Happy Birthday, Hermione
Sep. 18th, 2006 08:10 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
stuttermoanSo far I've analyzed three birthdays using The Secret Language of Birthdays by Gary Goldschneider and Joost Elffers. Just like the other two (Snape and Harry) Hermione's birthday description has some extremely accurate parallels to her character. Every comparison I write makes me more convinced that JKR drew from the zodiac (not just the elements) and perhaps even this book specifically.
Virgo - September 19 - The Day of Fine Appearance
'Appearance' can mean one's reputation as well as one's physical self. Moreso than her looks, Hermione is devoted to maintaining a solid appearance of intelligence, competence, and good behavior.
"Strengths: Tasteful, Elegant, Organized
Weaknesses: Trendy, Compulsive, Materialistic"
I don't see much of 'Trendy' and 'Materialistic' in her, but the rest seem accurate.
"Those born on September 19 are very much concerned with the appearance of things. Not only their own physical appearance is important to them, but also that of their home, surroundings and family."
Although her grades and behavior come first, we definitely know that she cares about her physical appearance, although not obsessively. She does an excellent job of glamming herself up for the Yule Ball, and, when presented the chance, lets Madame Pomfrey resize her front teeth. Concerning school surroundings, we see many instances of Hermione trying to curb rowdiness and disorder in the Gryffindor common room. From what little we know of them, her parents seem like respectable people. They also seem concerned with doing things in what they consider the proper way (like preferring that Hermione deal with her dental issues through muggle methods, although, being dentists, they may be biased).
"Regardless of their financial station, they are usually very orderly, even compulsive personalities who are able to organize everyone around them into one smooth-running unit."
Her knack for organizing (and correcting) the people around her is apparent from the moment we meet her. Instead of simply enjoying her first train ride to Hogwarts, she's all over the place trying to fix/help everything/one she can. In that span of time, she: 1) helps Neville find his toad; 2) corrects Ron on his (fake) spell; 3) tells Harry about the books he's in; 4) talks to the conductor; 5) tells Harry and Ron to put on their robes (and scolds them for fighting). And that's just the stuff we know about from Harry's point of view.
This trait is annoying at first, but it lends itself to Harry's cause as the series goes on. She makes Polyjuice so they can get information out of Draco in CoS, and masterminds Buckbeak's defense, and then the time-turner rescues in PoA. In OotP, Hermione comes up with the idea for Dumbledore's Army, as well as preparing the jinxed sign-in sheet and the Protean-charmed Galleons.
"Their own clothing and grooming is most often immaculate, and if they choose to appear sloppy or disheveled they do it with a full awareness of its impact on others - much like wearing a costume. In general, September 19 people adopt the values of their society in dress and taste, but if they wish to attract attention they are also capable of fashioning a more striking look. No matter how far-out their appearance or at what variance it is with accepted norms, however, an awareness of taste is always present."
Her Yule Ball transformation is dramatic, I think, partly because she knows exactly how to make it happen, and she seems aware of how different it is from the everyday self she chooses to present.
"Some September 19 people may be labeled as superficial, and rightly so, concerned as they are with outward appearances. However, a more highly evolved September 19 person is just as concerned with inward, spiritual beauty as with looks."
As the series progresses, Hermione becomes less concerned with following the rules and more concerned with lending her skills to causes: Buckbeak's trial, S.P.E.W., Dumbledore's Army, and of course the fight against Voldemort.
"Indeed, a quiet, withdrawn, or otherworldly person born on this day can, in a few short years, blossom into a successful, aggressive and confident social being."
We're shown that progression throughout the series. A few examples that spring to my mind: her school year with the time-turner (suffering from taking on more than she can handle), her relationship with Krum (managing conflicting friendships and romantic relationships), and her becoming a prefect (being trusted with a position of authority).
"The 19th card of the Major Arcana is The Sun. It can be considered the most favorable of all the Major Arcana cards, and symbolizes knowledge, vitality and good fortune. It does, however, suggest negative traits of pride, vanity and false appearance. Since, as mentioned above, September 19 people are highly concerned with appearances, they must avoid superficiality and falseness of any kind."
Her intelligence is surely an asset, but at the end of HBP, the impeccable grades that serve as proof of it are shelved in favor of helping Harry defeat Voldemort. Her concern with appearance has paid off, and fortunately she has learned to recognize the right time to cast it aside.
