Hogwarts : A History (New Edition)
written by Shakira Marvolo Riddle
This book is rich with detail about the history of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. " Hogwarts: A History, also known as Hogwarts, A History, is a book concerning Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and its history that was written by Bathilda Bagshot. This Book is Complete and Unabridged.
Last Updated
05/31/21
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The Various Concepts
Chapter 6
deologies in Harry Potter This chapter explores predominant ideologies in Harry Potter series by exemplifying issues of the fictional world which correspond to set of beliefs and values of modern society. This section stresses the relation of magical and seemingly unreal world to the condition of the postmodern era. Furthermore, this chapter examines the structure of modern community by means of a fictional representation. The chapter proves that Harry Potter novels rely on a broader cultural context and confirms the fact that some aspects of the magical world have been demonstrated in the light of the contemporary doctrines. The description encloses the concepts of socially constructed gender roles, feminist perspectives, the phenomenon of multicultural society, as well as political aspects. 3.1. The concept of gender roles The study of gender appears as one of the most significant trends of sociology in the twentieth century. To understand the notion of gender roles, one must differentiate between sex and gender. ‘Sex’ refers to the biological and physiological characteristics of human beings, whereas ‘gender’ defines socially constructed roles, attributes and behaviours, and typical traits linked to males and females. Gender is a key component of the group ordering and an important factor in creating social relations. According to Tyson (2014), there are gender roles which can be viewed as traditional. By traditional she means that these roles and features are socially established. Men are perceived as rational, strong, protective and decisive, while women are emotional, irrational, weak, nurturing and submissive. Moreover, she claims that these attributes are applied to position and profession that people perform (p. 81). The male and female characters can be portrayed in a clearly different manner in literature, however Harry Potter stories emphasise gender disparity.
28 3.2 Gender roles in the wizarding community In Hogwarts there is a clear separation of the sexes, thereby social roles and attributes of men and women are evidently differentiated. Tucker (as cited in Sammons, 2010) explains that “characters are on the whole two-dimensional, picked out by particular physical features plus one overriding personality trait” (p. 3). Apparently, girls are rather emotional, compassionate, concentrated on learning and broadening knowledge, which results in their subordination to males. This inferiority is seen in the background story of Hogwarts’ founders. Two of them were women and neither of them had an influence on two powerful male wizards who came into conflict with each other. Witches appeared as intelligent, wise, and loving characters and did not contribute to the school’s development. The story focuses mainly on the Houses of Hogwarts which were established by men (Gryffindor and Slytherin) and on students who belong to them. Heilman (2003) analyses roles of female and male characters in Harry Potter stories and states that females are dominated by males: “Males are represented more often, but they are depicted as wiser, braver, more powerful, and more fun than the females” (p. 223). The story line emphasises ‘traditional’ division between women’s professions (e.g. housewife, nurse, librarian) and men’s occupations (e.g. gamekeeper, train operator, conductor of the Knight bus, broom-maker). The subjects taught at school are also attached to socially constructed roles. Witches conduct classes which are more secure and do not involve dangerous spells and charms, for instance, Herbology (study of magical plants), and Divination (foreseeing the future). On the contrary, subjects taught by wizards are more dangerous and students face their worst fears, for example, Defence Against the Dark Arts or Care of Magical Creatures. Furthermore, the main governing body of wizarding community, The Ministry of Magic, employ heads of departments and offices as well as other personnel, the majority of whom are men. From all of the thirty four Ministers for Magic, leaders of the Ministry, only a few representatives were female. Females follow different roles, such as mother, sister, friend, student, or teacher. Anatol (2003) claims that the text signifies that the
29 fundamental role of women in the wizarding society is “the care, socialization, and education of men at any cost” (p. 193). Rowling’s narrative involves a conventional form of labour. The prominent figure who confirms the choice of traditional gender roles is Molly Weasley. Mrs. Weasley is a housewife who chooses to stay at home and does typical feminine tasks such as cooking, cleaning, and taking care of her seven children. She is a typical motherly woman who rewards children for their accomplishments but reprimands them for misbehaviour. She prepares meals, buys school equipment, knits jumpers, and helps her children to cope with problems of puberty. For Harry Potter, whose mother died, Molly is a maternal ideal. She is the ultimate matriarch, showing her love, kindness and generosity despite the family’s lack of money. Mrs. Weasley is a sustainer and a nurturer of the household, she epitomises undying love, sacrifice, and the spirit of motherhood. She reveals her devotion and magic skills at dueling, specifically when her family members were threatened by a dark witch, a supporter of Lord Voldemort. The fact that Molly fight using words she has always forbidden her children to use, indicates her ultimate sacrifices to beloved ones. She is able to kill to protect her family:What will happen to your children when I’ve killed you?” taunted Bellatrix, as mad as her master, capering as Molly’s curses danced around her. “When Mummy’s gone the same way as Freddie?”