Authors have regrets, too

jk-rowling-073112I’m sure you’ve heard.

J.K. Rowling, author of the popular (huge understatement?) Harry Potter series, regrets Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley’s relationship. This news has caused much controversy, especially because she has chosen to admit this now, several years after the completion of the series.

What do I think? Hermione and Ron belonged together. And, regardless of what Rowling may think, I believe their relationship was believable and entirely authentic. Rowling said, “I wrote the Hermione/Ron relationship as a form of wish fulfillment.”

(What does that even MEAN?)

ht_ron_hermione_10118_mainShe continued, “That’s how it was conceived, really. For reasons that have very little to do with literature and far more to do with me clinging to the plot as I first imagined it, Hermione ended up with Ron.”

If she’s implying Hermione/Ron just didn’t make sense, or weren’t exactly compatible, I think many people would agree on some level. However, that’s exactly why their relationship was so beautiful.

Though Rowling describes her decision to pair the two characters as “wish fulfillment,” I think there is something to be said for going with your gut. Though she wasn’t entirely convinced Hermione and Ron made the perfect couple, something stopped her from pairing Hermione with the somewhat obvious mate (Harry). Sometimes you have to ignore your head and go with your heart.

Harry-and-Hermione-Wallpaper-harry-and-hermione-26304105-1280-800

I’m not angry or disillusioned with Rowling. She remains my favorite author. In my opinion, her regrets make her more human. She looks back at her work and isn’t entirely satisfied, because she notices something she wishes she had done differently. As do many of us. We are often our worst critics.

So I admire her for her honesty.

What are your thoughts? Hermione/Ron? Hermione/Harry? 

 

3 thoughts on “Authors have regrets, too

  1. Brooke Younker

    I didn’t hear about this till I read your post––laughing, though. Perfect timing to admit it all, no?

    It’s actually funny Rowling said this, because a friend of mine who’s never read the books but seen all the movies claims it should’ve been Harry/Hermione. I haven’t seen the movies in a while and I read the books like ten years ago so I can’t exactly comment “justly,” but my general sentiment is Hermione/Ron are good for each other. Harry/Hermione are great friends and it just works that way. It’d feel weird for them to be together. What do •you• think?

    Good point about going with your gut though, and an author’s work never being completely finished in his/her eyes. If I ever get published, I’m never going to read my novels again 😉

    Reply
    1. brooke Post author

      I think you’re totally right – Harry and Hermione were really good friends and I always thought that was really clear. I loved what the letter pointed out (thanks for sharing the link!) that “perhaps Hermione saw things in Ron a lot of people didn’t.” And that the romances weren’t supposed to be what the books were all about, yet now that’s what everyone will be talking about!

      Reply

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