class magic

[marycatelli]

Once upon a time, magic was the province of the powerful.  Whether you had court magicians a la Merlin, or put the power directly in the hands of the rulers.

Then someone discovers how to mass produce it.

Would produce a lot of interesting effects in social upheaval.  And social climbing. Even if it slowly and gradually seeped through society.

I wonder if the high-ranking families would try to preserve some forms of magic for those of high birth.  It would only really work, of course, if there weren't rivals about, or if the magic was not really powerful.  Otherwise you would have to allow it out in self-defense, to avoid losing the arms race.

Comments

[hibiscusrose.livejournal.com]

I think I've seen some stories where it is declared by law or custom or something similar (meaning not necessarily a fact of nature) that certain magics were the province of certain classes. An upper-class mage would never deign to lower himself to what the lower classes use and theoretically the lower classes would never dare/could never master the upper levels. Of course, that never lasts. The one story I'm really thinking of was based in part on ethnicity (faux England, Wales, Scotland) and the heroine learns the high magic of her father, the low magic of the humans, and the wild/woods magic of her mother, which is only possible because of her mixed background, but it does give her one heck of a punch!

As to the preservation of some forms to those of high birth, some of it would depend on what type of control they have over the lower classes. If the lower classes are very cowed and their ranks are regularly tested and culled, then it's more likely. Lots of effort, though, and always a chance for someone to slip through the cracks.

Or "natural" magic has more of a cachet (or a stigma, depending on who's in charge) than the stuff anyone can learn--your "mass market." Never underestimate the power of cultural and societal expectations, and how they can be used to manipulate people.

[marycatelli]

Culling kind of gives the game away if you're claiming superiority.

[headnoises.livejournal.com]

Declare it proof that the mother was unloyal to her husband, because that can only be found with a noble bloodline?

It would only work if the nobility looks enough like the locals, but it gives an excuse for identified-magic folks to be moved into some sort of group home, and makes sure they wouldn't show anyone.

[marycatelli]

I think they would probably phrase it as young men sowing their wild oats. But yeah, that would work as long as they were willing to accept said "bastards."

[hibiscusrose.livejournal.com]

Not unheard of. How many bastard sons in history and story ended up as their legitimate brother's steward or marshal or reeve or chaplain? Or even as a minor niece/nephew's regent? I believe the thinking is that the blood connection will keep them loyal but the illegitimacy means they are rarely competition for the inheritance.

[marycatelli]

But those are actual bastards, not legal-fiction bastards. Also, there could easily be more of these ones. If reasonably talented commoners crop up as frequently as they do for more mundane talents, a LOT more.

Besides, since it's a legal fiction, the kids would probably resent being bastardized all the more, and there is no blood connection to keep 'em loyal.

[hibiscusrose.livejournal.com]

True, but it's a variation of "Them that got the gold, make the rules." It's also mushroom theory--if you stick your head up, it gets lopped off. It's a hard, cruel way to maintain control. And I wouldn't imagine those doing the culling see that "having" to do it is an indicator the system is wrong--it's "preserving the purity of the race/bloodline."

And culling doesn't have to be killing--children of lower classes who are discovered to have the talents are swept away, raised in some (probably) dispassionate crèche/school, completely disassociated from their birth family and rank yet not necessarily part of the upper classes. Maybe like yeoman squires: this is as close to the honors as they can get. Potentially self-perpetuating and an upper class ally (keep the lowest down so we maintain our rank). However, depending on the situation, and I would say more likely in a non-self-perpetuating situation, this "midclass" might also provide the greatest chance of rebellion.

[marycatelli]

The thing is the "maintain superiority" and "maintain control" may be in serious conflict.

[mythusmage.livejournal.com]

The ability to do magic does mean the magician has tools he can use to make money. Lots of money and a reputation for power and knowledge does tend to promote a fellow in social class.

Then on the world of Aerth (Mythus: Dangerous Journeys) prejudice does play a role. To those of the White School people in the lower class are banned from entering the school, but those of the Black School will take anyone who wants to learn.

[marycatelli]

That's exactly where the issues arise. In the Dark Ages, there was none of this "knighting" business; you fought, you were a knight. (That's why the medieval Latin term for knight is miles.)

But the Dark Ages gave way to the High Middle Ages, and merchants started making money and gaining power and influence that way, and that's when they started inventing things, like knighting, to distinguish themselves.

Likewise, the Victorians were much more rigid about rank precisely because social rising was so much easier.