[HPforGrownups] Hermione & JKR

[Penny & Bryce Linsenmayer]

No: HPFGUIDX 3416

Hi --

lrcjestes wrote:

> I wonder who is asking her about wanting a strong female character.

Critics have definitely posed this question.  There was a salon.com
article sometime late last fall that charged that the HP series had
"girl trouble."  A number of this author's points were really off-base.
She also didn't seem to have the sense that Hermione had made it further
in the final adventures of the first 3 books than Ron had.  I think
there have probably been other critics who have echoed this point &
caused JKR to be irritated by the whole line.  Besides, I think
McGonagall is a strong character too.  And, we don't know much about her
yet, but I'd be willing to be that Lily Potter was a very strong person.

> And if JKR is Hermione in disguise, what does that suggest for
> potential
> romantic pairings....would you go for the hero or the hero's
> sidekick?...personally I'd go for the hero's godfather...but then you
> all
> knew that about me anyway  : )

Simon added:

> Go for the one you love. How important someone is should not enter into a
> discussion on true love.
>
Well, I agree with Simon's basic point.  But, I think what Carole is
driving at is that we have an author who completely controls what
happens with these characters.  Whether she's consciously aware of the
fact that Hermione is her own surrogate in the series or not, one has to
assume that her conscious or subconscious feelings may play into the mix
*if and when* she puts the characters into romantic relationships.  I
think JKR's favorite character is Harry.  If it were Ron, the stories
would center around Ron.  We all know Lupin is one of her favorites but
I really think that Harry must be her absolute favorite.  So . . . . if
you're pairing "yourself" off in a fictional universe with one of
several potential romantic partners, aren't you the least bit likely to
put yourself with the *hero,* who happens to be your favorite character?

I liked Simon's definitions of heroine.  That was more what I was going
for (rather than a damsel-in-distress who needs to be rescued by the
hero).  I was thinking more in terms that she really is the principal
female character.

> IMO this does not come across in the books. In CoS and PoA Hermione is not
> in the story for a while and Harry copes fairly well. I do not get the
> impression that he does need her badly.
> I agree that Ron needs her, in the sense of being friends. He does not cope
> very well in PoA when the Scabbers incident is going on. He instead starts
> making nasty remarks and doing very little and seemingly because he cannot
> admit that maybe it is he who is wrong.
>

Well . . . in SS, Harry needs her and Ron to help him solve the puzzle &
get to the Stone (they both have important roles but Hermione survives a
bit longer than Ron).  In CoS, Harry & Ron both need her to help solve
the mystery of the basilisk (Polyjuice Potion is her idea & without her
little clipping about the basilisk, Harry & Ron couldn't have gone on).
In PoA, it's Hermione's time-turner & her presence that help Harry to
achieve the end results (saving Buckbeak & Sirius).  In GoF, Harry
himself relies on her for support & friendship when Ron has turned his
back on him & then he relies on her for help to get through the first
task.  She & Ron together help Harry with the remaining 2 tasks.
Hermione is the one to solve the Rita Skeeter puzzle.  And, let's face
it, it's probably mainly Hermione who came up with the spells & charms
that helped Harry escape the graveyard in Little Hangleton (granted Ron
was Harry's guinea pig over & over again, but Hermione is probably the
one who researched & demonstrated those spells).  So, I would disagree
that it's not too clear that Harry needs Hermione badly.

As for the PoA fight -- I've said it before but it's Harry who makes the
first overtures at making it up with Hermione.  He seems to me to be a
bit put-out that Ron is so stubbornly resistant to making up with
Hermione.  "Can't you give her a break?" he asked Ron.

Penny





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