[Aislinn]

The Plot Hole that Ate my Mother and Father
By Eric Bowling

Biography
coming soon...


Abstract

Throughout the Harry Potter series, we learn a lot about various parental figures in the Potterverse, with the glaring exception of one set. There is very little we know about Hermione's parents; this essay explores the plot hole created by the lack of information on this central character's family.

This essay can be read here.

This post has been edited by caltheous: 28 March 2009 - 06:51 PM

[Fumblelaw]

J.K.Rowling has frequently described Hermione, when asked, as being a lot like herself when she was younger. As you quite rightly say, it makes more sense for her to concentrate on Ron's family because Harry and the reader need to know more about the wizarding world than we do about the muggle world. However I think Jo has deliberately kept Hermione low profile to hide some deeply personal insights into her own character and personality. I wouldn't want to speculate on what or why out of respect for Jo.

Reflecting on the scraps of information we are given however, and that you have included in your essay, I think you can read a lot into Hermione's character. She loves her parents deeply, but does not relate to them. Hermiones' parents have brought her up with solid, conservative rules and values. When she first arrives on the train, Hermione displays the insecure arrogance of someone who doesn't know how to relate to people her own age well. This would be especially true of an only child. As an only child, Hermione would have been heavily self-reliant for entertainment, and for learning. In book 1, we see very clearly that Hermione is not good at making friends, and is very unsure of herself. She compensates for this by focussing on her studies, and therefore excels at this because she craves a source of praise and acceptance just like anyone else. She finds this in academia.

We know that wizards display their abilities at an early age, and it would not surprise me if intelligent Hermione had kept quiet about her abilities and studied them in secret. Given that Hermione's parents are both dentists, and very 'ordinary' I would imagine that Hermione felt worried that her wizarding powers would frighten her parents. Much as you refer to the Dionysus and Apollo parallel, Hermione simply did not want to upset her parents, and shielded them from her non-muggle life as result. I have a strong suspicion that Hermione was anxious about not being accepted by her parents as well.

As far as plot holes go, there is an interesting parallel with another only-child: Tom Riddle. Throughout the series, as you comment in your essay, we are not given a lot of insight into the back stories of half-bloods. I think Jo deliberately plays this down allowing the reader to come to judgements about the Muggle world on their own. The concepts of family, acceptance, friendship and love are very obvious in the plots of the series. However you also have racism, bigotry, isolation and bullying in there too. Whereas Tom Riddle and Snape were damaged by the Muggle world, Harry and Hermione were not because they had family, even if Muggles cannot understand wizarding powers. Why did Hermione's parents only have one child? Why did they not know that Hermione wasn't interested at skiing? Why did they not ask questions about her holidays with wizards? Perhaps not because they didnt care, but because they (as Muggles) didn't understand and Hermione never said. Perhaps Hermione's parents are close to each other, but not to their daughter; a kindlier version of the Dursleys.

As Dumbledore comments, outright neglect and therefore isolation can do more damage than anything else. Hermione's development and her growth into someone who can both relate, and fall in love, (in direct contrast to Voldemort) is an example of how friendship can prevent us becoming damaged psychologically, even if we grow up alone. There is much more to Hermione than meets the eye; she is wise beyond her years. Unlike Tom Riddle, who allowed anger and fear to warp his mind, Hermione understood her parents' decisions and became wise as a result. I can't shake the feeling that Jo and Hermione are keeping a lot of secrets.

[WaggaWaggaWerewolf]

Whilst this was a very interesting essay, and I couldn't help agreeing with Fumblelaw's comment, 'I can't shake the feeling that Jo and Hermione are keeping a lot of secrets', I can't help feeling that both Fumblelaw and the author are being a mite harsh.

The fact is, that Hermione's parents were professionals and although they clearly loved her, they have more than the usual distance between themselves and their daughter, because of her wizardly tendencies. It is to their enormous credit that they, unlike the Dursleys, rolled with the punches, and supported their daughter whenever possible.

What about that bit at the beginning of OotP, when Hermione, not just Ron, gets her Prefect's badge? Was it mentioned in the essay at all? No it was not.
For those who might have forgotten, Hermione borrows Harry's Hedwig to send the news to Hermione's parents, because as Hermione comments, 'They'd be really pleased - I mean, prefect is something they can understand.' (p. 151, OotP, BE. Woes of Mrs Weasley ch.)

Not only would they be delighted for Hermione, and reassured about her professional prospects, being Muggles, but also they took the trouble to send a reply back with Hedwig, because Hedwig accompanied Harry back to Hogwarts. Could you see the Dursleys doing something like that?

And don't forget that Hermione's parents had given her money in POA for an early birthday present, in the hopes that she would have bought an owl. Instead of which Hermione fell for Crookshanks, worthy animal though he turned out to be.

[rosepug]

Interesting essay, true, but I agree with Waggawaggawerewolf that it's a bit harsh. I always envisioned Hermione dashing toward her friends in Diagon Alley having just 'off-camera' or 'off-page,' if you will, giving a quick hug to her parents who were no doubt very relieved to pop back through the Leaky Cauldron and into the Muggle world. That wouldn't have been noticed by Harry, his attention just having been caught by the sight of his dear friend running at him. It would have disrupted the 'Harry's eye view' of the series to detail the ins and outs of Hermione's arrangements with her parents about vacations etc. They did know the Weasleys, from meeting them in Diagon Alley at least once, as well as all she must have told them about the family. Although, had she included all these things the books would have been even longer. Which would not, in my opinion, be a bad thing.

[aimeestates]

I have said to friends on more than one occasion, anyone brilliant enough to write Hermione, likely is Hermione. Having looked into J.K.'s biography, there are signs which point to why this particular family was maybe not addressed--it might have been close to home. Hermione comes off as a girl who was corrected her parents, specifically her father, thus her hunger for knowledge and contempt for gender lines no matter how much she cares for her mother and father.

But of course, this one in a zillion theory is all conjecture on my part. I'm new here...

This post has been edited by aimeestates: 22 January 2011 - 02:43 AM

[Tornillo]

I assumed Hermione kept up constant correspondence with her parents. As intelligent as she is, I imagine she was quite expressive in her writing. Actually, I'm sure she was much more animated and passionate when writing. Deep, close relationships can be held and grown through well written letters. Do not discount this, in her relationship with her parents.

This post has been edited by Tornillo: 12 July 2011 - 06:54 PM

[Seyfort Revaunch]

I fail to see how Hermione's parents lack of direct involvement in the HP series is a plot hole. They have nothing whatsoever to do with the plot. I did like the Dionysus-Appolonian theory though.