. “You — will — never — touch — our — children — again!” screamed Mrs. Weasley (Rowling, 2007, p. 590). Despite her single act of courage, Mrs. Weasley is influenced by the dominant patriarchal system of power. This system allows her to fulfill the mothering role in any case because she is expected to do so, but does not enable her to be empowered as a female. Female figures are aware of their position and the role they fulfill in the society. It is noticeable throughout the seven series even during conversations between male and female characters: “I notice I’m always the one who ends up sorting out the food; because I’m a girl, I suppose!” (Rowling, 2007, p. 241). Moreover, women seem to be sometimes ignored and not appreciated by men. The example of female players of Hogwarts’ Quidditch Team clearly indicate
30 their inferior position in the group dominated by males: Wood cleared his throat for silence. ‘OK, men,’ he said. ‘And women,’ said Chaser Angelina Johnson. ‘And women,’ Wood agreed. ‘This is it” (Rowling, 1997, p. 136). Contrary to women, male characters are more adventurous, brave and daring. They dominate the stories and determine the course of action. According to Heilman, (2003) “Hegemonic males do not express fear, cry, giggle, or gossip, and they are not concerned about their appearance. Hegemonic males are good at sports and have access to possessions, money, and prestige” (p. 234). Men archetypes in Harry Potter are more powerful than women, are involved in risky situations, and make decisions on the spur of the moment. Curiosity and zeal to fight an enemy cause that men are more domineering. Harry Potter represents stereotypically masculine traits that govern actions of the story. Harry reveals his competitiveness, determination and sporting prowess. He appears as an athletically-skilled wizard who never gives up and accepts challenges despite the possibility of being dead. He is not a tearful teenager; Harry is rather a lion-hearted individual with leadership skills. Furthermore, the desire to defend enemies, no matter the cost, and self-reliance make Harry a representative of masculine status. Harry Potter series offer a standard, socially-approved distinction of gender roles. The representation of male and female characteristics has been marked by traditional gender conventions, which reflect the contemporary interest in male’ and females’ role in the society. Cherland (2008) claims that “The Harry Potter novels, embedded in the discourses of our times, take for granted the dualisms and the binaries that are part of our daily common sense” (p. 278). The binary like male and female is a set of antagonistic division of power and worth. What is more, “binary helps to justify unequal power relations and our hierarchical social order” (p. 279). It is worth pointing out that the subsequent series of Harry Potter depict an attempt of a female character to challenge the model of the patriarchal society. This opposition to the domination of men appears as an act of feminist and induces to re-evaluation of gender roles.
31 3.3 Feminist perspectives Feminism is a view that women, who suffer discrimination because of their sex, are inferior to men. This ideology advocates establishing of equal social, economic, political, cultural norms and rights. Although women and men are endowed with inalienable right of equal treatment, in many societies males are more privileged than females. As a result, women’s rights activists have been established to limit sexual division and domination of men in many spheres of life. Chodorow, the feminist writer, suggests that inequalities result from socially constructed structures and norms: “Gender differences, and the experience of difference, like differences among women, are socially and psychologically created and situated” (as cited in Bell, 2012, p. 94). The Third Feminist Way refers to different movements which began in the early 1990s and continue to the present time. Baumgardner and Richards assert that: “The Third Wave is buoyed by the confidence of having more opportunities and less sexism” (as cited in Krolokke & Sorensen, 2005, p. 15). Women strive to eliminate contradictions between sexes that they experience in their own life. They see themselves as strong and powerful social activists who are inspired by a new social order and threats, such as violence against women, self-mutilation, sexual slavery, and harassment. Their aim is to eliminate boundaries, introduce an universal democracy and an idea of respect for human dignity. Women started to seek recognition of their worth and access to improvement as well as establishing themselves outside their homes (Krolokke & Sorensen, 2005, p. 17). Moreover, feminism is derived from postmodern ideas about the fragmentation of society with extremely powerful expressions of resistance to Enlightenment notions. In postmodernism the male-centered language of traditional metannaratives have been rejected. In the same way, feminism movements aim to destabilise and refute contemporary conditions of discrimination and domination. Feminist’ direct appeal and active resistance confirms the fact that language constitutes the human world and is an important asset in a struggle for equal rights. In the postmodern world, characterised by skepticism and uncertainty, an individual seeks its own self-identity and put an
