Which period (possibly mystical) was the book set in, assuming it's a book that had this dodgy heredity? There were times, 400 years or so ago, where a miller's son was a miller, a butcher's son was a butcher etc. or at least they had a really good chance of it. Well, that's the oldest son. The younger generation either got lucky and married a butcher's daughter, or else became an apprentice to another profession, joined a monastery as a lay person, the army as a peon/infantry/cannon fodder, etc. Yeah, so, still plenty of latitude for change, even back then.
In our modern days, I know a few doctors or scientists who run in the family, but it's more the exception than the rule.
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Date: 13 Oct 2006 04:14 am (UTC)In our modern days, I know a few doctors or scientists who run in the family, but it's more the exception than the rule.