Hermione's Characterization in The Philosopher's Stone

This essay analyzes Hermione Granger's character in the novel Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, focusing on her initial portrayal as a bossy know-it-all and her later role as a loyal and courageous friend. The essay also discusses the popularity of the novel and its sequels.

Running head: HERMIONE’S CHARACTERIZATION IN THE PHILOSOPHER’S STONE
HERMIONE’S CHARACTERIZATION IN THE PHILOSOPHER’S STONE
Name of the student
Name of the university
Author note

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HERMIONE’S CHARACTERIZATION IN THE PHILOSOPHER’S STONE
Introduction
The essay aims to analyze Hermione Granger’s character in the novel Harry Potter and
the Philosopher’s Stone. The essay will first provide a brief overview of the novel with its main
characters. Then, the essay will analyze the character of Hermione based on the quote provided.
The novel has been written by author J. K. Rowling and it was one of the bestselling novels after
it published in 1997. It became the top listed novel in the New York Times as the bestselling
novel in 1999. The characters in the novel too became popular worldwide. The sequels of the
novel too received immense popularity. The sequels included Harry Potter and the Chamber of
Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the Goblet of Fire, order of Phoenix, Half
Blood Prince, Deathly Hallows Part One ad Part Two. The popularity of the novel led to its
adaptation in films in 2001 with the first part releasing under Warner Brothers Pictures.
Discussion
The novel has three chief characters namely Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ronald
Weasley. While Harry is the protagonist, Ron and Hermione are his best friends, although
initially, both Harry and Ron despised her. This is evident from the given lines, “Hermione was
now refusing to speak to Harry and Ron, but she was such a bossy know-it-all that they saw this
as an added bonus” (Rowling). The story revolves around the philosopher’s stone, a stone that
has the power to make a potion that gives immortality and the power to turn metals into gold. At
the beginning of the story, the readers come to know about Harry and his poor condition at the
home of the Dursleys (Rowling). When Hagrid finally takes Harry to the Hogwarts School, he
meets Ron and Hermione there. While Ron and Harry become friends instantly, Hermione shows
off her knowledge and authoritative skills to annoy both.

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HERMIONE’S CHARACTERIZATION IN THE PHILOSOPHER’S STONE
When Hermione is first introduced in the novel, she is portrayed as the most annoying
and bossy character. She is loud and interferes in other’s conversation all the time. She is the
typical “know-it-all” and obedient girl who always follow rules. She puts all other students off
by working hard and acting smart all the time. She did not exert a positive impression on those
around her especially to the two boys. However, the character is not just a suck up but as it is
clear in the novel that she is very enthusiastic about learning magic and has an extremely
powerful work ethic. However, other students found her to be trying too hard for attention. Ron
and Harry even prayed that she was not chosen for the House of Gryffindor but she was
ultimately a Gryffindor. Ron in particular, becomes too annoyed with Hermione probably
because she was completely his opposite. She was smart, knowledgeable and sorted while Ron
hardly had any skills or knowledge about magic. His irritation could probably be because of his
feeling of inferiority. The three become friends after Hermione saves Ron and Harry from being
expelled. Ron says something bad about her that she overhears and rushes to the girl’s bathroom
to cry her heart out. There, she faces grave danger as the monster somehow finds an escape and
Ron and Harry save her from it.
When the author states that Harry Ron saw Hermione not talking to them as “an added
bonus”, it shows that the two boys did not recognize her potential. Here, Hermione is also to be
blamed because she presented herself that way to make them feel irritated with her. In fact, she
was described as follows in Chapter Six: “She had a bossy sort of voice, lost of bushy brown
hair, and rather large front teeth” (Rowling). Further in the same chapter, the readers are
provided further insight into her “bossy” character as she introduces herself to the two boys. she
boasts that she has tried some simple spells only for practice and learned all the “course books by
heart” and in the end simply states,”I just hope it will be enough” (Rowling). In this way, she