32 emphasis on personal discovery and manifestation of feelings. Thus, it is certain that modern feminists are influenced by postmodern condition, which requires an individual to find his own place in the world and force to fight for self-identification (as cited in Krolokke, 2005, pp. 17-20). 3.4 Feminist reinterpretations of Harry Potter Harry Potter can be analysed from different perspectives and we may observe some differences in the approach of various literary critics to this novel. Their opinions vary and some of them claim that these are feminist novels. It has been stated that Rowling’s series of Harry Potter examine problems of male-female relations by positioning characters according to their emotional states, relationship with other people, as well as to their influence on changes in community. According to Dresang (2002), the portrayal of female values and feminist approach on the basis of Hermione Granger’s characteristics depicts: “the far less than ideal reality of the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries” (p.238). Over the course of the series, Hermione develops into a strong female character and refute her previous position of a fearful and sensitive girl. Researcher Fry (2001) points out that: “readers can see Hermione not only as a strong female character, an essential part of Harry's life, but also as a feminist protagonist in her own right” (p. 165). She appears as a two-dimensional character who has to fight their own battles with evil and turns into a powerful woman. Throughout the story, the young witch challenges the conventional view of a women who are inferior to man. She appears as one who tries to oppose the patriarchal system of power and authority. Dresang (2002) explains that the name ‘Hermione’ has not been used aimlessly, for naming has a deep significance for Rowling and for modern fantasy. Hermiones appear in literary history to be intelligent, brave women who look for fulfillment by pursuing their personal identity, have an ability to achieve own goals, and who search for identity and agency. The author’s aim was to create a strong character whose maturity and self-determination will disclose in the course of events and be omnipresent to the end of the story. Being wise and
33 smart, she came to Hogwarts in order to achieve academic success and to be an accomplished witch (pp. 212-216). In her first year at school she was constantly ridiculed by her classmates. They were annoyed by her haughtiness, knowledge, and the fact that she was Muggle-born. Muggles suffered from bullying and were confronted with unpleasant situations, because they had non-magic parents. Even Ron, who later became one of her best friends, perceived Hermione as a bossy, whiny, and a big-headed teenager: “Its no wonder no one can stand her…she’s a nightmare…she must’ve noticed she’s got no friends” (Rowling, 1997, p.127). However, her intelligence, reason, and logic were indispensable in solving problems and revealing secrets and her urgency to study is a beginning of her developing into a strong character. Moreover, in the battle of recognition in male-dominated wizard society, Hermione acts of her own volition and incorporates male characteristics. Hermione’s attitude is the perfect example of the feminist principles in Harry Potter. The establishment of the ‘Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare’, an organization in response to injustice and unequal treatment of house-elves, confirms the fact that she is aware of social discrimination and oppose barbaric treatment of Hogwarts’ creatures. “You know, house-elves get a very raw deal! It's slavery, that's what it is!” (Rowling, 2000, p.112). She campaigned for the improvement in their working conditions and for equal treatment, for they were regarded merely as servants who must obey their owners. Hermione was shocked when she found out that elves work continuously without holidays, sick leaves, or even pension. Since then, she involved herself in the organization and tried to encourage others to help her. Unfortunately, others became indifferent to the problem of slave labour. Hermione battled alone making badges and knitting hats and socks for house-elves to force them to take the clothes and free themselves. She did not take into consideration that elf enslavement goes back centuries and elves became accustomed to their inferior positions regarding it as normal. What is notable, from a feminist point of view, is Hermione’s extreme isolation and her independency of the opinions of others. She has no female friends and we do not know nothing about her family, except that her parents are dentists. Contrary to other characters, she is hardly ever accompanied by schoolmates, which result in
34 her caring for herself and secretly planning for the sake of the wizarding community. Hermione may be seen as a metaphor for suppressed women who fight for equality and sacrifice individual power and abilities. She combines individual strengths and bravery and seeks for a balance between external fulfillment and internal satisfaction. The young witch shows her possession of agency, the ability to act independently, which is a distinct feature of modern feminists. According to Dresang (2002), she achieved equality with male characters when was confronted with Lord Voldemort and resisted being defined as weak and less important (p.239). She is the character that breaks the boundaries of conventional, male-centred gender roles and who has found her identity and strength. Overall, she has grown more articulate, individual, and autonomous. She is a character who has been steadily developing and moving toward elimination of her marginalised female position. Dresang (2002) states that from the postmodern view there is no feminist ideal that can be applied to every woman. The most important thing is to become what one wants to be and achieve what has been assumed with respect and concern for self and other people. According to postmodern theorists, the inferior position of women should rather motivate and encourage them to change and seeking fulfillment. Hermione does not only support males and assist them but also is a compassionate and thoughtful female who acts on her own for the sake of social change (pp. 241-242).
