Hermione's Character Flaws

[Wiley Willowsbough]

No: HPFGUIDX 68832

I was thinking about an earlier post someone had posted in regards to the
lack of character flaws in Hermione.  I thought one person had responded
quite well in regarding her flaws, which she does indeed have.

I am teaching a class on Harry Potter this summer, and my class and I had a
long go-around on Hermione and whether she was placed correctly with the
sorting hat.  While the usual point-counterpoint came up as to how she
should belong in Ravenclaw, one of my kids actually said, "Well, what has
she done that was actually brave or courageous (Gryffindor)?"

It was an interesting discussion, as kids really went step by step through
many of Hermione's actions through the books, and how she has often been the
person in the background...helping Harry and Ron with homework, helping
Harry learn spells/charms/hexes for the Tri-Wizard tournament.  But, when
moments have come for her to be "brave", she really hasn't shown it
throughout with flying colors:  in SS/PS, her defeat of the plants and the
potions came through cleverness ( even needed a reminder from Ron that she
knew how to start a wizard fire), rather than sheer bravery, and in the face
of Ron's brave sacrifice during chess, she was the one being more of a wet
blanket about it.

In PoA, when the time came for her to face the dementors, she was the one
who collapsed first, who needed saving from Harry.  Once again, as Harry was
realizing he needed to go out to cast his patronus, she was the one who
begged him to stay on this side of caution.

I have to reread OoP again (I did a very quick digestion of the book in
preparation for my class), but despite knowing she would (and should) be
among the best at learning and teaching DADA spells and usage, she enables
Harry to take on that role.  Only at the end, when battling, does she
finally get out and do some damage (and this is where some of my details are
a little sketchy...you know, staying up until 3 AM because you refuse to
stop reading until you find out who died....).  In fact, didn't she take a
fall at the end there, also?

No real arguments being made here, whether this is a flaw or not.  But it
was an interesting discussion on her character.  I don't know if we should
try to measure characters by the strengths and flaws, but just the fact that
they are different from each other.  For all we know, Hermione's not even
brave enough to fly a broom in public!  But, I'd still want her on my side,
even if she would be one to stay in the background when the action is on.

Wiley