Blog #2 Neville's Disadvantage

The more I consider the Harry Potter series as a whole, the more I return to the development of Neville Longbottom throughout the progress of the story. He is more drastically affected than nearly any other character by the influence of choices, including his choices as well as those of others regarding him. It is these choices combined with Neville’s reactions to them that come to define him as an individual.

To begin, Lord Voldemort’s reaction to the prophesy dictates Neville’s identity just as much as it does Harry’s. By choosing Harry over Neville as the singular threat to his power, Voldemort literalizes Harry’s power over him and simultaneously deprives Neville of this position. This decision does little to influence Neville as a person in comparison to the fate of his parents; Neville develops a serious sense of paranoia, disempowerment, isolation, and self deprecation in response to the brutal fate of his parents. This trauma instills an overwhelming fear in him which floods every niche of his life.

Although Rowling’s readers cannot appreciate the magnitude of the trauma that Neville develops in spite of, she depicts the gradual development of his self worth and understanding of his own power given his acknowledgment of it. A few examples of this growth include the moment Neville stands up to Harry, Ron, and Hermione in The Philosopher’s Stone; his decision to join the D.A. to better himself as an individual and wizard as well as his courageous involvement at the Ministry in The Order of the Phoenix; and his incredibly courageous decision to come to Hermione and Ron’s aid against the Death Eaters at the end of The Half Blood Prince. As those who have read the series know, Neville’s climactic acts of heroism toward the end of the seventh installment encapsulates Neville’s tedious and challenging journey of growth and self discovery, especially when juxtaposed to Harry and his journey. Both characters develop in eerily similar and yet drastically different circumstances and, given his significantly disadvantageous response to childhood trauma, Neville’s personal development outshines Harry’s when analyzed properly (not to discredit Harry’s growth and achievements).