Hermione Granger, Feminism In Harry Potter

Although the roles of hero and anti-hero in the Harry Potter saga are attributed to two men – Harry and Voldemort respectively – JK Rowling wanted to dedicate some space to women in her books. Thus he shows us that even if it is the protagonist is Harry, the common thread of the story is not always in the hands of men or children. Today we will talk about Hermione Granger, but there are many heroines of this saga :

• Minerva McGonagall : Professor who stands out for her courage and intelligence.
• Luna Lovegood : eccentric and original, but also courageous.
• Molly Weasley : the perfect embodiment of maternal values, warrior and courageous, capable of facing anyone to defend her loved ones.
• Nymphadora Tonks : a member of the Order of the Phoenix, she carries out a “really not very feminine” profession: she works as an auror (particularly skilled wizards who fight against the dark arts) for the Ministry of Magic.

• Lily Evans : Harry’s mother, the one who managed to save him from death at the hands of Voldemort.
• Ginny Weasley : demonstrates great intelligence and great skill for the sport, successfully establishing herself in the world of Quidditch.

Rowling not only introduces us to heroin women, but also terrible antagonists like Bellatrix Lestrange, the mad and eternal lover of the Dark Lord, capable of sowing chaos and terror, of unscrupulously killing anyone who intrudes on his dark plans.

Yet there is someone even more hated than Voldemort himself; we are talking about Dolores Umbridge, a true tyrant in the service of the Ministry of Magic. It is the embodiment of abuse of power, dictatorship, ambition and unmotivated evil.

Each of these characters deserves an in-depth study, but the character that stands out above all is that of Hermione Granger, who has become a new icon of feminism, as well as Emma Watson, the actress who brings the character to life in the films. We have seen her grow, change and transform into a fundamental pillar without which, of course, Harry and Ron would not have survived in the first book.

Hermione Granger, JK Rowiling and her origins

It is easy to find parallels between the characters in the saga and the author. Harry and Rowling were born on the same day and Hermione Granger’s patronus is a nutria, the writer’s favorite pet. The patronus is a spell that is averted by pronouncing the Expecto Patronum , which serves to drive out the dementors, but also acts as a messenger.

Dementors are soul-sucking creatures, casting shadows on everything they encounter; when you are close to them, the saddest memories come to mind, along with negative thoughts, making anyone vulnerable.

To create them, Rowling drew inspiration from her depression and decided to devise powerful spells to chase them away; to ward off these curses, the magician or sorceress must focus all their energies on positive memories, on moments that can beat the sadness evoked by the dementors.

If the spell is formulated correctly, an intense light will come out of the wand and take on the form of an animal. Each patronus has its own meaning, so Rowling decided to entrust Hermione with a nutria to create a bond between the two of them. The Patronus Ron is a Jack Russell terrier, famous breed of dog for his tendency to chase and hunt otters.

Nutria is associated with feminine energy, emotions and empathy. Hermione is one of the most empathetic characters in the entire Harry Potter universe . This is the character who most worries about the situation of the house elves, creatures enslaved by humans and who can only be released if the master gives them a garment to wear.

Not even the wisest characters are able to empathize with these creatures; even at Hogwarts there are house elves who work in the kitchen. Hermione Granger herself founds an association in favor of their liberation from slavery and sews clothes for them to free them. In doing so, it becomes evident how Harry’s friend cares about all the creatures of the wizarding world, injustices and inequalities.

She herself experienced the effects of discrimination and prejudice on her own skin. She is the daughter of two Muggles (half wizards, half human) and, therefore, has suffered harassment and insults from some Hogwarts companions who consider her a “half blood”.

Hermione’s role in the saga

Hermione Granger is present in all the important events of the saga: her role is fundamental. Already in the first book we perceive his vibrant intelligence, moreover thanks to his thirst for knowledge he is able to find solutions to any adversity that arises. Her ability to see clearly even in the deepest darkness of situations will allow her to solve any puzzle, any problem.

In the last book, she makes the worst of sacrifices, proving to have very clear her ideals and deep courage. The war is about to begin, the places where she grew up are no longer safe. Hermione fears that the Death Eaters could harm her family, so she erases the memory of her parents, making them believe they never had a daughter; he doesn’t know if one day he will be able to break the spell and restore their memory.

At the same time, it would have been impossible for Harry and Ron to survive the escape without the help of Hermione, who had foreseen hard times approaching which is why she decides to equip herself with a camping tent and an infinity of objects that can be helpful.

However, Hermione is not perfect either, and although she does not give particular importance to her physical appearance, she is very insecure and casts a spell to shrink her teeth, which are too large and subject to mockery. He also feels jealous when Ron begins a relationship with Lavander and acts irrationally.

On the other hand Rowiling wanted Hermione Granger to be a mirror to reflect on, a model for little girls ; all the girls, in some moments, feel insecure, but in the end they find their way again.

For this reason, she introduced a little love story and some insecurities into the character’s development that made her more real, more imperfect. Hermione will learn to accept herself, to be true to her ideals regardless of what others think.

A fairer future

19 years later, Hermione is the only one of the main trio to have completed her studies and become Minister of Magic, a position that corresponds to that of the Prime Minister in the world of Muggles. She is married to Ron, with whom she has two children: Rose and Hugo Granger-Weasley; this double surname is not present in the children of other characters, such as Harry or Draco Malfoy.

We don’t know why the surname Granger goes first, but probably only alphabetically. Yet it demonstrates, as seemingly a meaningless fact, that any change, however small, is important in building a better world.

Both surnames, joined by a hyphen, are an example of an equal relationship, as opposed to the English tradition, in which the woman takes the surname of her husband and the children will have only one surname, which is that of the father.

Dumbledore’s army formed by Hermione Granger

During her time at Hogwarts, Hermione proves to possess strong leadership. Forms Dumbledore’s Army to allow students to learn how to defend themselves against Umbridge’s ban on teaching defense against the dark arts.

Her concern for equal rights and her sensitivity towards all living beings makes us think that with her at the head of the Ministry, better times await the World of Magic; times full of changes, but above all more equitable and just for everyone.

Despite the “impurity” of her blood, she manages to demonstrate that by committing everything is possible, overcoming an origin that penalizes her in many respects. Hermione becomes a good example for the women, young women and girls who are preparing to read the saga; it goes against the stereotype of the sentimental woman and opens the door to equality.