28 3.2 Gender roles in the wizarding community In Hogwarts there is a clear separation of the sexes, thereby social roles and attributes of men and women are evidently differentiated. Tucker (as cited in Sammons, 2010) explains that “characters are on the whole two-dimensional, picked out by particular physical features plus one overriding personality trait” (p. 3). Apparently, girls are rather emotional, compassionate, concentrated on learning and broadening knowledge, which results in their subordination to males. This inferiority is seen in the background story of Hogwarts’ founders. Two of them were women and neither of them had an influence on two powerful male wizards who came into conflict with each other. Witches appeared as intelligent, wise, and loving characters and did not contribute to the school’s development. The story focuses mainly on the Houses of Hogwarts which were established by men (Gryffindor and Slytherin) and on students who belong to them. Heilman (2003) analyses roles of female and male characters in Harry Potter stories and states that females are dominated by males: “Males are represented more often, but they are depicted as wiser, braver, more powerful, and more fun than the females” (p. 223). The story line emphasises ‘traditional’ division between women’s professions (e.g. housewife, nurse, librarian) and men’s occupations (e.g. gamekeeper, train operator, conductor of the Knight bus, broom-maker). The subjects taught at school are also attached to socially constructed roles. Witches conduct classes which are more secure and do not involve dangerous spells and charms, for instance, Herbology (study of magical plants), and Divination (foreseeing the future). On the contrary, subjects taught by wizards are more dangerous and students face their worst fears, for example, Defence Against the Dark Arts or Care of Magical Creatures. Furthermore, the main governing body of wizarding community, The Ministry of Magic, employ heads of departments and offices as well as other personnel, the majority of whom are men. From all of the thirty four Ministers for Magic, leaders of the Ministry, only a few representatives were female. Females follow different roles, such as mother, sister, friend, student, or teacher. Anatol (2003) claims that the text signifies that the
29 fundamental role of women in the wizarding society is “the care, socialization, and education of men at any cost” (p. 193). Rowling’s narrative involves a conventional form of labour. The prominent figure who confirms the choice of traditional gender roles is Molly Weasley. Mrs. Weasley is a housewife who chooses to stay at home and does typical feminine tasks such as cooking, cleaning, and taking care of her seven children. She is a typical motherly woman who rewards children for their accomplishments but reprimands them for misbehaviour. She prepares meals, buys school equipment, knits jumpers, and helps her children to cope with problems of puberty. For Harry Potter, whose mother died, Molly is a maternal ideal. She is the ultimate matriarch, showing her love, kindness and generosity despite the family’s lack of money. Mrs. Weasley is a sustainer and a nurturer of the household, she epitomises undying love, sacrifice, and the spirit of motherhood. She reveals her devotion and magic skills at dueling, specifically when her family members were threatened by a dark witch, a supporter of Lord Voldemort. The fact that Molly fight using words she has always forbidden her children to use, indicates her ultimate sacrifices to beloved ones. She is able to kill to protect her family:What will happen to your children when I’ve killed you?” taunted Bellatrix, as mad as her master, capering as Molly’s curses danced around her. “When Mummy’s gone the same way as Freddie?”. “You — will — never — touch — our — children — again!” screamed Mrs. Weasley (Rowling, 2007, p. 590). Despite her single act of courage, Mrs. Weasley is influenced by the dominant patriarchal system of power. This system allows her to fulfill the mothering role in any case because she is expected to do so, but does not enable her to be empowered as a female. Female figures are aware of their position and the role they fulfill in the society. It is noticeable throughout the seven series even during conversations between male and female characters: “I notice I’m always the one who ends up sorting out the food; because I’m a girl, I suppose!” (Rowling, 2007, p. 241). Moreover, women seem to be sometimes ignored and not appreciated by men. The example of female players of Hogwarts’ Quidditch Team clearly indicate
