Hermione's Hypocrisy?(long)

[a_svirn]

No: HPFGUIDX 129099


Thanks for the very thought-provoking debate! 
> 
> All the best,
> Sophie

a_svirn now:

It sounds as if you are going to close the discussion, but I am not 
ready yet! Maybe it's immature of me ;-)


> Sophierom: 
> 
> I don't think Hermione has a problem recognizing those emotions.  
The
> thing that's difficult for her to understand is why the house-
elves,
> particularly Kreacher, would be so loyal to people who mistreat 
them
> and belittle them.  For Hermione, loyalty is something reserved for
> those who offer her the respect she feels she deserves.  For 
Kreacher,
> I would suspect loyalty is something given without condition, for
> loyalty and service are what define him as a house-elf. This is a
> major cultural gap, and I think it is complex.  Often, Western 
society
> tends to assume that certain values are universal, but in fact, 
other
> societies often place different emphasis on service, individualism,
> duty, and loyalty.  So, while those concepts in and of themselves 
may
> not be difficult to grasp, what is difficult is understanding how
> particular cultures value those concepts and why they give them 
that
> value.  If you find it easy to explain how and why different 
cultures
> prioritize, then perhaps that's because you've had more experience
> with cultural difference and diversity.  But I don't think it's 
easy
> for most people (teenagers or adults) to understand fully why 
people
> from different cultures make the choices they do.  So again, it's
> not that Hermione can't recognize Kreacher's emotions; it's
> that she can't understand why he is so loyal to the Black family 
and
> therefore so bitter toward the new residents of Grimmauld Place.
> Again, from her perspective, the Blacks did nothing to gain 
Kreacher's
> loyalty; from his perspective, perhaps, there was never any 
question
> of loyalty being gained.  It was automatic. 

a_svirn:
I couldn't agree more with everything you are saying about cultural 
diversity and a trouble people generally having in understanding it. 
My point is that Hermione doesn't TRY to understand. She just 
dismisses it. 

> Sophierom:
> 
<snip>

...I think we need to look
> at the bigger-picture Hermione. (Yes, her interactions with the
> house-elves tell us something about Hermione's character, but she
> is too complex a character, I'd argue, to be summed up only through
> her interactions.)  

a_svirn:

How else you can judge one's character if not through one's 
interactions?  It's not like we are capable of Legilimency


> Sophierom:
We need to ask WHY Hermione has "too
> blunt a will" in this case.  Is it because she wants to gain a name
> for herself as liberator of the house-elves? We've seen no 
indication
> of that.  <snip> 

a_svirn:

Yes, I think, we have. First of all the way she goes about the 
business of defending Elves. After an all too brief hunger strike 
she spends extra hours in the library. One would have thought she is 
doing what she usually does best – researching, but no! She is 
making the SPEW badges. She draws up a list of members and makes 
Harry and Ron treasurer and secretary. Strange, isn't it? She 
delights in developing this stupid bureaucracy and inventing 
ridiculous names yet she doesn't spare even a fleeting thought on 
how elves come to be enslaved and what kind magic is involved. I do 
think it's because she doesn't really interested in elves; she just 
wants to prove her point.  And then in the OotP when they are 
discussing future careers she confesses that she is not really 
interested in Banking or in being an Auror, but wants to do 
something *really* worthwhile, like continuing the SPEW onto the new 
level. It does look like she sees herself as a budding politician 
and wants to capitalize on the house-elves situation.  

> Sophierom:
> 
> Again, playing devil's advocate ...;-D  Ripe age of 15? Sirius is 
more
> than twice her age, and he's not empathetic. 

a_svirn:

Well, Sirius is not empathetic period, so he's not a really good 
example. Had he lived a hundred, he would still have been less than 
empathetic.

 Sophierom:

<snip>
 As someone who works with teenagers,
> I know that it's all too "cool" to be apathetic.  It would be 
easier
> to be like Ron, who shrugs and says "nutters." 

a_svirn:

Actually I don't think that Ron's being is apathetic. I think that 
his or Harry's attitude to elves much more mature, in fact, than 
Hermione's, because they, and especially Harry, do see elves as 
persons. I think it's through Harry, not through Hermione JKR is 
trying to convey her message. 

Harry may not pause to rationalise his own behaviour and analyse 
social "issues" but he reacts to elves as he would to other 
individuals. Dobby, for instance, he likes. He may be furious with 
him on occasion or quarrel with him, but that's how he would behave 
with his human friends too. And they have indeed become friends. In 
the Christmas Blanket episode Hermione tries to ape the historical 
exchange of socks between Dobby and Harry, yet she completely misses 
the true meaning of the event. It is not Harry's "kindness" that 
matters here, but the fact that Dobby is the one who initiates the 
whole thing. In doing so he establishes himself – albeit hesitantly 
at first – as a Harry's social equal. 

Winky –  Harry pities her, of course – well who wouldn't? But he 
wants to steer clear off her, because even though he recognises her 
feeling for what they are – shame, love, grief – he also knows that 
he can't really comfort her. After all, telling her that the world 
would be a better place without the bunch of Crouches in it isn't 
really an option.

Kreacher – Harry hates him, because the wretch adds to his beloved 
godfather's misery. He recognises him as the enemy and he is the 
only one – apart from DD –  who senses the potential danger. Again, 
he sees a person in Kreacher – an unpleasant one, granted, one he 
would just as soon not to be acquainted with, but still an 
individual with feelings. 

But Hermione does not see Kreacher as a person, I'm afraid. You keep 
saying that she learns to empathise, but in reality she would treat 
Winky and Kreacher (and probably even Dobby) with equal "kindness" 
because for her they a very much one like another.  She treats 
Kreacher rather like a pet; an old one who's outlived his 
usefulness, but still has a claim on his master's protection. Yet 
his is not a pet, he IS a person, and his affections cannot be 
bought with a piece of snack and a nice leather collar. This is very 
simple really, and something, both Harry and Ron are able to 
understand. It is a breathtaking arrogance on her part to suppose 
that she can make up for his pain and humiliation by paltry gifts or 
sooth his frustration by her oppressive friendliness. Harry might 
not put it into so many words, but he knows it by instinct. 
Hermione, I think, is going to learn it hard way. 
a_svirn