Is Hermione Supposed to be a Genius?

[jjjjjuliep]

No: HPFGUIDX 94614

"Shaun Hately" <drednort at a...> wrote:

> On 30 Mar 2004 at 12:13, Susanne wrote:

> > Hermione certainly seems very intelligent and inquisitive,
> > and has the lack of social graces that's sometimes
> > attributed to geniuses (is this really typical for very
> > intelligent people, or just one of those generalizations?).

[deletia = many of Shaun's good points]

> I don't think Hermione really lacks social graces. When she sees
> the point of social interactions, she engages in them. But she has
> other things that she gives a higher priority to. That's not
> uncommon.

Plus I don't think that Hermione is presented or portrayed as a social
outcast at Hogwarts.  Now, I'm not sure if Harry and Ron are 
necessarily "popular", but they do have friends, as does Hermoine.  
After all, it's not like she was dateless at the ball in GoF.  ;-)  
And isn't Cho a bit jealous of her in OoP?

I think Hermione's behavior can look as if she lacks social graces and
that may be due to her high intelligence (Is she not a genius because 
she has to study? Well, she has to learn the spells somehow.) and her 
age. Even older folks with high IQs can get impatient with others--in 
the words of one of my friends, "brainiacs have a responsibility to 
not remind the imbeciles of their imbecility."  But Hermione is still 
relatively young, and hasn't learned the patience that (usually) 
comes with age.

And Hogwarts has got to be such an amazing place for her, especially 
as a Muggle.  All of that information and all of that wisdom, adults 
who understand her and who can both encourage her and rein her in too.

Indeed, she's such an interesting character, even as a young woman,
because she moves between so many competing, and even contradictory,
spaces:  between the teachers and students at Hogwarts, between the
different groups at Hogwarts, between the magical and Muggle worlds. 

And of course, between house elves and everyone else.  ;-)


jujube (what do you mean I'm over-identifying with Hermione?)