[HPforGrownups] Hermione as Stategist (was: Harry as Leader (was: What has Harry learned?)

[Magda Grantwich]

No: HPFGUIDX 127458

> Betsy: 
> SPEW is another perfect example.  Hermione's plan is a good one. 
> Create awareness with Hogwarts students, disseminating her 
> ideas throughout the British WW; free the Hogwarts' 
> house-elves, creating an army of rights demanding rebels; 
> and, I imagine, start bringing pressure to bare on the 
> Ministry with the support of like-minded witches and wizards 
> and newly empowered house-elves.  Big problem is, no one 
> listens to her.  Not even fellow Muggle-borns, who should be 
> expected to have at least a small amount of similar revulsion 
> at the idea of an enslaved race, join SPEW.  Hermione can 
> throw a great party, but she can't get anyone to come.


Ah, Hermione!  The typical teenager discovering (gasp!) that the
world isn't just.

Hermione's problem with SPEW isn't her intentions; it's her
infantilizing of the house elves.  She can relate to their situation
only if she can see them as victims who need her help.  Not
surprisingly the elves don't see themselves as victims in their
situation as elves (although they'd probably agree that individual
elves often get a rotten deal from their masters).

When it comes to creatures that are obviously not victims like
centaurs, Hermione's sensitivity takes a vacation.  Something that is
very common with teens, I hasten to add; I have spent my career in
the charitable sector and JKR's portrayal of Hermione is so perfect
that it makes my teeth hurt.

Magda


		
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