Whenever an avid Harry Potter fan thinks about bushy-haired and bossy Hermione Granger, they immediately think of her most poignant trait: her intelligence. Throughout Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, as well as the other six books, she is the star student at Hogwarts. Whether it be studying ten weeks before final exams (a notion completely unrelatable to us college students), placing first in her class, or reading every book in the library, Hermione is dedicated to her pursuit of knowledge. In fact, she’s so dedicated to studying, one can only question why she wasn’t placed into Ravenclaw.
As the Sorting Hat sings, “In wise old Ravenclaw, if you’ve a ready mind, where those of wit and learning, will always find their kind” (118). This description seems to perfectly fit Hermione. From her first appearance in the novel, she emphasizes her dedication to knowledge. Before even stepping foot at Hogwarts, she declares, “I’ve tried a few simple spells just for practice and it’s all worked for me….I’ve learned all our course books by heart, of course. I just hope it will be enough” (105-106). Additionally, her time at Hogwarts is fully dedicated to studying, and she is always searching for more knowledge. She even declares, “I suppose Ravenclaw wouldn’t be too bad” (106).
Bridget discusses the interesting choice of the Sorting Hat to place Hermione in Gryffindor rather than Ravenclaw, which is known for the intelligence and wit of its members. This phenomenon demonstrated by Hermione of the tendency to question the placement of individuals in the correct houses is seen throughout the novel and serves to demonstrate the depth of the characters, as well as to foreshadow their future actions. When describing Neville Longbottom’s house placement, Rowling portrays him as clumsy and incompetent. Rowling describes him as “the boy who kept losing his toad,” as well as depicts him as “[falling] over on his way to the stool” and “[running] off still wearing [the hat]” (120). This representation of Neville as an awkward idiot is continued throughout the novel, leading the characters as well as the reader to question his placement in Gryffindor, which is known for its “daring, nerve, and chivalry” (118). Nonetheless, the Sorting Hat’s infallible placement of Neville in Gryffindor indicates a certain depth to Neville’s character that is not revealed until the end of the novel. After saving the Sorcerer’s Stone, Ron, Harry, and Hermione are rewarded with enough house points to tie them with Slytherin. However, it is the points Dumbledore awards to Neville that allow Gryffindor to win, indicating the extreme importance of Neville’s actions. Dumbledore applauds Neville and asserts, “It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends” (306). Neville’s placement in Gryffindor revealed a truth about his character that no one expected.
ReplyDeleteAs Bridget rightly points out, Hermione does seem like she should be in Ravenclaw. She is a very intelligent girl, getting “ a hundred and twelve percent” on her Charms exam (271). However, Hermione realizes that intelligence is not everything. During her first encounter with Ron and Harry Hermione says “I hope I’m in Gryffindor, it sounds by far the best … but I suppose Ravenclaw wouldn’t be too bad” (106). Just because Hermione is the smartest kid in her class does not mean that she wants to be defined by her intelligence. Ravenclaw would be her second choice for a house, not the first. Even though Hermione seems to be at first nothing but a “bossy know-it-all” to Harry and Ron, there are hints even at the beginning that Gryffindor is the right house for Hermione (164). Since the story is following Harry most closely it makes sense that it is only later, after Hermione has befriended Harry and Ron, that her Gryffindor traits become more apparent. After the mountain troll incident Hermione is more relaxed when it comes to rule breaking, like sneakily lighting a teacher on fire to try to save her friend. It is at the very end, when helping Harry confront Quirrell and Voldemort that Hermione sums up why she is in Gryffindor: “Books! And cleverness! There are more important things - friendship and bravery” (287). Hermione may be very intelligent, but she values Gryffindor traits above her smarts.
ReplyDeleteAs Bridget points out, Hermoine does seem to possess the qualities that represent Ravenclaw house and her Gryffindor traits are well hidden. I think JK Rowling sorts her the way she does in order to set up for a coming of age transformation. Hermoine starts out as a rather judgmental know it all. Before she has even arrived at Hogwarts, she is very critical of Ron’s meek attempt at magic asking questions like “ Are you sure that’s a real spell?” and “well, it’s not very good, is it?” while fully confident in her own preparations (Rowling 105). Once she is sorted, Hermoine forms relationships with the other Gryffindors and does not skip out on their adventures or secret missions whether she agrees with them or not. However, after mishaps occur, Hermoine is the first one to point out the flaws “ ‘I – told – you’ (…) ‘Malfoy tricked you’ Hermoine said to Harry. ‘You realize that, don’t you’” (159). These bursts of superiority ruin the first displays of her bravery and daring, the Gryffindor traits. As her relationships turn into genuine friendships, she seems to grow into her rightful place in her house. When Harry decides to go after the stone, Ron and Hermoine immediately offer to accompany him, but she is sure to “look through my books, there might be something useful” (271). Her Ravenclaw tendencies never completely disappear, but they become supporting material for her “daring, nerve, and chivalry” (118).
ReplyDeleteI mentioned in class yesterday that I wish the other houses (Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff) were more prominently featured in the series. I mean, how many relevant characters from those two houses can you think of that from The Sorcerer's Stone? I find the idea of Harry, Ron, and Hermione being from different houses an intriguing concept, and something Rowling probably at least considered (haven’t found anything online about that though). I suppose it would have put more of a strain on their relationship and made it difficult for them to always be together and communicating, but I also see it as another interesting layer the story could have had.
ReplyDeletePlenty has been written about Harry, Ron, and Hermione representing the other houses despite being in Gryffindor https://www.reddit.com/r/harrypotter/comments/1jnsan/the_trio_each_represent_one_of_the_other_houses/. Harry represents Slytherin, Ron Hufflepuff, and Hermione Ravenclaw. While these parallels are accurate, I find it tough to draw these three out as representations of houses they are not in. There are as many Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs as there are Gryffindors and Slytherins, and I wish the reader got to know more of them. The only prominent Hufflepuff student I can remember is Cedric Diggory from Goblet of Fire, and that’s the fourth book in the series. Maybe I’m just a bit disgruntled as a Hufflepuff myself. I just feel like my people are underrepresented.
Hermione Granger is definitely the brains of the main trio of friends and at Hogwarts in “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.” It is interesting to ponder why she is not in Ravenclaw based on the sorting hat’s song, “Or yet the wise old Ravenclaw, if you’ve a ready mind, where those of wit and learning, will always find their kind” (118). The amount of work Hermione puts into her studies suggest that Ravenclaw is the perfect house for her, what 11 year old student learns “all our course books by heart” (106)?
ReplyDeleteIf Hermione was in Ravenclaw, she would be like everyone else, she would never stand out the way that she does in Gryffindor and with Harry and Ron. Her only qualities that would be drawn out would be the skills she has for being a great student. I think that the sorting hat clearly states why Hermione is not in Ravenclaw. “You might belong in Gryffindor, where dwell the brave at heart, their daring, nerve, and chivalry set Gryffindors apart” (118). Hermione is able to set herself apart as a Gryffindor not only because she is brave and has nerve, that is especially seen at the end of the book, but because she is not constrained to just being in the smartest house. I think Gryffindor gives her more opportunities to realize she is more than just her intelligence, and the sorting hat knew that from the very beginning.