Hermione's Girl Power


Male characters in the Harry Potter books, significantly outnumber female characters. By the end of the seven-book series, that ratio is almost two to one (Heilman 141). This statistic may cause readers to wonder why J.K. Rowling, a female author, would not highlight females more throughout the series. Hermione Granger, the leading female heroine in Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone, exhibits strong feminist traits, however, her contributions are often minimalized due to her implied role as Harry’s trusted aide. As such, Hermione uses her knowledge and skill to further Harry’s journey, but not necessarily her own. (Sörensen).

While she is portrayed as an advisor, Hermione truly embodies qualities of the Huntress archetype. Hemione is autonomous, independent, adventurous, courageous, and is comfortable with who she is (Micallef). She models having healthy self-esteem and is willing to take risks to reach her goals (Cramer). Hermione plays a big part in many of Harry’s victories throughout the series. Melanie Cordova suggests that Hermione’s story being shared through Harry’s eyes dulls its importance to the plot. She also shares from Elizabeth E. Heilman, in "Blue Wizards and Pink Witches: Representations of Gender Identity and Power": It is not simply who is present, but, also, how characters are portrayed and what they do that matters" (Cordova).

Because Hermione’s involvement is told from Harry’s point of view, much of what is shared is dependent on what Harry and Ron think of her at the time. When they need her help, she is wise and capable; however, when she outshines them in class she is teased. Regardless, Hermione is always available to Harry and Ron to help them out of whatever mess they encountered with her wits and knowledge (Sörensen).

From the outset of the story, Hermione often finds herself in the position of keeping Harry and Ron safe despite themselves. In “Chapter Nine: The Midnight Duel”, the trio and Neville are debriefing after they have encountered a three headed dog, evaded being caught Filch and Peeves, and made it safely back in Gryffindor Hall; Hermione points out that the dog was doing more there than being held captive. Where Harry is clueless, assuming the dog was standing on the floor, Hermione wasn’t, and she shares an important piece of information with the group: “No, not the floor. It was standing on a trapdoor. It is obviously guarding something” (162). Fed up with the boys for the evening, she makes her exit, nonplussed by nighttime adventure: “I hope you’re pleased with yourselves. We could have all been killed – or worse, expelled. Now, if you don’t mind. I’m going to bed” (162). Later, whilst researching Nicholas Flannel and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Hermione is irritated by the boy’s ignorance, she retorts: “Oh, honestly, don't you two read?” and then proceeds to show them the passage on Flannel (219). Again, using her intelligence to help move the journey to the next stage. Charlie Griffin clarifies her irritation: "Hermione is light years ahead of Ron and Harry in her maturity and often has to spell things out for them”.

Without Hermione Granger’s intelligence, strength, and courage, Harry would not have been as successful as he was when facing challenges in The Sorcerer’s Stone, as well as the later books of the series. Hermione plays a crucial role in helping Harry progress on his journey.


  


Works Cited

Cordova, Melanie J. “‘Because I’m a “Girl”, I Suppose!’: Gender Lines and Narrative Perspective in      ‘Harry Potter.’” Mythlore, vol. 33, no. 2 (126), 2015, pp. 19–33. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/26815987. Accessed 7 Jul. 2022.

Hall, Melody. May 20, 2022. “7 Reasons Hermione Granger Was Actually Harry Potter’s Best Friend.” Screen Rant.https://screenrant.com/reasons-hermione-granger-harry-potter-best-freind/. Accessed 5 Jul. 2022.

Cramer, Hidi. “Understanding the Seven Feminine Archetypes.” HubPages.
https://discover.hubpages.com/relationships/Understanding-the-Seven-Feminine-Archetypes. Accessed 5 Jul. 2022.

Griffin, Charlie. “Harry Potter: 15 Archetypes of the Main Characters.” Screen Rant. https://screenrant.com/harry-potter-archetypes-main-characters. Accessed 7 Jul. 2022.

Heilman, Elizabeth. Critical Perspectives on Harry Potter. Routledge, NY 2009

Micallef, Samantha. “Feminine Archetypes.” Sacred Feminine Alchemy. https://www.sacredfemininealchemy.com.au/feminine-archetypes. Accessed 7 Jul. 2022.

Rowling, J. K. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.

Sörensen, Johanna. “Archetypes and Stereotypes in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter Series.” Götesborgs Universitet. https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/handle/2077/35062/gupea_2077_35062_1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y. Accessed 7 Jul. 2022.




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