Character Study of Hermione in ‘Harry Potter’

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Department of English

Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University

Name: Gohil Devikaba J

Roll No: 05

Paper No: 13

Paper Name: The New Literature

Assignment Topic: Character Study of Hermione in ‘Harry Potter’

Character study of Hermione in ‘Harry Potter’:

‘Young girls are told you have to be delicate princess. Hermione taught them that you can be the warrior’

-        Emma Watson (Granger)

This is the quote by Emma Watson who played the role of Hermione Granger in the films ‘Harry Potter’ and the series. ‘Harry Potter’ is fantasy series written by J.K.Rowling. Rowling herself lived the life ‘rags to riches’ and that is why we can see this influence on her book ‘Harry potter’. J.K.Rowling said for the character of Hermione.

"...none of the characters in the books are directly taken from life. Real people did inspire a few of them, but of course once they are on the page they become something completely different. But, yeah, Hermione is a caricature of what I was when I was eleven — a real exaggeration, I wasn't that clever — Hermione is a borderline genius at points — and I hope I wasn't that annoying...sometimes she is an incredible know-it-all." (Wikia)

This book also falls under the category of Children Literature. In very simple words, Children Literature means where the hero is a child and he fought against the evils as a child. It also includes fantasy, imagination and that is why we can say that children literature is also Speculative Literature. Here also we will see some magic and the basic theme of love and death and good winning over evil. It is true that ‘Harry potter’ falls under the category of Children Literature but with this, this story also provide us the psychological depth of the life very creatively. Direct way or indirect way the female characters are at the centre, be it Hermione, Lily any other professor at Hogwarts school. Their role are also important as a professor, as a student, as a friend or as a mother. Here I have tried to explore the character of Hermione.

Hermione is described as having bushy brown hair and brown eyes. Hermione's name is taken from William Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale, when I searched for the meaning of Hermione’s name in the result I got this:

The name itself is indicating that how powerful she must be. It also says that this is Greek baby name. Well if we notice the other meaning of the name then we will find which means well born, stone. The name is powerful but at some extend it also gives us some negative connotation to it.    

Harry, Ron and Hermione these are the important characters of the book ‘Harry Potter’. Hermione is one of the important characters of the book and later turned into movies also. Though the hero of the book is Harry himself. They three are the best friends at the Hogwarts School. They three were belonging from Gryffindor house. Gryffindor values courage, bravery, nerve, and chivalry. Its mascot is the lion, and its colours are scarlet and gold. Sorting Hat sings a song, each student in turn is seated upon the stool in front of the rest of the student body. The Hat is placed on the student's head, where upon it examines his or her mind and assigns them to one of the four Houses based on abilities, personality, and preferences. Hermione got the seat in that house because of her ability and personality.

The admission process at Hogwarts is something like this. According to the novels, admission to Hogwarts is selective, in that children who show magical ability will automatically gain a place. Letters to Muggle-born witches and wizards, who may not be aware of their powers and are unfamiliar with the concealed wizarding world, are delivered in person by a member of Hogwarts staff, who then explains to the parents or guardians about magical society, and reassures them regarding this news. Here the reference of Muggle blood come which means Muggle-born is the term applied to wizards and witches who come from non-magical families. 

According to Rowling, the average Hogwarts annual intake for Muggle-borns is 25%. Supremacists typically believe Muggle-borns to be magically deficient, despite examples to the contrary, such as Hermione Granger and Lily Evans, who are exceptionally skilled in their abilities. Hermione was also coming from the non-magical background like Lily Evans, mother of Harry Potter. Hermione’s parents were dentists at London. She was not knowing about her magical power and raised as a normal girl but when she was 11 years old she come to know that she is a witch and taken at Hogwarts School. She is portrayed in the as well as in the movies as the beautiful girl.

She is very much interested in her studies that she always likes to read the books at library.

Harry Potter: "But why's she got to go to the library?"

Ronald Weasley: "Because that's what Hermione does. When in doubt, go to the library." (Wikia)

Whenever she had a doubt she always visits the library. Not only when she is in doubt but also to help Harry and Ron she visits the library and helps her friends. She is portrayed as beautiful, simple but studious among all the other characters. Though Harry is the hero but Hermione is more intelligent and powerful at the spell of magic as compared to both these boys.

If we search for the meaning of the word ‘Witch’ then in result we will find something like this:’ a woman thought to have evil magic powers, popularly depicted as wearing a black cloak and pointed hat, and flying on a broomstick.’ This is the typical image of witch in our mind. We also find different meaning of the word like she-devil, hag, crone, harpy etc. which gives negative connotation to the word but here Rowling has created a character like Hermione, and through this character she tried to give positive impact of the word ‘Witch’ in our mind as a reader.

Hermione enjoyed her years as a pupil at Hogwarts, and took assignments, classes, and school rules very seriously. She was often described as "the brightest witch of her age". Her favourite subject was initially Charms, and later Arithmancy, and the only areas of study that gave her trouble were Flying and Divination.

It is true that she coming from the non-magical family background but all the she is abused and tortured as ‘Muggle-blood’. Whenever the time comes she is always there to help her friends Harry and Ron. Whether to solve a riddle or to solve a puzzle or to help Harry in destroying the Horcruxes. Sometimes she also never even care for her life also. Her observation is also more powerful than Harry and Ron. We come to know about her this ability when they three face the dog for the first time in first part of the movie. She was the first one among three of them that the dog is protecting something and he is standing on the door. She was not the best friend of Harry and Ron until she was saved by troll’s attack by both of them and remain the best friend of both of them.

Here we also have to think about the other part that though she is emerging as the strong character among our eyes as the reader but she is not ‘The Hero’ of the novel. We always will put her after Harry Potter. The other thing is that Dumbledore he gave a book to Hermione and the tools to Harry and Ron which again shows the typical portrayal of a girl. Well, second interpretation we can also do that only she is enough intelligent to read the book. And his faith in Hermione is also true. The second thing is that in the last part of the movies it is showed that she is carrying a purse a magical purse in which everything she needs come out. Which again carry on the idea that in a girl’s purse we will find everything - the typical idea.

It is true that she is brilliant among all but she yet not got enough space like the other female characters and especially like Lily potter. She was also strong and stronger than Harry’s father and it her love which was creating armour around Harry and was protecting Harry till the end.

Conclusion:

It is true that Hermione is emerging as strong character but she is not the lead character of the story. The second thing is that she is always targeted for her weakness she is never appreciated for her strength, Even, Ron also admits that without Hermione they were not able to survive for a day but even then he is not appreciating her face to face. And the other limitation is that like other characters here Hermione is also objectified but in more controlled way. At some extend she becomes the reason of the rivalry between both the friends. But the good thing is that she is not weak point of the story rather she is the strong bond of the story. She is very logical in her way of thinking. But still all the time she is being abused by remembering her that she is Muggle-blood. It is true that she is smart among three of them but she is always pointed about her weakness rather than her ability and positivity. 

Works Cited

Granger, Hermione. Feminism in Harry Potter. n.d. 25 3 2016. <http://feminisminharrypotter.weebly.com/hermione-granger.html>.

Wikia. n.d. 25 3 2016. <http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Hermione_Granger>.

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