Career

Hermione is portrayed during the novel series as an exceptionally talented witch. Rowling has said that Hermione is a “borderline genius”.^[55] She is the highest-performing student in her year at Hogwarts and is often the first student to master a new spell or charm introduced in her classes. In Order of the Phoenix, she casts a Protean Charm, which is a type of magic usually taught to older students.^[56] She is also the first one of her age to be able to cast non-verbal spells.^[57] Hermione is a competent duellist – Rowling has stated that during the first three novels Hermione could have beaten Harry in any magical duel, but by the fourth book Harry has become so good at DADA that he would have defeated Hermione.^[58] Hermione does not perform as well in subjects that are not learned through books or formal training, as broom flying does not come as naturally to her in her first year as it does for Harry,^[59] and she shows no affinity for Divination, which she drops from her third-year studies.^[60][61] She is also not particularly skilled at Wizard’s Chess.^[62]

Hermione’s Patronus is an otter, which is Rowling’s favourite animal.^[63]

In the book The Ivory Tower and Harry Potter, Eliza T. Dresang discusses Hermione’s role in the series and its relation to feminist debates.^[64] The chapter begins with an analysis of Hermione’s name and the role of previous characters with the same name in mythology and fiction, and the heritage Hermione has inherited from these characters due to her name. Dresang also emphasises Hermione’s parallelism with Rowling herself and how, as Hermione has some attributes from Rowling herself, she must be a strong character.

The chapter also points out that, despite being born to Muggle parents, Hermione’s magical abilities are innate. Her “compulsion for study” helps both the character’s development, which makes Hermione “a prime example that information brings power”, and the plot of the series, as her knowledge of the wizard world is often used to “save the day”. Dresang states that “Harry and Ron are more dependent on Hermione than she is on them.” However, she adds that Hermione’s “hysteria and crying happen far too often to be considered a believable part of the development of Hermione’s character and are quite out of line with her core role in the book.”^[64]

In his review of Philosopher’s Stone, Brian Linder of IGN wrote, “[F]rom Hermione Granger’s perfect introduction to her final scene, Watson is better than I could have possibly imagined. She steals the show.”^[65] In another IGN article, Linder and Steve Head said that Watson’s “cute and astute portrayal of Hermione has already become a favorite among fans.”^[66] The Daily Telegraph called her performance admirable.^[67] Watson was nominated for five awards for her performance in Philosopher’s Stone, winning the Young Artist Award for Leading Young Actress.^[68] She was also chosen as one of Entertainment Weekly‘s Breakout Performers of 2001.^[31]

UGO Networks listed Hermione as one of their best heroes of all time, saying, “Most of us can probably recall having a classmate like Hermione when we were in grammar school”—one who “can at first be a little off-putting, but once you get to know her, she’s not a bad chick to have on your side”.^[69] IGN also listed Hermione as their second top Harry Potter character, praising her character development.^[70] In 2016 The Hollywood Reporter did a poll of Hollywood professionals, including actors, writers and directors, into their favourite female characters of all time; Hermione topped the poll.^[3]

Philip Nel of Kansas State University notes that “Rowling, who worked for Amnesty International, evokes her social activism through Hermione’s passion for oppressed elves and the formation of her ‘Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare'”.^[71] Scholars such as Brycchan Carey have praised the books’ abolitionist sentiments, viewing Hermione’s Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare as a model for younger readers’ political engagement.^[72][73]

However, in an analysis for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Rowland Manthrope states that “seven books on, we still only know her as swottish, sensible Hermione—a caricature, not a character.”^[74]