30 their inferior position in the group dominated by males: Wood cleared his throat for silence. ‘OK, men,’ he said. ‘And women,’ said Chaser Angelina Johnson. ‘And women,’ Wood agreed. ‘This is it” (Rowling, 1997, p. 136). Contrary to women, male characters are more adventurous, brave and daring. They dominate the stories and determine the course of action. According to Heilman, (2003) “Hegemonic males do not express fear, cry, giggle, or gossip, and they are not concerned about their appearance. Hegemonic males are good at sports and have access to possessions, money, and prestige” (p. 234). Men archetypes in Harry Potter are more powerful than women, are involved in risky situations, and make decisions on the spur of the moment. Curiosity and zeal to fight an enemy cause that men are more domineering. Harry Potter represents stereotypically masculine traits that govern actions of the story. Harry reveals his competitiveness, determination and sporting prowess. He appears as an athletically-skilled wizard who never gives up and accepts challenges despite the possibility of being dead. He is not a tearful teenager; Harry is rather a lion-hearted individual with leadership skills. Furthermore, the desire to defend enemies, no matter the cost, and self-reliance make Harry a representative of masculine status. Harry Potter series offer a standard, socially-approved distinction of gender roles. The representation of male and female characteristics has been marked by traditional gender conventions, which reflect the contemporary interest in male’ and females’ role in the society. Cherland (2008) claims that “The Harry Potter novels, embedded in the discourses of our times, take for granted the dualisms and the binaries that are part of our daily common sense” (p. 278). The binary like male and female is a set of antagonistic division of power and worth. What is more, “binary helps to justify unequal power relations and our hierarchical social order” (p. 279). It is worth pointing out that the subsequent series of Harry Potter depict an attempt of a female character to challenge the model of the patriarchal society. This opposition to the domination of men appears as an act of feminist and induces to re-evaluation of gender roles.
31 3.3 Feminist perspectives Feminism is a view that women, who suffer discrimination because of their sex, are inferior to men. This ideology advocates establishing of equal social, economic, political, cultural norms and rights. Although women and men are endowed with inalienable right of equal treatment, in many societies males are more privileged than females. As a result, women’s rights activists have been established to limit sexual division and domination of men in many spheres of life. Chodorow, the feminist writer, suggests that inequalities result from socially constructed structures and norms: “Gender differences, and the experience of difference, like differences among women, are socially and psychologically created and situated” (as cited in Bell, 2012, p. 94). The Third Feminist Way refers to different movements which began in the early 1990s and continue to the present time. Baumgardner and Richards assert that: “The Third Wave is buoyed by the confidence of having more opportunities and less sexism” (as cited in Krolokke & Sorensen, 2005, p. 15). Women strive to eliminate contradictions between sexes that they experience in their own life. They see themselves as strong and powerful social activists who are inspired by a new social order and threats, such as violence against women, self-mutilation, sexual slavery, and harassment. Their aim is to eliminate boundaries, introduce an universal democracy and an idea of respect for human dignity. Women started to seek recognition of their worth and access to improvement as well as establishing themselves outside their homes (Krolokke & Sorensen, 2005, p. 17). Moreover, feminism is derived from postmodern ideas about the fragmentation of society with extremely powerful expressions of resistance to Enlightenment notions. In postmodernism the male-centered language of traditional metannaratives have been rejected. In the same way, feminism movements aim to destabilise and refute contemporary conditions of discrimination and domination. Feminist’ direct appeal and active resistance confirms the fact that language constitutes the human world and is an important asset in a struggle for equal rights. In the postmodern world, characterised by skepticism and uncertainty, an individual seeks its own self-identity and put an
32 emphasis on personal discovery and manifestation of feelings. Thus, it is certain that modern feminists are influenced by postmodern condition, which requires an individual to find his own place in the world and force to fight for self-identification (as cited in Krolokke, 2005, pp. 17-20). 3.4 Feminist reinterpretations of Harry Potter Harry Potter can be analysed from different perspectives and we may observe some differences in the approach of various literary critics to this novel. Their opinions vary and some of them claim that these are feminist novels. It has been stated that Rowling’s series of Harry Potter examine problems of male-female relations by positioning characters according to their emotional states, relationship with other people, as well as to their influence on changes in community. According to Dresang (2002), the portrayal of female values and feminist approach on the basis of Hermione Granger’s characteristics depicts: “the far less than ideal reality of the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries” (p.238). Over the course of the series, Hermione develops into a strong female