stuttermoan

It's been a while since I did one of these birthday posts. Arthur's birthday description is not as uncannily accurate as some of the others, but I figure examining the birthday of Harry's only living father figure would be worthwhile. As always, italics are quotes from The Secret Language of Birthdays by Gary Goldschneider and Joost Elffers.

Aquarius - February 6 - The Day of Popularity

"Strengths: Socially Adept, Well-Liked, Facile
Weaknesses: Self-Unaware, Insecure"

Well-liked by people who consider his personality to be of higher importance than his lack of pureblood pride.

"Those born on February 6 display both a great need and capacity to be popular with their social set. Indeed they wish to be admired and praised by those whom they care about."

Since Harry's point of view limits us from seeing many of Arthur's interactions with adults, we can only guess on this one. He does, however, seem especially keen on avoiding disapproval from his wife.

"In the eyes of other socially oriented individuals they may be seen as extremely lucky to attract so much attention. In fact, they are usually quite insecure about their real worth, and therefore seek the bolstering of others as well as a measure of ego massage. More than with most people, a yearning to be loved can burden the heart of a February 6 person."

I can envision him being quite insecure in his younger years, but I think at the point we view the story, he (and the entire family, to some extent) are used to the disapproval from the pureblood camp and have learned to value the appreciation of people who actually know them by more than that alone.

"In attempting to explain the popularity of those born on this day, one might find that good looks, charm and an outgoing manner are at work, but surely the ability to strike a common chord in the hearts of others is something almost all February 6 people have in common. Perhaps it is their lack of pretension and accessibility that allows acquaintances, even strangers to identify with them and helps elicit such a strong positive response. The confidence and trust they inspire in others often earns them praise when things go well and tends to protect them from criticism and blame when things go awry."

It seems to me that Arthur is JKR's idea of an ideal husband and father, as well as a well-liked weirdo. We're given the impression from Ron that Arthur's appreciation for muggle stuff is extremely odd, but yet we have no shortage of examples of Arthur getting along with his coworkers.

"In order to regain or maintain their favored status, less evolved February 6 people will go to any ends, including changing their views, giving up friends, even altering their physical appearance... More highly evolved February 6 people are also able to change with the times, yet at the same time cherish and nurture the part of themselves that is constant and unique."

Arthur still does seem to need a balance between his muggle collection and his wife's opinions about it, but there's no denying that his oddball hobby provided some useful transportation for Harry (the car, and later, the modified motorcycle).

"Ultimately those born on this day may have to overcome their need for recognition by focusing more on their inner worth, what they have in common with others and how they can be of service to their family or community."

That sentence, to me, excellently summarizes the years of Arthur's life that we see via Harry's point of view. He trades any unearned respect he could garner simply for being pureblood, and in return devotes himself to a muggle-centered job, and later, a cause that protects not only his family and the magical world, but the nonmagical world as well.

"Those born on the 6th day of the month are ruled by the number 6 and by the planet Venus. Those ruled by the number 6 are magnetic in attracting both sympathy and admiration (certainly true for February 6 people). For those born on this day the added influence of Uranus (ruler of Aquarius) on Venus lends an erratic and labile emotional life, in which they can be quickly swept off their feet. Often love becomes the dominant theme in the life of those ruled by the number 6."

For much of the series, Arthur stays in a lower-status position because of his love of muggle stuff. As the series progresses, we see through Harry's eyes how more and more of Arthur's attention is directed toward looking out for his family and helping the cause in the war, also labors of love. And we know that Arthur and Molly got married rather young, during the previous wartime.

"...the 6th card of the Major Arcana is The Lovers, symbolizing the love that unites all of humanity through integration of masculine and feminine polarities."

He seems to have a good balance of stereotypically-gendered traits: he's a breadwinner and a tinkerer, but also a caring and understanding father figure.