Virgo - September 19 - The Day of Fine Appearance
'Appearance' can mean one's reputation as well as one's physical self. Moreso than her looks, Hermione is devoted to maintaining a solid appearance of intelligence, competence, and good behavior.
"Strengths: Tasteful, Elegant, Organized
Weaknesses: Trendy, Compulsive, Materialistic"
I don't see much of 'Trendy' and 'Materialistic' in her, but the rest seem accurate.
"Those born on September 19 are very much concerned with the appearance of things. Not only their own physical appearance is important to them, but also that of their home, surroundings and family."
Although her grades and behavior come first, we definitely know that she cares about her physical appearance, although not obsessively. She does an excellent job of glamming herself up for the Yule Ball, and, when presented the chance, lets Madame Pomfrey resize her front teeth. Concerning school surroundings, we see many instances of Hermione trying to curb rowdiness and disorder in the Gryffindor common room. From what little we know of them, her parents seem like respectable people. They also seem concerned with doing things in what they consider the proper way (like preferring that Hermione deal with her dental issues through muggle methods, although, being dentists, they may be biased).
"Regardless of their financial station, they are usually very orderly, even compulsive personalities who are able to organize everyone around them into one smooth-running unit."
Her knack for organizing (and correcting) the people around her is apparent from the moment we meet her. Instead of simply enjoying her first train ride to Hogwarts, she's all over the place trying to fix/help everything/one she can. In that span of time, she: 1) helps Neville find his toad; 2) corrects Ron on his (fake) spell; 3) tells Harry about the books he's in; 4) talks to the conductor; 5) tells Harry and Ron to put on their robes (and scolds them for fighting). And that's just the stuff we know about from Harry's point of view.
This trait is annoying at first, but it lends itself to Harry's cause as the series goes on. She makes Polyjuice so they can get information out of Draco in CoS, and masterminds Buckbeak's defense, and then the time-turner rescues in PoA. In OotP, Hermione comes up with the idea for Dumbledore's Army, as well as preparing the jinxed sign-in sheet and the Protean-charmed Galleons.
"Their own clothing and grooming is most often immaculate, and if they choose to appear sloppy or disheveled they do it with a full awareness of its impact on others - much like wearing a costume. In general, September 19 people adopt the values of their society in dress and taste, but if they wish to attract attention they are also capable of fashioning a more striking look. No matter how far-out their appearance or at what variance it is with accepted norms, however, an awareness of taste is always present."
Her Yule Ball transformation is dramatic, I think, partly because she knows exactly how to make it happen, and she seems aware of how different it is from the everyday self she chooses to present.
"Some September 19 people may be labeled as superficial, and rightly so, concerned as they are with outward appearances. However, a more highly evolved September 19 person is just as concerned with inward, spiritual beauty as with looks."
As the series progresses, Hermione becomes less concerned with following the rules and more concerned with lending her skills to causes: Buckbeak's trial, S.P.E.W., Dumbledore's Army, and of course the fight against Voldemort.
"Indeed, a quiet, withdrawn, or otherworldly person born on this day can, in a few short years, blossom into a successful, aggressive and confident social being."
We're shown that progression throughout the series. A few examples that spring to my mind: her school year with the time-turner (suffering from taking on more than she can handle), her relationship with Krum (managing conflicting friendships and romantic relationships), and her becoming a prefect (being trusted with a position of authority).
"The 19th card of the Major Arcana is The Sun. It can be considered the most favorable of all the Major Arcana cards, and symbolizes knowledge, vitality and good fortune. It does, however, suggest negative traits of pride, vanity and false appearance. Since, as mentioned above, September 19 people are highly concerned with appearances, they must avoid superficiality and falseness of any kind."
Her intelligence is surely an asset, but at the end of HBP, the impeccable grades that serve as proof of it are shelved in favor of helping Harry defeat Voldemort. Her concern with appearance has paid off, and fortunately she has learned to recognize the right time to cast it aside.
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Here via DS (I think)
Date: 2006-09-19 12:11 pm (UTC)Re: Here via DS (I think)
Date: 2006-09-19 05:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-20 02:32 am (UTC)September people ruleno subject
Date: 2006-09-20 11:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-21 10:09 am (UTC)Hermione's social transformation is pretty obvious. I also loved the scene in which Snape criticized her for learning the text by heart in HBP. It's all about her having to learn to go deeper instead of showing off, and she is learning that, all through the series.
no subject
Date: 2006-09-22 03:07 am (UTC)