Hermione, heroines and love interests

[pippin_999 <foxmoth@qnet.com>]

No: HPFGUIDX 52247

Penny said:

>>> But, IMHO, Hermione is clearly the more fully-developed 
characterand the one the reader might be more apt to identify 
with and "root for." I think what I'm trying to say, though muddling 
it very badly indeed, is that areader might reasonably expect the 
author to have set him/her up to like andcare about the "heroine" 
or the "love interest of the hero" over the course ofthe story, even 
if the author doesn't intend for these two characters to fallin love 
and live happily ever after until the end of the story. And, 
*I*definitely don't think JKR has gone to any great pains to do this 
for Ginny, and she could easily have done so.<<<


Many times, the main female character, the heroine you identify 
with and root for, isn't the hero's love interest at all. In fact, 
dividing these two roles is one way to get more female 
characters into the hero's life. The love interest can be the most 
important female to the hero without being the most important 
female in the book. In fact, there can be an advantage for the 
author who wants the main  female character to be interesting in 
her own right, but also wants to show sacrifice as the ultimate 
proof of love.

 Just because I'm tired of making LOTR analogies, I'll make one 
from Dune instead. The main female character is Jessica  but a 
far less important character, Chani, is the love interest of the 
hero, Paul. 

At the end of the novel, Chani offers to  give up her heart's desire  
for the sake of Paul's future. It comes across as the noblest 
moment of her life. But if I identified with Chani's aspirations for 
herself  instead of her hopes for Paul, it wouldn't read that way. 
Instead of marvelling at her devotion, I think I'd feel  she was 
being used, and I'd be annoyed with her for being so besotted. 

We don't know yet what Hermione's dearest aspirations are, but 
Hogwarts is  essential to them or she wouldn't dread being 
expelled. Certainly I think most readers identify with her strong 
desire to succeed. Yet if the plot calls for Hermione to give up 
Hogwarts  or her hard won place in the Wizarding World for 
Harry's love, I think it would be in character for her to do it.

 But how would we feel about Harry for accepting such a 
sacrifice? And what of the hopes of all the readers who aren't 
terribly into shipping, but  were rooting for Hermione to succeed 
at school and in the WW thereafter? Wouldn't they feel betrayed?

  If Ginny  made the same choice, it would still be a touching 
proof of her devotion, but a lesser sacrifice. And I wouldn't have 
to give up my dream of Hermione's future as the first 
Muggle-born Minister of Magic. <g>

I don't see that Ginny has to join the Trio on all their adventures 
or, heaven forbid! supplant Hermione in the reader's affections, 
in order for the reader to accept her as the right person for Harry. 
I also very much want Hermione to be happy. I just don't see a 
romance with Harry as a necessary ingredient for her 
happiness. Even if she wants him, it doesn't mean she'd be 
happy if they were together. "The trouble is, humans do have a 
knack for choosing precisely those things..." <g>

Pippin