Blog Post 2

One character that has developed surprisingly is Ginny Weasley. Rowling develops Ginny’s character gradually throughout the series in order to illustrate Ginny’s complexity. When we first meet Ginny in Book 1 she accompanies her family to King’s Cross Station as Ron goes to Hogwarts for the first time and is rather shy. At this point in the series, Ginny is seen as just another Weasley. In Book 2, Ginny is still timid however we begin to see a change in her character. This is first apparent when Ginny stands up for Harry when Draco is harassing him in Flourish and Blotts. This suggests that Ginny is beginning to come out of her shell and distinguish herself as an individual, as opposed to just another Weasley. However, in Book 2 Ginny is manipulated by Voldemort, which suggests that Ginny is still vulnerable and still has room to grow as a character. Ginny’s character evolves substantially in Book 5. Ginny’s magical talent is apparent when she joins Dumbledore’s Army and her strong abilities are later emphasized when she is involved in the battle with the Death Eaters in the Department of Mysteries. At this point, we know Ginny is a powerful witch and not just another Weasley. Ginny also excels on the Quidditch pitch and her talents as a Chaser for the Gryffindor team emphasize her versatility.

Ginny’s development emphasizes the theme of coming of age, as various events such as being used by Voldemort and being involved in fighting Death Eaters, prompts Ginny’s character to take on a more established role. Additionally, Ginny’s character growth exemplifies how one can easily blend into a group when unsure of their identity but can eventually come forward as an individual once one begins to gain more self awareness and life experience. Ginny’s coming of age experience allows her to become a confident and accomplished witch, as well as a strong and compassionate person.