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leaves an impression of annoying and irritating for the two boys. After Hermione leaves the
scene, it is evident that both Harry and Ron are not too pleased and pray that she is not she’s not
in the same house as they are in.
The character has been bestowed with knowledge, skills and mastery on magic that even
the main protagonist does not have. At the age of eleven, Hermione is interested more in learning
the techniques of wizards and transfiguration charms than she is in behaving like typical girls
showing interest in cosmetics and stuff like that. Another aspect of her character that made her
special was that she was a “mudblood”, meaning a wizard born to non-wizard parents. Michele
Fry argues that Hermione is the most important character in the novel because she was the
driving force behind Harry’s conquers against the dark forces. The authors further claim,
“Hermione provides Harry with the skills and knowledge, which are essential to his success in
defeating Voldemort (the prime antagonist)” (Fry). It is evident from the first novel that
Hermione possesses excellent skills at not only magic but also excellent presence of mind.
She plays a major role in saving Harry and Ron from the Devil’s Snare and even assists
Harry in drinking the right potion in the room of fire. Hermione is also the first one in the batch
to Transfigure and make feathers fly with her wand. Her study skills and attention in the class
make her the youngest most talented wizard of Hogwarts. With such talent and intelligence, it
was thought that she would go to Ravenclaw but to everyone’s surprise, she is chosen for
Gryffindor. However, she proves her worth as a Gryffindor as well with her loyalty, courage and
intelligence. In Chapter Sixteen of the novel, the readers come to know about Hermione’s
compassion and lover for her friends. “Books! And cleverness! There are more important things
– friendship and bravery and – oh Harry – be careful! (Rowling). From these lines, it is clear to
the readers that Hermione finds friendship and courage as of more significance than knowledge

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and learning. By this, it is understood that the zeal for knowledge and learning is a key to
courage and friendship. Her character makes the readers feel as if she is someone whom they
could relate to (Limbach).
Rowling’s portrayal of Hermione as amongst the most intelligent and brave wizards
conveys the message that discriminating against females is wrong. Through the character of
Draco Malfoy, Rowling brings forth the discrimination against the females and the low caste
people. In the real world, a mudblood or muggle would be someone belonging to the lower strata
of the economic chain. The reasn that she comes from a completely muggle family, the wizardry
world considers her incompetent to even practice magic. Hermione represents all those who have
been denied their deserving place despite their talent and skills as they came from the lower
strata of society. Although her protagonist is Harry, a male, it is made clear from the novel that
he could not have succeeded with Hermione’s help. Hermione’s role in the novel is largely
revolving around Harry and Ron but she has her own persona. She solidifies her position in the
group as the ultimate nerd and it paid off especially during the times when it was needed the
most. She was able to exercise her immense knowledge and skills of magic to help and save
Harry at the end of the novel. Hermione’s character has been recreated showing her as a
progressive, self-dependent women (Altintaş). This portrayal is justified because of the role she
plays in the novel.
Conclusion
Thus, to end the discussion, it could be stated that the characterization of Hermione has
been done in the novel Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone as a bossy, know-it-all girl. In
addition to that, she has been characterized as someone who is self-boasting and who annoys and

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irritates everyone with this. However, when it comes to the role she plays in the novel, it is
completely different from the way she is characterized in the beginning. The discussion reveals
that Hermione in fact plays the most crucial role of saving Harry at the end of the novel. It is also
found that Ron and Harry despised Hermione initially because she presented herself as the
annoying, bossy girl. Later, when they discover her loyalty and courage, the three become the
best of friends.

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Works cited:
Altintaş, Ayşegül Kuglin. "A New Hermione: Re-Creations of the Female Harry Potter
Protagonist in Fan Fiction." Zeitschrift für Anglistik und Amerikanistik 61.2 (2013): 155-
173.
Fry, Michele. "Heroes and heroines: Myth and gender roles in the Harry Potter books." New
Review of Children's Literature & Lib 7.1 (2001): 157-167.
Limbach, Gwendolyn. "Conjuring Her Self: Hermione's Self-Determination in Harry Potter."
(2007).
Rowling, J. K. "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone." (2002).