Ginny Weasley

Ginevra Molly Weasley is a fictional character in J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter novel series. Ginny is introduced in the first book Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, as the youngest sibling and only girl in the Weasley family. She becomes Harry's main love interest and eventually marries him at the conclusion of the series.

Ginny Weasley
Harry Potter character
Bonnie Wright as Ginny Weasley
First appearanceHarry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (1997)
Last appearanceHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (2007)
Created byJ. K. Rowling
Portrayed byBonnie Wright
HouseGryffindor
In-universe information
Full nameGinevra Molly Weasley
NicknameGinny
Family
  • Arthur Weasley (father)
  • Molly Weasley (mother)
  • Bill Weasley (brother)
  • Charlie Weasley (brother)
  • Percy Weasley (brother)
  • Fred and George Weasley (brothers)
  • Ron Weasley (brother)
SpouseHarry Potter
ChildrenJames Sirius Potter (son)
Albus Severus Potter (son)
Lily Luna Potter (daughter)
RelativesJames Potter (father in-law)
Lily Potter (mother in-law)
Hermione Granger (sister in-law)
Rose-Granger Weasley (niece)
Hugo-Granger Weasley (nephew)
Born11 August 1981

Character development

Ginny Weasley is a pureblood witch born on 11 August 1981, the seventh child and only daughter of Arthur and Molly Weasley.[1] She attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and was sorted into Gryffindor house, along with the rest of her family. According to J.K. Rowling, "the backstory with Ginny was, she was the first girl to arrive in the Weasley family in generations, but there's that old tradition of the seventh daughter of a seventh daughter and a seventh son of a seventh son, so that's why she's the seventh, because she is a gifted witch. I think you get hints of that, because she does some pretty impressive stuff here and there".[2][3] Over the course of the series, Ginny becomes a strong witch who shows herself to be independent and capable, fighting alongside Harry on more than one occasion as he battles against the Dark Arts.

In a joint interview with The Leaky Cauldron and Mugglenet, Rowling revealed that she "always knew" that Ginny and Harry "were going to come together and then part."[3] The author explained that, as the series progresses, Harry, and by extension the reader, discovers that Ginny is in fact the ideal girl for Harry. Rowling stated that Harry "needs to be with someone who can stand the demands of being with Harry Potter, because he's a scary boyfriend in a lot of ways."[3] By the later part of the series, Ginny and Harry "are total equals" and "worthy of each other." The author also commented that she enjoyed writing the "big emotional journey" that both characters go through, and that she really liked Ginny as a character.[3]

Appearances

Ginny first appears in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, when Harry encounters the Weasley family at King's Cross station and they help him to reach Platform 9¾. After realizing Harry's identity, Ginny asks her mother if she can board the Hogwarts Express to see him.[4] Ginny is a first-year student in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, in which she develops a crush on Harry and is sorted into Gryffindor. During the climax of the story, it is revealed that she opened the Chamber of Secrets, and is attacking Muggle-born students while being possessed by Tom Riddle's old school diary. Lucius Malfoy had slipped the diary into Ginny's cauldron in Flourish and Blotts prior to the term. She has little involvement in Prisoner of Azkaban, though she is studying at Hogwarts throughout the book. In Goblet of Fire, her role was larger as she attends the Quidditch World Cup and the Yule Ball with Neville Longbottom and can be seen in background appearances.

In Order of the Phoenix, Ginny had "given up on Harry months ago"[5] (though this is merely a ruse as Hermione previously advised her to pretend to not be as interested in Harry and go out with a few other boys so Harry would eventually notice her),[6] and has a boyfriend, Michael Corner, whom she met at the Yule Ball. When Umbridge punishes Harry with a "lifetime" Quidditch ban, Ginny replaces him as Gryffindor Seeker. During the last part of the book, Ginny breaks up with Michael due to his sulking over Ravenclaw's defeat in the Quidditch Cup final, later replacing him with Dean Thomas. She joins Dumbledore's Army and is one of five members who accompany Harry in his attempt to rescue Sirius Black from the Department of Mysteries. Towards the end of this book Ginny participates in the battle inside the Ministry of Magic, but is forced to withdraw from the action due to a broken left ankle.[7]

