[HPforGrownups] Hermione's Character Flaws

[Erika L.]

No: HPFGUIDX 68913


Wiley wrote:
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...

<<snip>>

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?

<<snip>>

    There's of course been discussion on the list regarding why the sorting hat places people where it does, and one theory holds that placement is based on values; thus, Hermione values courage over cleverness and so she becomes a Gryffindor. Setting the sorting issue aside, however, I think Hermione does demonstrate courage, though not always of the reckless, charging-into-danger variety which is Harry's specialty. She clearly has moral courage,  for she's willing to stand up for her beliefs as we see with SPEW. She also has the courage to stand up to her friends, which is what I think the whole Firebolt debacle was about in PoA. I didn't see that as simply a matter of Hermione wanting to be right; I always saw that as Hermione being genuinely worried  for Harry's safety and being willing to risk her friendship with Ron and Harry in order to try to protect him.

    As for more conventional courage, I think one can make a case for it in OoP. First of all, to address your comment on the DA class, Hermione herself explains why she should not be teaching it. True, she'd good at learning the spells, but Harry has a natural talent for DADA and _has_ beaten her in DADA as she herself admits: "You beat me in our third year -- the only year we both sat the test and had a teacher who actually knew the subject" (292 Canadian edition). More to the point, Hermione is not a leader. While she could likely be a teacher, the DA is more than a class. Hermione has them elect Harry as "leader," and clearly that's the role he takes on. Hermione herself doesn't have the charisma necessary to take on the position as leader, and she acknowledges this fact as well as Harry's greater experience and talent in DADA.

    This said, I don't think that skill is the best way to judge courage. Yes, Hermione gets taken out of the fight at the end of OoP, but so does everyone except Harry in the end. At the same time as Hermione is injured, in some other room Ginny is having her ankle broken and Ron is hit by something which renders him "a bit funny," as Luna puts it. Neville also has his nose broken so that he can no longer cast spells. These injuries all happen in the first few pages of the showdown. I think that, considering how quickly the others are taken out of the battle, it's fair to say that Hermione's skills in DADA are as good as the next person's.

    But as for courage itself, well she's there, isn't she? Part of courage is being able to face up to fear, isn't it? Throughout the books one can see instances of Hermione being afraid. One example, off the top, is at the Ministry where she's described as "trembling from head to foot" (695 Canadian).  Okay, that doesn't sound very brave, but the point is that she doesn't back down even though she is afraid. She believed that, in going to the Ministry, they might well be walking into Voldemort's trap. Does anyone think she really stopped believing this? And even if she had, it still meant that they were going to the Ministry to face Voldemort. Yet Hermione goes and, in fact, insists upon going with Harry. "I'm not staying behind!" is what Hermione replies "furiously" (673 Canadian) when Harry suggests that she stay behind while they wait for more Thestrals.

    All told, I think that says a lot about her. She's afraid, but she still follows Harry into danger, knowing full well that what they're doing is dangerous. And, to be frank, she nearly gets killed at the end of OoP, but I doubt that will cause her to start staying behind in the next two books. Yes, she's not the leader, not the first in line for the fight. Her role is usually to come up with plans and provide information. But when it comes down to it, Hermione stands by Harry and walks into danger with the rest of them, in spite of her fears. I think that qualifies as good Gryffindor courage.

Just my two knuts (or maybe three or four ;)
Erika (Wolfraven)

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