On Moral Compasses (was:Re: Snape as Neville's teacher...)

[lupinlore]

No: HPFGUIDX 168668

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, dracojadon at ... wrote:
So who's going to point out to  
> her that she's being hypocritical and not very nice before some  
> terrible punishment falls on her head (as predicted: http:// 
> www.mugglenet.com/editorials/thenorthtower/nt43.shtml)? Harry 
spent  
> much of HBP deliberately doing not that. How far aware of her  
> behaviour is Hermione? Is _she_ in need of a subplot on redemption?
> 
> Jadon
>

Hermione can certainly come across as a negative character -- being 
shrewish, manipulative, shrill, arrogant, and generally 
insufferable.  But is this the way JKR sees her?  And even if JKR 
sees her this way, will she "do" anything about it?

First of all, there is a practical question here.  JKR only has one 
book left, and that book has so much in the way of mandatory plot 
work to be done (horcruxes, Voldemort finale, etc) that she is going 
to have to be VERY selective as to what kind of discretionary plot 
threads she includes.  The Hermione situation is one of those that, 
sadly, probably should have been dealt with in HBP or even OOTP.  It 
may very well be too late to get into such a complicated and 
fundamental issue with someone who is, after all, a secondary 
character.  Perhaps any Ron/Hermione subplot that develops will allow 
some degree of attention to Hermione's morals, or perhaps a house-
unity thread would allow the same.  But is there time for the kind of 
dramatic and intense moral realignment that many seem to want?  What 
would trigger such a realignment?  And how could it be done without 
making the adults seem like even bigger inept morons than they are 
already?  Oh, it's yet another Dumbledorian "it's better if they 
learn it themselves" kind of policy?  Well, I think that would be 
silly beyond belief.  Not to mention it would be preaching to the 
point of inducing nausea.

Secondly, it is to be remembered that Hermione is JKR's Mary Sue.  
Criticism of Hermione would to an extent be criticism of herself.  
Some authors are into that.  Is JKR?  I don't think we have much 
indication one way or the other.

Finally there is the problem that JKR is ruled by her outlines as by 
an iron straitjacket.  So much that fascinates fandom was not 
anticipated in her outlines, and ergo is not an important issue in 
the Potterverse.  If JKR did not anticipate the reaction to Hermione 
and the Trio in general in some quarters -- and I think it's likely 
she did not -- then it may well end up finessed along with many other 
important issues.

We will see.


Lupinlore