Feminist Reading in Hermione’s character

• Name – Italiya Shital D• Roll no – 29• M.A.Sem – 4• Paper no – 13 (New Literature)• Submitted to – Smt. S.B.Gardy Department of English

M.K. University Bhavnagar

Dependent character

One of the ways in which the authors attempt to represent strong and independent female characters is through the

change of roles i.e. through incorporating female characters in adventurous plots usually reserved for men. The change of

roles is one of the demands of existential feminism. In her work The Second Sex Simone de Beauvoir, one of the most prominent advocates of this theory describes women as the "others", as "the

other or weaker" sex and points out…

… that the best way for women to become equal to men is by accepting roles otherwise reserved for men, and not by accepting

roles of a lower order created by men. In accordance with this opinion female characters are given male roles in many adventure or fantasy literary works. However, it cannot be said that Rowling

employs this technique to represent Hermione, because Hermione’s power is not realized through typically male roles; also, she does

not attain androgynous characteristics conforming to the theories of radical feminists.

Con…

Ignorance and struggle

Hermione is the perfect example when

examining the feminist principles in

the novels. Throughout the series

she has many strengths and

weaknesses, but she is mostly criticized about

her weaknesses as a character.

EXAMPLE - Professor Snape completely ignored her in

favor of the boys in the class.

“Tell me, Miss Granger, are you incapable of restraining

yourself, or do you take pride in being an

insufferable know-it-all?”

Hermione Granger is agood example of the

many parts a character might represent because

she is a friend and a student, and she is portrayed in many

different lights throughout the

Novels.

Meredith Cherland points out “we see Hermione the

giggler, Hermione the helpful and capable,

Hermione the emotionallyexpressive, and Hermione

the clever”

ExampleHermione fights battles differently than do the

boys in the novels, she uses her reason and logic in order to solve problems and mysteries, and her

strength can be seen from this.

Intelligence

“The female characters have

crucial, nonstereotypical roles

within Harry Potter, and we can see this clearly by examining

the character of Hermione Granger.”

Cherland FryThe psychologist Gail Grynbaum states “Hermione isrepeatedly the truth-sleuth, comfortable in thelibrary, who finds the clue that makes sense of themystery at hand. She is always the one standing at acrossroads pointing the way.”

Hermione is that character that is smart, and she isable to figure out most of the secrets that no oneelse can. Her knowledge and brains save her andher friends throughout the series multiple times,showing her strength every time she uses herintellect to defeat a problem.

EXAMPLE

Harry James Potter, who had found himself a bookfull of potion cheat codes. The last thing he neededwas another helping hand. Hermione warned himabout using the book.

Hermione had figured out the source of Voldemort’s power, the one thing he couldn’t live without. His snake

She’d given Neville the most important job, because good leadership is about good delegation, and he arrived right on schedule, cutting the head off Voldemort’s snake

Hermione had been doxed by supporters of the cause she’d been fighting against for years: The Patriarchy.

As an ability to take quick decision

Thinker of plans

• Tale of three brother video

Care

Love

Ignorance

Emotionality

Hurt

Struggle

Intelligent that Harry and Ron

Power to take quick decision

Fight

Clever

Thinker than applier