Ginny VS Harry

[ahsonazmat]

No: HPFGUIDX 135121

D wrote:
>whenever Ginny appears on page 
> what I see is this smug girl who mocked other women behind their 
> back, who tell off a crying nurse in deep grief to *shut the hell 
up* 
> at funeral, who is catty that no one can dare to admire another 
> woman's beauty in front of her, who went up and arm against all 
>thosewho dare to tell off their men, yet would never compete with 
>them or jealous of them, despite she's a capable seeker herself, 
>because a perfect girl would never steal nor threaten Harry's 
>spotlight. A perfect girl is always so convenient like that! So 
>ideal! A true 'equal' in a non-threatening, supporting way.

Sienna wrote:

> When have we ever been privy to Ginny's evolution? We have always 
> merely been told that this is so. When have we ever seen Harry and 
> Ginny sharing their feelings on a significant emotional issue or 
> working in partnership with each other? 
...............
> That's why, in my opinion, Rowling was forced to overcompensate by 
> demonstrating how `perfect' Ginny was in HBP (which came across as 
> pretty much a Mary Sue). And this is not something that can be 
easily 
> explained away by the Harry-lens we are forced to wear as readers. 
> It is simply bad writing. 

 
     I have to say, I agree 110% with this analysis. It's the sort 
of material you read that makes you want to jump up and pump your 
fist, becuase you agree so whole-heartedy. But the admin. tells us 
to post something of substance, so I will add my 2 cents.

       Ginny, other than the victim-role she played in CoS, was 
never on equal footing in any dimension with the Harry-Ron-Hermione 
trio. She was not included in their adventures (PoA, and to a lesser 
degree GoF), she was not asked for feedback in their day-to-day 
curiosities, and she never seemed, in the first place, to have that 
nosy, gossiping mentality that we love our trio for possessing in 
such high volumes. 
     It seems to me that Ginny as a person doesn't have the 
qualities that make Harry Ron and Hermione so great, chief among 
them, humilty. Granted, our trio break the rules imposed on them 
more often than they eat or sleep, but they nonetheless have respect 
and a sense of equality, especially when it comes to their 
classmates, their peers. Ginny does not. She doesn't bat an eyebrow 
at telling off Hermione, hexing guys in the hallways, and even 
insulting her brother. She seems to have a smug, superior attitude, 
in that she doesn't have to listen to anybody; she doesn't have to 
take anything from anyone - sort of like women's rights gone off the 
deep end. Self-confidence is one thing, and arrogance (instincive 
and with no provocation) another. 
       I am somewhat surprised at JKR for saying Ginny and Harry are 
perfect, in either harmony or complementarity. Ginny seems, unlike 
many other heroes in the HP series, 2-dimensional: she takes great, 
convenient leaps in character development whenever the time calls 
for it. Okay, she's good-looking. Okay, she's skilled. But let's see 
her commit an act of charity, something nice for someone, without 
any positive consequences for her. Let's see her take the first step 
towards Fleur. Let's see something of moral fiber. After all, isn't 
this quality the reason we fell in love with Harry Potter for in the 
first place? It seems to me that Ginny embodies what Harry does not, 
and Harry what Ginny does not. This is not a complementarity. It is 
a polar dichotomy.

          - AA