In Half-Blood Prince, after she casts the Bat-Bogey Hex on Zacharias Smith, Professor Slughorn respects her magical abilities enough to invite her to join his "Slug Club". Ginny becomes a permanent member of the Gryffindor Quidditch team as Chaser, and substitutes for Harry as Seeker when Severus Snape puts him in detention during the Quidditch Cup final. After witnessing Ginny kissing Dean in an empty corridor, Harry has an angry internal reaction. This reaction surprises him and upon reflection, he realizes his attraction to Ginny.[8] Since Ginny's older brother Ron vocally objects to Dean going out with his sister, Harry fears his reaction would be the same, if not worse, with him. Ginny's relationship with Dean ends altogether in April following an accidental nudge from Harry under the effects of Felix Felicis, which Ginny interprets as Dean unnecessarily trying to help her through the portrait hole.[9] Ginny and Harry share their first kiss after Gryffindor again won the Quidditch Cup defeating Ravenclaw, thus initiating their relationship. This does not alter Harry's relationship with Ron as he had feared, and they are able to enjoy their relationship for a peaceful few months. After Dumbledore's death, Harry ends their relationship as he fears his love for Ginny would place her in danger.

Propelled by the revelation that Harry, Ron, and Hermione are leaving to seek the remaining Horcruxes in Deathly Hallows, Ginny kisses Harry in her bedroom, and they realize that they both still have intense feelings for each other. She returns to Hogwarts for her sixth year, where she works with Neville and Luna on reuniting Dumbledore's Army. As Ron is on the run with Harry and Hermione, Ginny is forced to go into hiding with her family. Though underage, she takes part in the Battle of Hogwarts despite her mother's and Harry's disapproval.[10] After Harry's supposed death, she, Hermione, and Luna take on Bellatrix Lestrange, who nearly strikes Ginny with a Killing Curse, infuriating Molly Weasley to the point of intervening and slaying Bellatrix herself.[11]

In the epilogue, set 19 years after the events of Deathly Hallows, Harry and Ginny have three children: James, Albus and Lily. Though the epilogue does not explicitly say Ginny and Harry are married, news articles and other sources treat it as a fact.[12][13][14] Rowling elaborated on Ginny's future after the release of the book, saying that after leaving Hogwarts, she joined the Holyhead Harpies and, after spending a few years as a celebrated player, retired to become the senior Quidditch correspondent at the Daily Prophet, and to start a family with Harry.[15][16] In the play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Ginny must help Harry reconcile with their wayward son Albus Severus Potter, and references to events in previous books are mentioned. Her job at The Daily Prophet is briefly mentioned when Draco accuses her of promoting suspicion against former Death Eaters, but she states that her articles are purely sport-related.[17]

Characterization

Outward appearance

She has typical Weasley family traits: flaming red hair (which she wears in a long mane) and a freckled complexion. She is of petite stature, commented on by several characters, and has bright brown eyes like her mother. When she blushes (which was often around Harry Potter in the early years of their friendship), she goes a shade of red that matches her hair.[18] When in a highly emotional state she is known to acquire a "hard, blazing look".[8]

Personality

Ginny is forceful, independent and often speaks her mind. She has an energetic, lively personality; having feelings for Harry, she became shy and withdrawn in his presence, during the first few years of their friendship. According to Harry, growing up with six older brothers toughened her up.[19] Ginny is not afraid to stand up to anybody, friends and enemies alike. Notably, she stands up to Draco Malfoy on their first meeting in Flourish and Blotts when he insults Harry in Chamber of Secrets. She even stands up to Hermione, her close friend, in defence of Harry's use of the Sectumsempra curse. When describing Ginny, J.K. Rowling notes she is "tough, not in an unpleasant way, but gutsy", also describing her as "warm and compassionate".[20] Ginny was very popular during her time at Hogwarts, and drew attraction by numerous boys. Ron in particular felt that Ginny was "too popular for her own good".

Magical abilities and skills

Ginny is a talented witch. By the time she was 14 could conjure a corporeal Patronus Charm, which took the form of a horse.[21] She is also a gifted flier and Quidditch player, in particular having scored "seventeen goals" during a Quidditch practice. Ginny was adept at the Bat-Bogey Hex, which drew her to the attention of Horace Slughorn, and her subsequent invitation to the Slug Club.

Portrayals

Bonnie Wright played Ginny Weasley in all eight films of the Harry Potter film series. Wright voiced the character in the Order of Phoenix, Half-Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows: Part 1 video games. Wright has described the character of Ginny as "outgoing, friendly and confident."[22] In an interview with The Telegraph prior to the release of Order of the Phoenix, Wright revealed that she got the role because her brother had read the books and told her she reminded him of Ginny, and recommended that she audition for the part.[23][24]

Ginny was voiced by Victoire Robinson for the Chamber of Secrets game, and by Annabel Scholey in Deathly Hallows: Part 2. Bonnie Wright lent her voice to her character in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and acted as a playable character in certain missions.[25][26] Poppy Miller was cast as the adult Ginny in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.[27]

