Hermione Granger
Within seconds of meeting Hermione Granger’s character in the first book Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone we can already see how much she loves to learn when she says “I’ve learned all our course books by heart” (Rowling 105). In fact, one of Hermione’s most prominent characteristics throughout the entire series is her love of logic and information. Whenever she does not know an answer to something she makes a quick run to the library to do some research on the subject. According to Smith, this gives Hermione not a female characteristic, but a masculine one. In this way, J.K. Rowling has already given a female features that have started to challenge the female stereotype. Hermione’s prowess for knowledge is one feature that makes her a strong female character. Hermione is also very gifted at performing spells as well. Already as a first-year student who has not begun any of her classes, she has tried
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some rudimentary spells which she has been able to perform perfectly. This already establishes her equality to, if not her superiority over, the boys she is talking to because she has already learned more spells and has been able to perform them. Usually men are seen as the dominant figures who tower over females with their knowledge and skill. However, J.K. Rowling breaks this stereotype by having Ron and Harry as the subordinate figures to Hermione. Hermione saves Ron and Harry on countless occasions, even by the first book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, she saves them from Devil's Snare by taking "out her wand...mutter[ing] something and [sending] a jet of the same bluebell flames she had used on Snape at the plant" (Rowling 278) which quickly made the plant release the boys so they could continue on their mission.
David Wallace says that male characters are usually the leaders. They are the ones who take control and thrust themselves into the action. While males can be seen doing this in the Harry Potter series, there are also many females that can be seen doing this as well. For example, in the fourth book, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Hermione takes charge by spear-heading “S-P-E-W…the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare” (Rowling 224), an organization to try to stop the unequal treatment of House Elves in the Wizarding World. But not only does she do this, but she is also the one who comes up with the idea for Harry to teach their peers Defense Against the Dark Arts in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. She organizes
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the meetings, comes up with a way for them to communicate without anyone knowing, and does a spell to make sure no one will betray their trust without horrible consequences. In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, we see her powerful spell abilities when she does a Protean Charm “‘But that’s… that’s N.E.W.T. standard, that is’” (Rowling 398). The Protean Charm is a very difficult spell that when performed correctly, as Hermione's was, links several objects together for a common purpose. In this case she linked Galleons together so that Harry could change the date of when Dumbledore's Army was to meet on his Galleon, and then everyone else's would change as well.
Hermione is a perfect example of a progressive female character in the Harry Potter series, however she is not the only example of one. Progressive female characters can come in many different forms with many different characteristics. According to Wallace, Hermione exemplified the masculine characteristics such as love of knowledge and being able to take control. This calls into question whether there is such a thing as separate female and male characteristics or if everyone is made up of a combination of them. Regardless, Hermione's traits make her a progressive female character and a feminist. As a feminist she not only sticks up for her self but she also sticks up for others. She creates a movement for house elves for their unfair treatment. She identifies with the treatment the house elves are getting because she has been treated in the same way more than once in her life. Hermione fights for herself and others in the hopes that one day everyone will be given equal rights and treated equally.
Hermione is a perfect example of a progressive female character in the Harry Potter series, however she is not the only example of one. Progressive female characters can come in many different forms with many different characteristics. According to Wallace, Hermione exemplified the masculine characteristics such as love of knowledge and being able to take control. This calls into question whether there is such a thing as separate female and male characteristics or if everyone is made up of a combination of them. Regardless, Hermione's traits make her a progressive female character and a feminist. As a feminist she not only sticks up for her self but she also sticks up for others. She creates a movement for house elves for their unfair treatment. She identifies with the treatment the house elves are getting because she has been treated in the same way more than once in her life. Hermione fights for herself and others in the hopes that one day everyone will be given equal rights and treated equally.