character and refute her previous position of a fearful and sensitive girl. Researcher Fry (2001) points out that: “readers can see Hermione not only as a strong female character, an essential part of Harry's life, but also as a feminist protagonist in her own right” (p. 165). She appears as a two-dimensional character who has to fight their own battles with evil and turns into a powerful woman. Throughout the story, the young witch challenges the conventional view of a women who are inferior to man. She appears as one who tries to oppose the patriarchal system of power and authority. Dresang (2002) explains that the name ‘Hermione’ has not been used aimlessly, for naming has a deep significance for Rowling and for modern fantasy. Hermiones appear in literary history to be intelligent, brave women who look for fulfillment by pursuing their personal identity, have an ability to achieve own goals, and who search for identity and agency. The author’s aim was to create a strong character whose maturity and self-determination will disclose in the course of events and be omnipresent to the end of the story. Being wise and
33 smart, she came to Hogwarts in order to achieve academic success and to be an accomplished witch (pp. 212-216). In her first year at school she was constantly ridiculed by her classmates. They were annoyed by her haughtiness, knowledge, and the fact that she was Muggle-born. Muggles suffered from bullying and were confronted with unpleasant situations, because they had non-magic parents. Even Ron, who later became one of her best friends, perceived Hermione as a bossy, whiny, and a big-headed teenager: “Its no wonder no one can stand her…she’s a nightmare…she must’ve noticed she’s got no friends” (Rowling, 1997, p.127). However, her intelligence, reason, and logic were indispensable in solving problems and revealing secrets and her urgency to study is a beginning of her developing into a strong character. Moreover, in the battle of recognition in male-dominated wizard society, Hermione acts of her own volition and incorporates male characteristics. Hermione’s attitude is the perfect example of the feminist principles in Harry Potter. The establishment of the ‘Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare’, an organization in response to injustice and unequal treatment of house-elves, confirms the fact that she is aware of social discrimination and oppose barbaric treatment of Hogwarts’ creatures. “You know, house-elves get a very raw deal! It's slavery, that's what it is!” (Rowling, 2000, p.112). She campaigned for the improvement in their working conditions and for equal treatment, for they were regarded merely as servants who must obey their owners. Hermione was shocked when she found out that elves work continuously without holidays, sick leaves, or even pension. Since then, she involved herself in the organization and tried to encourage others to help her. Unfortunately, others became indifferent to the problem of slave labour. Hermione battled alone making badges and knitting hats and socks for house-elves to force them to take the clothes and free themselves. She did not take into consideration that elf enslavement goes back centuries and elves became accustomed to their inferior positions regarding it as normal. What is notable, from a feminist point of view, is Hermione’s extreme isolation and her independency of the opinions of others. She has no female friends and we do not know nothing about her family, except that her parents are dentists. Contrary to other characters, she is hardly ever accompanied by schoolmates, which result in
34 her caring for herself and secretly planning for the sake of the wizarding community. Hermione may be seen as a metaphor for suppressed women who fight for equality and sacrifice individual power and abilities. She combines individual strengths and bravery and seeks for a balance between external fulfillment and internal satisfaction. The young witch shows her possession of agency, the ability to act independently, which is a distinct feature of modern feminists. According to Dresang (2002), she achieved equality with male characters when was confronted with Lord Voldemort and resisted being defined as weak and less important (p.239). She is the character that breaks the boundaries of conventional, male-centred gender roles and who has found her identity and strength. Overall, she has grown more articulate, individual, and autonomous. She is a character who has been steadily developing and moving toward elimination of her marginalised female position. Dresang (2002) states that from the postmodern view there is no feminist ideal that can be applied to every woman. The most important thing is to become what one wants to be and achieve what has been assumed with respect and concern for self and other people. According to postmodern theorists, the inferior position of women should rather motivate and encourage them to change and seeking fulfillment. Hermione does not only support males and assist them but also is a compassionate and thoughtful female who acts on her own for the sake of social change (pp. 241-242).
