Suffice to say that it is the less extreme and more open -- ended and integrative form of feminist critique that is considered to be the most appropriate theoretical trajectory to this analysis and which best informs a comprehensive reading of the works of J.K. Rowling. Taking this viewpoint into consideration, the following is a brief overview of the central theoretical facets of an interpretation of the women characters in the novels, leading to an assessment of their importance in the novels as a whole.
On the one hand we have the fairly common critique that, "Many people have complained that there is a serious lack of quality feminist role models in the Harry Potter Series."
One could refer to critics such as Elizabeth Heilman in this regard. Briefly, from this point-of-view the novels are to be interpreted and critiqued in terms of their portrayals of women as stereotypes; thereby reinforcing the view that women are essentially inferior and less capable than men.
This type of critique has serious ramifications in view of the popularity and influence that these works have on young minds. However, as this dissertation will attempt to show, an extreme view of the female characters as serotypes does not conform to an in-depth analysis of the women in the novels. One could once again refer to the informing quotation of this dissertation in this light.
She gave you a lingering protection he never expected, a protection that flows in your veins to this day. I put my trust, therefore, in your mother's blood. I delivered you to her sister, her only remaining relative." ( Dumbledore)
From the very first pages of the first novel in the series, it is clear that women, and particularly the mother figure, play an important if not crucial role in the themes and meaning of the works. Women are not seen as symbolic adjuncts to the other characters but should rather be interpreted a dynamic and active part of the moral and ethical intentionality of the novels.
Those who critique the novels from a radical feminist perspective claim that in essence this series of novels reinforces positive male role models and emphasizes weaker, negative female role models. This perspective will form a central locus of discussion in the analysis of the central female characters, especially the figure of Hermione.
Female stereotypes tend to portray women in terms of conventional gender roles, which "[…] cast men as rational, strong, protective, and decisive […] cast women as emotional (irrational), weak, nurturing, and submissive […]."
Engstrom ( 2006) refers to feminist critic Shoshana Felman, who writes that, 'From her initial family upbringing throughout her subsequent development, the social role assigned to the women is that of serving an image, authoritative and central, of man: a woman is first and foremost a daughter/a mother/a wife'.
These views form the basis of the more extreme forms of feminist criticism, and this theoretical stance has been directed at the female characters in the Harry Potter books. Many critics claim that from a gender perspective, the books tend to diminish the importance of women and that their identity and value are not acknowledged in the books. From this point-of-view the books therefore generate an increase in the negative stereotyping of women. These critics view the novels as projecting a view of women as weak and defenseless and secondary to the male characters.
This theoretical trajectory is one that has been noted by many critics in the history of literature and in numerous literary genres. 'Throughout literary history, authors have portrayed women in a negative light showing them as trophy wives in search of a man to set their fortunes'.
This view of the works of J.K. Rowling can be understood in literary criticism as being based on the critiques by De Beauvior, who sees women as being 'defined exclusively in her relation to man ...she is an idol, a servant, the source of life, a power of darkness; '
A typical feminist reading of the female character in the Harry Potter books is as follows.
Harry's fictional realm of magic and wizardry perfectly mirrors the conventional assumption that men do and should run the world. From the beginning of the first Potter book, it is boys and men, wizards and sorcerers, who catch our attention by dominating the scenes and determining the action. Harry, of course,
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