I've often wondered about the Harry, Hermione and Ron group of characters: the hero, the intellect and the humanist. On many occasions in J.K.'s books, Harry finds himself attempting to deal with new information, a new development, in the absence of Ron and Hermione and he just can't do it. He needs to speak to them to work things through. Sure, he's often forced to act on his own (he faces Quirrell on his own, he takes on the Basilisk by himself, he faces the challenges in the Tri-Wizard Tournament without help) but Rowling makes it clear that he's at his best with his two friends at his side.
In fact, it is this ability to have friends, to love, that finally sets Harry up as being capable of defeating Voldemort.
I like this aspect of the novels and the development of the characters but I can't help comparing it to another trio of fast friends who played very similar roles in their own adventures: Kirk, Spock and McCoy of the original Star Trek series.
Kirk, like Harry, was the hero, the man of action. Spock was the intellect, like Hermione, the one who had superior skills and knowledge but seemed to lack the passion to be entirely effective. McCoy, meanwhile, could always be counted on to bring a more human approach to the situation, never afraid to show fear, compassion, humour. Like Ron.
I don't know if anything fantastic comes from the comparison. But I do find it interesting.
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