ginny weasley is a bamf

[flash_indie]

One day, I'm actually going to write an essay on female characters in Harry Potter and why they are A+, because I am so over people hating on them and confusing flaws and vulnerabilities with weakness and character failings.

Because seriously, I can't go into another HP post on ohnotheydidnt and deal with the Ginny hate. She was always one of my favourite

Comments

[mandy_croyance]

My BFF were literally, not 10 minutes ago talking about how much we love Ginny and how it saddens us that people seem to hate her for completely ridiculous reasons.

[flash_indie]

I seriously do not get it at all and I wasn't even aware that liking Ginny was an unpopular opinion until recently. She always struck me as such a strong character, and sure, a lot of her development and growth is implied or essentially off-page, but she goes from a highly vulnerable and naive little girl in the first and second books to a young woman who has not only overcome a horrific trauma in being manipulated and possessed by Tom Riddle/Voldemort, but come out the other end stronger, braver and independent. She waits for Harry, but she doesn't put her life on hold for him, and she doesn't let anyone slut shame her, even when her brothers try to imply that she's going through boys quickly, and she's intelligent and athletic and attractive (and maybe this is why people think she's Mary Sue? But I don't even really get that tbh), but it ultmately came at a cost in her family and social standing and, as I said before, the trauma she suffered as a result of her naivety (stupidity seems really harsh to say lol, I want to say youth,

[katarzi]

This x1000. I love Ginny, and I pretty much will always be a Hermione fan (she is awesome! and kind of fail at the same time! and has a Persian cat...that goes missing...shh, it totally ended up somewhere awesome. And alive, unlike Hedwig ): )

[flash_indie]

I will always be a Hermione fan too! I used to like, idolise her growing up. She was such an unapologetic character and utilised so many attributes that people viewed typically as flaws into staggering strengths, and I loved that she never undermined her own intelligence to prop up the boys or make them feel better. And she was flawed! And she did fail at a lot of things, but I think that just makes her even more fabulous. Her and Ron were always my OTP as well, and I think that they're really one of the best balanced couples in any series, book, film or otherwise. Plus, lol, I like to think that she sent Crookshanks off with her parents to Australia to take care of them. That's like, personal canon for me. But Hedwig ;__________________;

[katarzi]

Well by kind of fail I mean she's got big flaws as a person - like real people - rather than flaws as a character. So yes, exactly what you mean haha.

Crookshanks totally went off with her parents. Or got taken in by a Persian breed rescue or something. But then as a dedicated fan of the Persian cat I am still upset JKR chose one as Umbridge's Patronus (I mean, really, sure they are cute but sort of evil but mostly they are so dumb. They are really dumb, but not evil...>:).

[flash_indie]

Haha, yes! I knew what you mean, I'm just a little rambly lately. And I refuse to believe otherwise with Crookshanks. It's funny, I've been re-reading the series recently, and I was ridiculously stoked when he reappeared in the third book lol. He's such a badass in an awesome, kind-of-evil-but-not-really way.

[augustfalcon]

Seriously! She was one of my favorites as well and I was glad she and Harry ended up together. Sure, differences in taste and all that, but some sections of HP fandom can be so...rabid.

[flash_indie]

I was glad too. I can understand people not liking the pairing because, like you said, differences in taste, but I thought they were a good match by the end. They both were characters who, I feel, grew to deserve each other, even when they didn't necessarily at the start. At the end of it all, these are two people who's lives have been so heavily interlaced, initially through Ron, then Riddle's diary and the Chamber of Secrets, and later through the DA, Quidditch and the war. It dooesn't even seem remotely strange to me that they married even. Harry's someone who grew up in what is ultimately a pretty horrific case of neglect from the only family he'd ever known, so it makes sense to me that he'd cling to the one he finds first.

[the_bluechannel]

Ginny is a Mary Sue. End of story. All other female characters are good, through both canon and fanon perspectives.

Harry and Luna ftw.

[flash_indie]

But I don't get the argument for it. Isn't the definition of Mary Sue the author's self-insert? In which case, no, if anything, Hermione would be that since JK Rowling has openly admitted to the similarities in their traits and habits(but tbh, I think even that's a bit of a stretch since Hermione is so fleshed out in her own right). Or if Ginny as a Mary Sue is a projection of the reader, I don't think she's foregrounded enough for that really. She's called out on her flaws fairly routinely from family members (her parents disappointment and anger in CoS at her being so heavily involved with the diary, her brother's continual dismissal of her abilities, then judging her relationships with other guys, etc.) I mean, sure, she ends up with Harry, but she's a character apart from him too, even if she receives little time to exercise this on page. I'm not trying to have a go or anything, I'm really genuinely curious as to why you think she's Mary Sue

[justhush]

I think Ginny is pretty bamf! And - Like - Okay. I loved everything about Ginny (her unapologetic sexuality! Her gumption! All of it!) until she and Harry got together, which felt awkward and forced to me. Especially when she was like, "I dated other guys to try to calm down, but I never got over you, Harry." WHY CAN'T SHE JUST DATE OTHER GUYS BECAUSE SHE LIKES OTHER GUYS? Her attitude towards Harry when she's younger is hero-worship, but I'm never really convinced she gets over that! I mean, I THOUGHT she did, up until she actually admits that she's always ~liked Harry. And if that liking is rooted in hero-worship because he's The Boy Who Lived? No. No thanks.

But, I mean, I totally love everything about Ginny that's not Ginny/Harry. Because when she's with Harry she goes from bamf and three dimensional and unapologetic to a sort of creepy girl who only exists to be Harry's soulmate.

[katarzi]

The only thing that ever bothered me about Ginny/Harry was how much they resembled Lily & James. And that Harry was basically dating a girl who looked really similar to his dead mother.

[justhush]

I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT THAT. I mean the whole Ginny looks like Lily thing...

Though I never understood why Lily even LIKED James Potter, anyhow.

[flash_indie]

It is a little oedipal lol.