The Harry Potter series has a huge focus on the family connection. The franchise thinks a lot about what it means to have a family and what role a family should play in one’s life. Especially the mothers of the series, from Lilly Evans to Aunt Petunia to Molly Weasley, get a lot of focus in the Potter books and movies.
One mother which provides an interesting opportunity for debate is Narcissa Malfoy. While many would argue Narcissa is not a good mother, based in large part on the way her son behaves, others would claim that while Narcissa might not be a good person, she is a good mother. Here are some reasons why both might be true.
Good Mother: She Dotes On Draco
While physical offerings of love are not a replacement for emotional support, there is no doubt Draco this a the apple of his mother’s eye.
Many times during the series Draco is seen to be receiving gifts and always seems able to have whatever he wants. While the argument could be made that Narcissa allowed Draco to be spoiled, in a wooden family such as the Malfoy one, this may be the only avenue open to her.
Worst Mother: She encourages Draco’s Dark Arts Fascination
While it is clearly Lucius who has most sway over Draco, Narcissa proves herself many times not to be any kind of wilting daisy. Had she wanted to intervene against her husband’s love of dark arts and his transference of this to their child, she could have.
However, clearly Narcissa did not feel moved to do this making her the worst.
Good Mother: Her family comes first
At the end of the tale, Narcissa is a strange hero for the side of good. In exchange for the knowledge that her son is alive, she lies to Lord Voldemort, quite possibly saving Harry’s life and the full war effort.
While this last-minute change of heart is more selfish than selfless, Narcissa clearly puts being a mother before everything. Even the possibility of her own death.
Worst Mother: But it takes a while
All of the Malfoys, but especially Draco, suffer immensely while Lord Voldemort is stationed at Malfoy Manor. Draco seems, in fact, severely traumatized by the experience, but Narcissa does not step up at this point.
While arguably there’s nothing she can do, the end of the story proves that she’s willing to do anything, so simply allowing her son to be tortured in his own home for so long seems to make her the worst.
Good Mother: She thinks she’s doing what’s best for Draco
While the decisions Narcissa makes are clearly bad and seem obviously poor to the audience, it’s clear Narcissa believes she is doing the right things for Draco.
After all, Narcissa grew up in the Black family and was surrounded by dark wizards her whole life. She most likely thought she was going down the path that would be the best for her son.
Worst Mother: She raises a terrible son
The proof is in the figgy pudding. Draco Malfoy is a bully, he is a coward, and he is incredibly selfish. While good mothers can lead to badly behaved children, there is no doubt in this case that Malfoy’s parents had a hand in what he became.
Had Narcissa not been the worst, perhaps she could have influenced her son to be better.
Good Mother: She insists on the unbreakable vow
Narcissa is always willing to go to whatever lengths it takes to protect Draco. When Lord Voldemort gives him the impossible task of killing Dumbledore, Narcissa refuses to recognize there is nothing she can do to help him.
Instead, she pulls all her resources together and insists Snape perform the unbreakable vow with her. This intense spell shows just how much of a committed mother Narcissa is.
Worst Mother: She teaches her son hate
Dark magic is one thing, but Narcissa imparts a far greater and more common evil on her son, hatred.
Narcissa is an extremely prejudiced witch, one who hates muggle-borns and believes all muggles should die and she gifts this hatred forward onto her son. No mother who raises her son to feel so hateful and superior could be called anything but the worst.
Good Mother: Her Son Loves Her
At the end of the day, Draco clearly adores his mother. When she is mocked or threatened, he defends her without a second thought. As Draco is often cold and selfish, these shows of emotion are of great importance into understanding what kind of a mother Narcissa is.
Her son’s clear love of her earns her a lot of points.
Worst Mother: Cuts herself off from the good parts of her family
Narcissa is the worst mother because she cuts herself off from the best of her family. Both Sirius Black and Andromeda, Narcissa’s sister, manage to overcome their upbringing to understand where their previous ways of thinking were flawed.
Interacting with this part of the family could have been helpful to Draco, but Narcissa is too set in her ways to consider that her son could use some more influences in his life.