Favorite Female Characters in Literature #17: Hermione Granger
Okay… you’ve probably noticed that the picture wasn’t all that representative of Hermione’s normal look, and that, in fact, the image looks more like a ninja puppy. The thing is, I’m trying to have this post be about Hermione Granger, rather than Emma Watson AS Hermione Granger, so I’m relying a lot on the internet for illustrations of Hermione, and that brings in a whole different problem.
Namely, THIS problem. Oh, internet, we need to talk.
So… anyway… just pretend that ninja puppy above is actually Hermione using an animagi spell or something. Now, let’s begin! Oh… one other thing: I’ll have to be quick about this post, because if you’re on the internet and you type “Hermione Granger” then it doesn’t take long before pictures of Emma Watson start to pour all over your screen like the Great Deluge. This is because Emma, the dear girl, starred as Hermione in the movies and then evolved into a creature that quite a few people would like to see naked. But… this ain’t about Emma… this one’s for Hermione, which is why I’ll be using illustrations from various artists. Again, though… we only have a short time before the inevitable, and Emma Watson starts to take over the computer.
So... what I loved about Hermione was her strong will and her pluckiness. Really... you can just mark those character traits down for all of the girls / women down on this list. If a female character is strong-willed, and independent, more than a bit sassy, and loves finding the mysteries in life... then I'm over that character. And I mean "all over that character" in a WHOLE different way that the internet is all over Emma Watson.
Art by Alec Longstreth
Bonus extra super credit points for any girl detectives, of course.
Illustration by Melia
You know one thing I was REALLY impressed by in the Harry Potter books? Hermione remained her own character all throughout the books. She was not there as a romantic foil for the main protagonist... a foil that eventually becomes a romantic "victory" in a declaration of "SEE... the hero wins EVERYTHING!" No... Hermione took a good hard look at Harry Potter, the chosen one, the savior of Blah Blah Blah, and she said, "Nope. Ron's the guy for me." That allowed her to breathe on her own and be her own character.
Illustration by Dani Jones.
I love how Hermione was able to skirt along the edges of the irritating know-it-all by remaining true to her friends when it counted, and willing to take risks, and willing to look stupid, even though she HATED it. She was a well-rounded character with a full range of personalities.
Hipster Hermione by the artist “Rotae,” to whom I have failed to find a link.
I think the important thing to remember about Hermione is that... umm. Hold on a second. My computer just made a weird noise. Something's happening.
Illustration by Alex Quintero
Oh damn. Well... it happened already. A picture of Emma snuck in. Don't worry, folks. I'll just delete this and we'll... oh, wait. She has a couple of those adorable mini-ponies with her. Okay, then... I can't resist a tiny pony, so I'll keep this image of Emma here, even though she's wearing an atrocious outfit that makes her look like she shops at a clothing store that sells nothing but prop clothing from that horrible 1980's "Dynasty" television show.
I think another thing that I liked about Hermione is that she was a girl, but Rowling didn't feel the need to RELENTLESSLY ANNOUNCE that Hermione was a girl. That's something much easier for women authors, I've noticed. Men, writing female characters, tend to drop in tons of annoying references to the gender, so that a girl does EVERYTHING in a "female" way. Rowling just let Hermione be a girl, though, rather than always being described as a girl. Much more effective that way.
Illustration of Hermione and Luna by Courtney Godbey Wise
Oops. Dammit. Another picture of Emma somehow appeared. I'll just kick this thing out and we'll be back on the path. I'll just... uhh... okay, look... here's the deal. I REALLY liked it when she cut her hair short and looked like Twiggy. So.... anybody mind if I keep this photo here? Show of hands?
I've noticed a lot of manga (and manga influenced) Hermione / Harry Potter art online. Japan seems like an illustration wonderland at times. Too bad that, as I understand it, setting foot on Japanese soil comes with a 45% chance of a giant monster dropping a vending machine full of schoolgirl panties onto your head.
Hmmm. There's that "Twiggy" look, again. Okay... obviously that stays. But that's the absolute limit.
Except for this one. I mean, come on. She's dancing in her frilly underwear type thingy clothes. I'd be throwing away eleven skillion years of evolution if I deleted this. YOU CAN'T FIGHT SCIENCE!
More Japanese styled artwork. I like this one. Hermione didn't have many of the truly "quiet" moments in the Harry Potter novels. She was always rushing to and fro, and that helped put a focus on her character, but... it's nice to see her relaxed, even though it seems that Ron is paying the price.
Illustration by… Don’t Know… no credit was given on original site.
Here's a cute "super-deformed" version of Hermione. I think that... aww, crap. My computer just made that noise again. Some sort of mystic incantation that I can't really make out. I clearly heard it say "Emma" though, so I guess we can expect...
Illustration by Star Masayume
Yep. Here they are. OF COURSE these photos were going to show up. Why SHOULDN'T photos of Emma Watson flashing her underwear be some of the top images when I do a search for Hermione Granger? This world, I tell you. I'd delete these, but they'd probably just pop back onto the screen. Let's move on.
One of the facets I liked about Hermione was that she made it cool to be smart. Too many books that are geared to be available to young adults make studying and schoolwork as the enemy of being cool... something to be avoided at all costs so that the hero can run wild, slay the dragon and get the pants off the girl. Hermione studied all the time, and BECAUSE of that, she slayed the dragon and got Ron out of his pants. Good for her. I don't like "messages" in books, but it was nice to see a brain win for once. And also... uhh... whoa. What was that? I think my computer is... breathing heavily? It might be time to close this up before the Emma Watson photos start to....
Illustrations by Tealin
Yeah… I’m out of here.
THE “FAVORITE” LIST SO FAR…
#25: Scarlet Witch
#24: Chance Falconer
#23: Vampirella
#22: Tigra
#21: Jean Grey
#20: Kitty Pryde
#19: Janet van Dyne
#18: Mary Jane Watson
#17: Hermione Granger
——- DOWN BELOW IS JUST A REHASH OF WHY I’M DOING THIS LIST ———
I’ve been thinking about women, lately. Women characters in comics. Women creators in comics. Female characters in literature. And pretty girls riding around on bicycles or walking along the sidewalk, etc, etc. Because of this, I’ve decided to make An Entirely Useless List. Why is it entirely useless? Because it’s my top 25 female characters from comics and literature, and such lists change at whim and at a breakneck pace. It’s IMPOSSIBLE to quantify favorites… the term favorite is far too malleable. A list of my best friends from high school, for instance, would not include anyone with whom I’m currently in contact. Times change. Still… I’m making the list. Why? I suppose I just like thinking about women.
