Blog 1 Prompt 1: Not Just Her Characters

                Perspective and self identity play a major role in our perception of literary works. Throughout the Harry Potter series, I found myself cultivating varying levels of empathy for the variety of different characters we meet. While much of this is attributable to the choices Rowling makes as to who is a relatable character and who is not, there is also an element of personality which comes from the reader, and is mirrored into the character. As we mainly inform our own opinions with the information gained in our lives, we inform the choices we see characters in the series making with ourselves. When I first met Neville, for example, I gave him more mental leeway than I would a similar character with a different appearance, as Neville reminded me of my brother. As a person with a foolish younger brother, I was more inclined to empathize with Neville than an only child, who may not have experiences with other well meaning, occasionally foolish people.  An opposing example is Hermione, who I had a sincere distaste for well into the first book. When I first read Harry Potter in the third grade I had never met a girl like the one described, seemingly a know it all, unwilling to bend the rules, and overzealous in studies. I had, however, met and disliked people with each of these qualities. Having no experience with girls such as Hermione, I was unable to see the good in her, and could only look to the surface, and see the perfect student. Only when much more of the book was read did I warm to her, as I had become a much more informed reader, and Rowling now had filled in the details previously lifted from my own perspective. Someone other than me could have a drastically different perspective of these characters, as their experiences, unique to them, would fill different personality traits into the characters, mirroring those seen in their own life. Harry Potter, and any work of literature, are deeply connected to each person that reads them, and are crafted not only by the author, but by the perspective of the reader.