Hermione's growth (long)

[heynorty]

No: HPFGUIDX 105659

Jim Ferer wrote:
> > 
> > > HERMIONE LEARNS COMPASSION
> > > 
> > > Hermione wasn't the best one to take troubled feelings to, was 
she?
> > > Anything that didn't fit her "mind over matter" mindset was 
> > dismissed.
> > > As late as PoA her "rational" side got the better of her when
> > > Lavender's rabbit was killed, although she cared enough about 
> > Lavender
> > > to at least look anxious.  I would really like to know the
> > > soul-searching Hermione went through after that.

David wrote:

> > Mostly I thought this a great post, but I have a different take 
on 
> > the incident of Lavender's rabbit.  I'm almost totally with 
Hermione 
> > on this one.  Trelawney is preying on Lavender (and Parvati), 
and 
> > Hermione sees it, and is attempting to rescue Lavender.
> > 
> > Her compassion in the situation is signalled by the hesitancy 
with 
> > which she broaches the subject.  As I see it, she is not 
insensitive 
> > but rather feels that this issue is higher priority and takes 
the 
> > risk of alienating Lavender and her friends.
> > 
> > Her weakness in the situation is her insecurity, that she feels 
she 
> > has to intervene there and then.  I think her compassion is fine.
> 

To go back to the earlier post, Hermione Granger was sorted into 
Gryffindor because--she asked the hat to be sorted there. The hat 
did not decide to put her into Gryffindor, she already decided to go 
there. This is why it did not take a long time to place her. She 
already had in her head to placed in one house and one house only. 

I view this much in the same way as Harry. Harry would have like to 
be have been sorted into any other house other than Slytherin. He 
would have even settled for Hufflepuff. The hat's original intention 
was to place him into Slytherin. Harry had to make a case of not 
being placed into Slytherin. In fact he had to no desire to be part 
of Slytherin--much in the same way Hermione had no desire to be in 
Gryffindor. In regards to Hermione, she would have an easier time at 
Hogwarts if she was placed in Ravenclaw. She would have done better 
within Ravenclaw. 

It would be quite a story indeed, if Harry was placed in Slytherin 
and Hermione was placed in Ravenclaw.  

While I would say that Hermione's journey has been very interesting 
and more life changing than say Ron's. I think the case of her 
maturation has been overstated. I would say that in many respects--
she is essentially the same person that entered Hogwarts, for good 
and for bad.  

In terms of her knowledge, that has not changed. It is obvious that 
her years at Hogwarts--through class she was able to accumulate more 
knowledge and magical experience. More importantly, she was able to 
add that knowledge with her adventures with Harry. So in one sense 
she is very experienced young person, but I would not call her wise, 
in say the Dumbledore sense. One could argue that after the Rita 
Skeeter escapade from book 4 and 5--she is downright foolish. This 
article discusses this much farther in length: www.redhen-
publications.com/Skeeter.html To sum up the article, it argues that 
hermione should have turned Rita over to Dumbledore, instead of 
keeping her locked away in a jar. The reason for this is Dumbledore 
could have used her in a much better way than Hermione. The reason 
that Dumbledore and Harry had to much ill will in Book 4-5 was the 
result of Rita's articles. If Dumbledore had a chance to turn her, 
offer her something in return--he and Harry might have been saved 
some unwanted grief.  
     
In so much has her vaunted S.P.E.W. campaign, while is displays a 
certain sense of compassion. I would say it does not display any 
real empathy for the house elves or their particular situation. I 
view it has a very top down, almost condescending treatment. She is 
in essance saying look, you are too stupid to realize that you are 
slaves. So I shall be the one to free you. While she might have 
noble intentions, she fails to realize that 1.) most of the house 
elves do not want to be free 2.) more importantly--what will a whole 
group of free house elves do with themselves. Dobby is more the 
execption rather than the rule. She of all people should realize 
that if the house elves are free overnight, they are not better off 
than they were. They would be "free" but then what. If this would 
follow say the end of slavery in the US--they would free and the 
subject to Jim Crow type laws. There is a reason why there was a 
statue of all the non-human magical animals looking up, and it 
because they aspire to be like wizards or witches. In addition, her 
stunt with the Centuars does not earn her any points with them as 
well. She just assumed they would help her, even though they tried 
to kill Harry and her only a day ago. He comment of "I never liked 
horses" about Firenze is a telling one as well. 

So yes, while I would say she seems to be a more rounded person. I 
don't see her really ever changing herself or growing in any 
meaningful way. I hasten to add, that this might change by book 7 
and there will be a whole new light shed on the subject.