Family tree

Reception

Ginny's pivotal role in Chamber of Secrets was compared by Dave Kopel, citing John Granger's book, to a morality play like John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress. He describes the final scene, in which Harry descends to the eponymous Chamber of Secrets to rescue Ginny, saying "In the climax of Chamber of Secrets, Harry descends to a deep underworld, is confronted by two satanic minions (Voldemort and a giant serpent), is saved from certain death by his faith in Dumbledore (the bearded God the Father/Ancient of Days), rescues the virgin (Virginia [sic] Weasley), and ascends in triumph. It's Pilgrim's Progress for a new audience."[28] This quotation predates Rowling's revelation that Ginny's full name is Ginevra, not Virginia.[1]

In the dystopian science fiction film The Darkest Minds, two of the main characters compare their relation to that of Ginny and Harry's, in a scene Noah Berlatsky describes as "a moment of meta-critique that’s just as likely to make the audience wince as smile."[29]. The film itself was widely panned by critics, Berlatsky himself calling it "flat [and] boring".

gollark: There are many, many more possible gods than there are religions.
gollark: Well, the standard pascal's wager objection applies here probably.
gollark: It might be instrumentally rational but it can also lead to apioformic problems.
gollark: Is this one of those things where you feel obligated to "believe" due to social pressures, but don't actually believe the religion strongly and want to avoid reminders of that?
gollark: Not ææææææ I must never mention religion.

References
  1. J.K. Rowling. "J.K. Rowling Official Site: Some Random Facts About The Weasley Family". Archived from the original on 24 June 2007. Retrieved 20 April 2020. .
  2. "Women of Harry Potter: Ginny Weasley Is Impressed". Tor.com. Archived from the original on 23 April 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  3. "2005: Accio Quote!, the largest archive of J.K. Rowling interviews on the web". www.accio-quote.org. Archived from the original on 23 February 2011. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  4. J.K.Rowling (2014). Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4088-5565-2., chapter 6
  5. J.K. Rowling (2004). Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 0-7475-5100-6.
  6. J.K. Rowling (2004). Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 0-7475-5100-6. chapter 16
  7. J.K.Rowling (2014). Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4088-5569-0., chapter 35
  8. J.K. Rowling (2005). Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 0-7475-8108-8.
  9. J.K. Rowling (2005). Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 0-7475-8108-8., chapter 22
  10. J.K. Rowling (2007). Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 0-545-01022-5., chapter 31
  11. "New Interview with J.K. Rowling for Release of Dutch Edition of "Deathly Hallows"". The Leaky Cauldron. 19 November 2007. Archived from the original on 20 November 2007. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  12. Brown, Jen (26 July 2007). "Finished 'Potter'? Rowling tells what happens next". Today. Archived from the original on 31 December 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  13. Toler, Lindsay (5 August 2007). "'Harry Potter' author ties up loose ends". The Arizona Republic. London. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 12 January 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  14. "Ginevra "Ginny" Molly Weasley". The Harry Potter Lexicon. Archived from the original on 3 January 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  15. Bloomsbury, By. "Harry Potter – Harry Potter books and resources – Bloomsbury". Archived from the original on 17 June 2009.
  16. "Rowling Answers 10 Questions About Harry". Time. 2007. Archived from the original on 5 January 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
  17. John Tiffany & Jack Thorne (2016). Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Scholastic Inc. ISBN 978-1-338-09913-3.
  18. J.K. Rowling (1997). "chapter 17". Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 0-7475-3269-9.
  19. "Harry Potter: 15 Things You Never Knew About Ginny Weasley". ScreenRant. Archived from the original on 11 June 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  20. "Sorry Haters, Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley were destined for each other". Archived from the original on 22 November 2017. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  21. "Ginny Weasley". Pottermore. Archived from the original on 31 May 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  22. Latino, Harry (14 July 2007). "New interview with Bonnie Wright". snitchseeker.com. Archived from the original on 13 April 2010. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  23. "Harry Potter Q&A". Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 5 December 2008. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  24. "Ginny Weasley looks really different now and we are officially Stupefied". Metro. Archived from the original on 2 December 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  25. "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Video Game 2009)". IMDb. 10 July 2009. Archived from the original on 23 February 2017. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  26. "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009) Xbox 360 credits – MobyGames". MobyGames. Archived from the original on 3 May 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  27. "Cursed Child reveals first look at Harry, Ginny and Albus Potter in character". Pottermore. 31 May 2016. Archived from the original on 16 July 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  28. Dave Kopel (2003). "Deconstructing Rowling". National Review. Retrieved 23 June 2007.
  29. Noah Berlatsky (2003). "The flat, boring dystopia Darkest Minds misses an obvious chance at cultural relevance". The Verge. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.