When Hermoine Became a Real Boy

“Although our self perceptions are fairly stable over long periods of time, they can be made to shift temporarily, flowing across established boundaries with changes in various factors, such as whom we are with, what immediate goals we have, which aspects of the self are currently prominent, and which roles we are instructed to play…

We are not suggesting that individuals with overlapping identities confuse their physical being or situations with those of the other. If one were to stub a toe, we would not expect the other to experience the same localized, sharp pain—although, tellingly, the other might wince in a different sort of pain”—Robert B. Cialdini, Stephanie L. Brown, et. al., Arizona State University,  “Reinterpreting the Empathy-Altruism Relationship…”

“‘Miss Granger, you foolish girl, how could you think of tackling a mountain troll on your own?’

            Hermoine hung her head. Harry was speechless. Hermoine was the last person to do anything against the rules, and here she was, pretending she had, to get out of trouble. It was as if Snape had started handing out sweets.”—J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, pg. 178

When Harry and Ron are first able to lock the troll into a single chamber, they are apparently pleased with their quick thinking and execution, as they have just evaded horrible death; however, when it becomes evident that they’ve locked it in the same area as Hermoine, they are not hesitant to confront the beast. Also most interesting is the lie Hermoine tells her teachers in order to excuse Ron and Harry from punishment for saving her life.

What are we to make of this?

Has Rowling developed for us a world of inhumanly altruistic creatures that always do the “right thing?” While some might argue the question in the affirmative, let us for a moment retreat from such a simple understanding of the wizard tale, as there may be a more plausible explanation for the selflessness portrayed in this portion of the text.

Researchers Robert Cialdini, Stephanie Brown and their colleagues, in studying the altruism response in human beings have suggested that it is not necessarily the result of some innate pure goodness. Their understanding is a bit more economical.

In our communications with other people, we are regularly needing to interpret several facets of it including intention, desire, meaning, subtext (and the list goes on).

For example, if you’d grilled up some tasty burgers for a party you’re set to have in 15 minutes and one of your guests who has arrived early responds to your invitation to eat with “I’m good, thanks,” you are suddenly tempted then to internally explain the denial: perhaps they are hungry yet polite enough to wait for others, perhaps they are on a diet, perhaps they are a vegetarian and therefore offended by your invitation (and the list goes on).

It is with this practice that one develops the ability to perceive the world through the eyes of the other, to empathize, and which under moments of particular adversity, this experience develops into oneness, or the sense of shared interest, struggles, hopes and fears.

Since feeling guilt, fear, and hopelessness of the other isn’t a comfortable experience, we intervene, in turn, to stop what has become our own suffering. This is why the untested Ron and Harry are willing to take on a vicious troll (that could tear them to bits) in the girls’ bathroom (forbidden territory for them).

So when Hermoine takes the blame for the often mischievous boys, she’s already taken on their interests, and therefore, it would seem to her that she truly was the culprit of such acts.