[HPforGrownups] Re: Hermione's Jealousy (Was Ron & Jealousy)

[Erika Lachapelle]

No: HPFGUIDX 52964

Corinth wrote:

>Academically, she certainly never doubts herself.  She volunteers in
>class constantly, despite the fact that this often annoys her fellow
>classmates and certain teachers.  Someone lacking in self-confidence
>would sit quietly for fear of ridicule, or at least limit her
>participation a bit.

    I agree that Hermione is quite assertive in class and seems to have 
confidence in her intellectual abilities. However, I think that initially 
this began as a need to prove herself. I was always struck by a comment she 
makes when we first meet her in PS/SS. She says: "I've learnt all our set 
books off by heart, of course, I just hope it will be enough" (PS p79, 
Canadian edition). I always interpreted this to mean that she was concerned 
about being on par with the other students, many of whom she knows would 
have at least one parent from the WW. I thought her hope that "it will be 
enough" indicated a sense of insecurity relating to her status as a 
Muggle-born. That fear of being behind in relation to the other students 
probably lessened as she realized that, thanks to her reading, she in fact 
knows a good deal more than most, but I think that that need to prove 
herself to others via academic success continues on into PoA. I am not 
trying to suggest that Hermione does not value learning in and of itself; I 
think she does enjoy her studies and enjoys reading and learning for their 
own sake, but there are moments when she rather overdoes it, as she clearly 
does in PoA by trying to take all the courses.


Corinth wrote:

>As a matter of fact, regarding her appearance, I'd say this is
>where Hermione shows the most confidence.  A person with low self->esteen 
>and self-confidence is much more likely to care about her looks.

     On the subject of her appearance, I do not see her as having 
self-esteem issues as such, nor as being insecure, but rather as having an 
image of herself as being rather plain and accepting it. Her bushy hair and 
large front teeth are prominent enough to figure in the first description we 
get of her on the Hogwarts train. I never noticed evidence that she was 
especially self-conscious of this which to me suggested that she had simply 
accepted her looks and placed value on other things instead. I'd like to 
suggest that she is, however, somewhat sensitive about her looks which I saw 
as the reason that in GoF she becomes irritated when she notices Harry and 
Ron ogling girls and thus placing value on their looks above anything else.

I'm new so hopefully I'm not rehashing too much
Erika

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