[HPforGrownups] Hermione and JKR

[Penny & Bryce Linsenmayer]

No: HPFGUIDX 3438

Hi --

"Simon J. Branford" wrote:

> Making something out of Hermione getting further in the three book
> endings that Ron is taking things a bit far. CoS and PoA have Hermione
> and Ron at similar levels. In PS the situation would not have worked
> if we had had Snape's puzzle before the chess. Part of the point was
> that Hermione was to go back and get help. Ron sacrificed himself to
> get the others through the chess game. I think they have had equal
> involvement in the book endings (this can be extended to include GoF
> as they did nothing to help Harry get away from Voldemort).

Cassie's right -- I wasn't trying to minimize Ron's role in the final
adventures but rather rebuffing the Salon article which completely
dismisses Hermione's involvement.  I agree that Ron's sacrifice was the
first step in SS.  Then, you have Hermione out of action & Ron getting
part way with Harry in CoS.  Then, you have Ron out of action & Hermione
making it part way with Harry in PoA.  I just think the article of that
article was truly very off-base in her analysis of the female
characters.

> McGonagall maybe a strong character but she, IMO, has too little
> involvement in the stories. Dumbledore is ahead of her in the pecking
> order and Snape is roughly level with her.

McGonagall is Deputy Head Mistress.  She's not exactly level with Snape
IMO.  She's also head of Gryffindor & teaches Transfiguration, the post
Dumbledore held before becoming Head Master.  She's one of 7 registered
animagi in the last century.  She's got just as much on-screen time as
Dumbledore in my book.  I think we also see as much of McGonagall as we
do of Snape for the most part.

> Also we have Sirius in there as well. There is just a lack of female
> characters in the story - too many are bit parts.

Interesting that as a female, I'd disagree.  I don't really see it as a
male-centered series at all.

> Does she do anything but solve problems? Surely she has to be able to
> offer something else to Harry? There will come a time when Harry has
> no problems to solve (well there maybe!), what will she do then?

I agree with Steve points here (she shows considerably more warmth &
compassion than either of the boys so far & she seems much more capable
of dealing with interpersonal relationships).  I'd add that she also
already has done more than just solve problems.  She was Harry's one &
only friend in GoF when Ron abandoned him -- she did *that* out of
friendship & loyalty & it didn't have anything to do with solving
problems or providing the bookwormish backup.  She showed up with toast
& offered to take a walk with him the morning after the Goblet incident
-- perceptively picking up that Ron had had a fight with Harry the night
before & that Harry might need to talk it out.  So, she's not *just* a
problem-solver.

Penny (who should perhaps be given the title of Defender of Hermione or
some such)


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