2:16 PM
TMA 458 - Story For Change
2:16 PMActivist’s/Artist’s Statement I wrote a chapter of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire ,...
Activist’s/Artist’s
Statement
I wrote a
chapter of Harry Potter and the Goblet of
Fire, but instead of focusing on Harry, I wanted to focus on Neville
Longbottom. Neville is a perfect example of an introvert who is misunderstood
by others, and by himself as well. Throughout the books, Neville is never
really validated for having an introverted personality. Especially as a Gryffindor, Neville is expected to have more extroverted
personality traits. I always loved Neville’s character and identified with him
(and Luna Lovegood, who I also featured in the chapter) because I shared more
characteristics with him than I did with Harry Potter himself. In the books,
Neville is often seen as not as bright as his classmates, and as kind of clumsy
and forgetful. However, Harry Potter fans will know that Neville actually
performs some significant actions throughout the books. For example, Neville is
actually revealed to be one of two possible subjects of the Prophecy about Lord
Voldemort’s defeat. Neville has admirable qualities, but perhaps they just take
a different form than Harry’s. He also doesn’t enjoy being in the spotlight,
but his mind is active and intelligent. He is an introvert living in an
extrovert world. I focused on the event in the fourth book when Neville is
actually the one who discovers that Gillyweed will help Harry complete the second
task in the Tri-Wizard Tournament. This is a really significant thing Neville
is able to accomplish in the books, and I wanted to showcase that a little
more.
In this chapter I wrote, I wanted
to show Neville in a more positive light, instead of one asking for pity.
Hogwarts was a perfect setting for my story for change, especially since most
of my research tended to lean toward introverts in the education system and how
that can be improved. Neville has always felt out of place in Gryffindor, and
doesn’t enjoy being in the common room because he feels so different from his
peers. Luna Lovegood, who always seems to have a more mature logic than the
rest of the students, explains to Neville that certain personalities tend to be
sorted a certain way: Extroverts into Gryffindor and Slytherin, and introverts
into Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. She also explains that she believes there is a
need for a mix of traits within each house, so he should be glad to be in
Gryffindor. Neville’s plant, the Glaxus Gromifera, is a metaphor for
introverts. The plant struggles when it is overstimulated by sound and
attention, and flourishes in peace and quiet. I feel that school in general is
set up for extroverts to thrive, and introverts often come away from school
feeling drained and discouraged. Neville finds that if he spends time in the
Greenhouses, alone, he is able to function at a higher level than if he
attempted to recharge in the common room. Notice in the story, though, that
Neville still likes people. He enjoys his on-on-one exchange with Harry, and
Ron and Hermione speak to him as their good friend. Introverts like people,
they just draw their energy in solitude rather than from others. I hope that
I’ll be able to somehow help reform schools (perhaps with more stories like
this one) so that they will provide structure that facilitates learning for
both introverts and extroverts.
In my research I learned a lot
about how introverts really thrive in social media contexts, because they are
able to express their “true selves” with people in a way that doesn’t drain
them of their energy. In the world of Harry Potter the Internet is not really
present, so I wanted to explore that point in another way. Professor Sprout
comments in the chapter that Neville writes wonderful essays in her class, but
without his writing she would never know anything about his personality. Very similar
comments have been made to me throughout my life. In high school I wrote a
blog, and lots of my peers followed it. They seemed to really love what I wrote
and posted there, and they would often leave comments. I never felt the need to
hang out in person with any of my peers though, because I could adequately
express myself through posting on the blog, perhaps better than I could in
person. Additionally, when I went on a mission I could only communicate with
friends and family through email. I definitely let a lot of my personality and
humor show in the emails. When I got home I had dozens of friends, ward
members, and extended family say things to me like, “I LOVED reading your
missionary emails. I never knew you were so funny or had such a great personality.”
I tried not to take that in a negative way, since these were people who had
known me for most of my life but were just barely getting to know the real me
through my writing. Instead, I saw writing as an effective way for me to show
my true self. I wanted to incorporate this element of introversion after my own
personal experiences and after doing my research on introverts and social
media.