Hermione's Hypocrisy?(was:Re: Kreacher - workable solutions?) (long)

[a_svirn]

No: HPFGUIDX 129083


> Sophierom:
> 
> a_svirn, I think you're right to point out Hermione's inability to
> acknowledge Kreacher's true feelings and motivations.  However, I
> strongly disagree that this means that "she doesn't give a damn 
about
> Kreacher" or that she's being dishonest or hypocritical.  

a_svirn:

I didn't say that she is "callous" hypocrite who doesn't give a damn 
about house-elves. I only said that her attitude towards Kreacher 
was at the moment of OotP is hypocritical. As for other elves it's a 
bit more complicated than that. Her indignation on Winky's behalf 
for instance was quite genuine, but again! she failed to recognise 
her feeling for the Crouches for what they were, and blamed Winky's 
unhappiness on her being "brain-washed". Well, she might be 
brainwashed, but it doesn't make her grief any less acute. 

Sophierom:
<snip>
> I'd argue that Hermione steps up to defend Kreacher (and she 
continues
> to do so, despite the fact that he calls her a Mudblood on several
> occasions) because she knows what it's like to be thought of as a
> "nutter" for not being "normal".  Granted, she can't understand
> Kreacher's point of view, conceding to Ron that Kreacher "is a bit
> strange," but the fact that she's standing up for him suggests she 
is
> concerned about his feelings.  She doesn't understand his feelings;

a_svirn:

And what is so difficult about Kreacher's point of view to 
understand? It's not like his feelings about the whole situation are 
very complex. Intense, yes. Deep, – yes. But not terribly difficult 
to grasp. You certainly don't require a degree in Psychology to 
recognise pure hatred, humiliation, grief and longing. If you want 
to, that is. Of course if you don't, well, you just dismiss it 
as "strangeness". 


Sophierom:
<snip>

> I'm taking a bit of a leap here, but I think if we look at 
Hermione's
> entire character and not just her interaction with the house-
elves, we
> can begin to see a young woman who is grappling with issues of
> identity and culture and who believes that she can understand the
> house-elf plight because of her own struggles to fit into Wizarding
> culture.  Note that we are first introduced to the term "mudblood" 
in
> the same book (CoS) that introduces us to house-elves.  I don't 
think
> this was coincidental. 

a_svirn:

Ah, but doesn't her "interaction with the house-elves" tells us 
volumes about her character? I think it is best summed up by 
Shakespearian phrase about Longeville "Too sharp a wit mutch'd with 
too blunt a will". A very, very dangerous combination. She might be 
struggling with "issues" of identity and such, but she is not really 
interested in *persons*. She applies her "blunt will" to fulfil her 
agenda and dismisses anything that doesn't quite fit. 

Sophierom:


> 
> So, I don't think it's fair to label Hermione a callous hypocrite 
who
> doesn't give a damn about the house-elves.  I think she's slowly
> learning how to be empathetic.  At the age of 15, she's gotten to 
the
> point where she can say, I understand how I would feel in this
> situation.  I'd hate to be a house-elf, looked down upon and
> mistreated because of who I am.  Therefore, they must want what I
> want: my definition of respect and freedom. 

a_svirn:

Doesn't look like she's got really far at the ripe age of 15, does 
it? Especially if you compare her progress in empathy with her other 
achievements. Still I hope you are right and she'll learn. 

a_svirn