Hermione Research Paper

Zhenchi Tu
200345838
ENGL 110
Instructor: Karthryn MacLennan
Research Essay
2 April 2017
Hermione, A Feminist Figure Character in the Harry Potter and Philosopher’s Stone Hermione is the most important female character in the Harry Potter and Philosopher’s Stone by J.K Rowling. Although, the whole book tries to show Harry’s heroic traits, the expressions of Hermione changes stereotypes of the female character. When they meet dangers, she is the first one to calm down. Also, she is the most powerful wizard of three main characters. Hermione is a feminist is not only because her struggles, but also her feminine. She is sensitive and emotional, but she does not yield to her own weakness, and stands up to prove herself. J.K Rowling shows through

Oppositely, she is very emotion and sometimes fragile. For example, when Ron jealous about her on the train and talk bad about her, she feels hurt and cries in the girl’s bathroom. It shows Hermione is a very sensitive woman and cares about how people talk about her. Filippa Tsatsa agrees when he writes in his article, “Hermione is the only main character of the female sex. She is also the character who most often shows signs of feminine characteristics such as being self-conscious when it comes to her looks, overly emotional and vulnerable” (Filippa Tsatsa, 24). Basically, Tsatsa is saying Hermione is just like other females, sensitive and vulnerable. When she gets hurt she will hide and cry: but this is a woman’s nature, they are more emotion than males. However, this does not mean Hermione is weaker than other male characters. She is actually better than other students. When they are having class, she is always the first one who knows the answer to the teacher’s question. When three of them see the troll, two boys cannot find a way to defeat the troll. Hermione is the first calm down and teach Ron how to use “levitation” right. Although, this part of the book want to show how Harry regardless of the danger and tries to save Hermione, eventually is Hermione uses her smart to solve the crisis. Tsatsa argues that, “Hermione can also be seen as the strongest character of the

If people are born as a muggle, it would be difficult for them to integrate into the wizardry society. They will not be able to get top jobs due to discriminations against them. Just like females in the real world, people think they are weaker than males, and unable to get top jobs. Hermione is a muggle, at the same time, she is a girl. J.K Rowling set this background on her willing to connect the wizardry world and the real world. Hermione is in the vulnerable group either in the two worlds, but she does not give up fighting. Hermione wants equality as a muggle, which also shows the inequality of wizardry world and allusion inequality in the real world. When Hermione sees the problems, she will not hide, but solve the problem. In THE WOMEN IN HARRY POTTER’S WORLD: A FEMINIST PERSPECTIVE by Julia Greif quotes, “When Hermione sees a problem, there is a will for her to not only solve the issue at hand but also to become the most knowledgeable person. The end of the first novel is one of many examples of how Rowling creates Hermione as a problem solver and a doer” (Julia Greif 32). This shows that Grief believes Hermione can be a problem solver by her knowledge. When they go to the trap door, she uses her knowledge of the philosopher’s stone to know the stone is hidden behind the trap door. Hermione has more knowledge of magic because she has born as a muggle and she does not want others