday














26












26








26







No, Muggles can’t use wands.



Muggles can’t use wands, whatever their moral alignment or personal feelings towards violence. As Dumbledore explains in his notes on “Babbitty Rabbitty and the Cackling Stump”, the violent reaction comes from within the wand itself, as wands can hold residual power that may be discharged from the wand.




“While the “rogue” ability to perform magic sometimes appears in those of apparent non-magical descent (though several later studies have suggested that there will have been a witch or wizard somewhere on the family tree), Muggles cannot perform magic. The best — or worst — they could hope for are random and uncontrollable effects generated by a genuine magical wand, which, as an instrument through which magic is supposed to be channeled, sometimes holds residual power, which it may discharge at odd moments — see also the notes on wandlore for “The Tale of the Three Brothers.”
- The Tales of Beedle the Bard




The reaction that a wand can have when being waved by a Muggle has nothing to do with the “goodness” of the Muggle waving it. It’s simply the magic stored inside the wand being released when the Muggle (who can’t do magic) tries to use it.






share|improve this answer













No, Muggles can’t use wands.



Muggles can’t use wands, whatever their moral alignment or personal feelings towards violence. As Dumbledore explains in his notes on “Babbitty Rabbitty and the Cackling Stump”, the violent reaction comes from within the wand itself, as wands can hold residual power that may be discharged from the wand.




“While the “rogue” ability to perform magic sometimes appears in those of apparent non-magical descent (though several later studies have suggested that there will have been a witch or wizard somewhere on the family tree), Muggles cannot perform magic. The best — or worst — they could hope for are random and uncontrollable effects generated by a genuine magical wand, which, as an instrument through which magic is supposed to be channeled, sometimes holds residual power, which it may discharge at odd moments — see also the notes on wandlore for “The Tale of the Three Brothers.”
- The Tales of Beedle the Bard




The reaction that a wand can have when being waved by a Muggle has nothing to do with the “goodness” of the Muggle waving it. It’s simply the magic stored inside the wand being released when the Muggle (who can’t do magic) tries to use it.







share|improve this answer












share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer










answered Mar 30 at 2:02









BellatrixBellatrix

78.2k16334390




78.2k16334390













  • Her quote seems seems poorly worded then. The sentence Because a wand, in my world, is merely a vehicle — a vessel for what lies inside the person." implies the opposite, that magic is within a person and not within a wand.

    – Alex
    2 days ago











  • @Alex All further references to what happens when a Muggle tries to use a wand indicate that the reaction is from the wand. “As Isolt watched, James finished marking the graves he had dug by hand, then picked up the two broken wands that had lain beside the Boot parents. Frowning he examined the sparking core of dragon heartstring that protruded from Mr Boot’s, then gave it a casual wave. As invariably happens when a No-Maj waves a wand, it rebelled. James was sent flying backwards across the clearing, hit a tree and was knocked out cold.” - Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

    – Bellatrix
    2 days ago













  • I'm not disagreeing with you; it's just that she doesn't seem to have expressed her point well in that interview.

    – Alex
    2 days ago











  • Dumbledore is a character, Rowling is a writer, notes on “Babbitty Rabbitty" are just that, notes. I don't see any reason to assume that the notes cited above express the "whole truth" of the matter or the entire spectrum of opinions of the authors. As a writer I consider it a good form allowing my characters to have opinions and/or knowledge that is different from my own.

    – ArtemGr
    yesterday








  • 1





    @ArtemGr, on the other hand, Tales was written at leisure, whereas an answer to an interview question has to be created on the spot - and is therefore less likely to be well-thought-out, clearly expressed, and consistent with the rest of the work.

    – Harry Johnston
    yesterday



















  • Her quote seems seems poorly worded then. The sentence Because a wand, in my world, is merely a vehicle — a vessel for what lies inside the person." implies the opposite, that magic is within a person and not within a wand.

    – Alex
    2 days ago











  • @Alex All further references to what happens when a Muggle tries to use a wand indicate that the reaction is from the wand. “As Isolt watched, James finished marking the graves he had dug by hand, then picked up the two broken wands that had lain beside the Boot parents. Frowning he examined the sparking core of dragon heartstring that protruded from Mr Boot’s, then gave it a casual wave. As invariably happens when a No-Maj waves a wand, it rebelled. James was sent flying backwards across the clearing, hit a tree and was knocked out cold.” - Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

    – Bellatrix
    2 days ago













  • I'm not disagreeing with you; it's just that she doesn't seem to have expressed her point well in that interview.

    – Alex
    2 days ago











  • Dumbledore is a character, Rowling is a writer, notes on “Babbitty Rabbitty" are just that, notes. I don't see any reason to assume that the notes cited above express the "whole truth" of the matter or the entire spectrum of opinions of the authors. As a writer I consider it a good form allowing my characters to have opinions and/or knowledge that is different from my own.

    – ArtemGr
    yesterday








  • 1





    @ArtemGr, on the other hand, Tales was written at leisure, whereas an answer to an interview question has to be created on the spot - and is therefore less likely to be well-thought-out, clearly expressed, and consistent with the rest of the work.

    – Harry Johnston
    yesterday

















Her quote seems seems poorly worded then. The sentence Because a wand, in my world, is merely a vehicle — a vessel for what lies inside the person." implies the opposite, that magic is within a person and not within a wand.

– Alex
2 days ago





Her quote seems seems poorly worded then. The sentence Because a wand, in my world, is merely a vehicle — a vessel for what lies inside the person." implies the opposite, that magic is within a person and not within a wand.

– Alex
2 days ago













@Alex All further references to what happens when a Muggle tries to use a wand indicate that the reaction is from the wand. “As Isolt watched, James finished marking the graves he had dug by hand, then picked up the two broken wands that had lain beside the Boot parents. Frowning he examined the sparking core of dragon heartstring that protruded from Mr Boot’s, then gave it a casual wave. As invariably happens when a No-Maj waves a wand, it rebelled. James was sent flying backwards across the clearing, hit a tree and was knocked out cold.” - Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

– Bellatrix
2 days ago







@Alex All further references to what happens when a Muggle tries to use a wand indicate that the reaction is from the wand. “As Isolt watched, James finished marking the graves he had dug by hand, then picked up the two broken wands that had lain beside the Boot parents. Frowning he examined the sparking core of dragon heartstring that protruded from Mr Boot’s, then gave it a casual wave. As invariably happens when a No-Maj waves a wand, it rebelled. James was sent flying backwards across the clearing, hit a tree and was knocked out cold.” - Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

– Bellatrix
2 days ago















I'm not disagreeing with you; it's just that she doesn't seem to have expressed her point well in that interview.

– Alex
2 days ago





I'm not disagreeing with you; it's just that she doesn't seem to have expressed her point well in that interview.

– Alex
2 days ago













Dumbledore is a character, Rowling is a writer, notes on “Babbitty Rabbitty" are just that, notes. I don't see any reason to assume that the notes cited above express the "whole truth" of the matter or the entire spectrum of opinions of the authors. As a writer I consider it a good form allowing my characters to have opinions and/or knowledge that is different from my own.

– ArtemGr
yesterday







Dumbledore is a character, Rowling is a writer, notes on “Babbitty Rabbitty" are just that, notes. I don't see any reason to assume that the notes cited above express the "whole truth" of the matter or the entire spectrum of opinions of the authors. As a writer I consider it a good form allowing my characters to have opinions and/or knowledge that is different from my own.

– ArtemGr
yesterday






1




1





@ArtemGr, on the other hand, Tales was written at leisure, whereas an answer to an interview question has to be created on the spot - and is therefore less likely to be well-thought-out, clearly expressed, and consistent with the rest of the work.

– Harry Johnston
yesterday





@ArtemGr, on the other hand, Tales was written at leisure, whereas an answer to an interview question has to be created on the spot - and is therefore less likely to be well-thought-out, clearly expressed, and consistent with the rest of the work.

– Harry Johnston
yesterday










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