The Character Evolution of Neville Longbottom

Throughout the Harry Potter series, we have witnessed the growth and evolution of many beloved characters. Such an experience is rarely experienced and such an attempt is rarely executed so wonderfully. The character that I have seen grown the most over our readings is Neville Longbottom.

Neville’s character was introduced to the readers at such a low point. He was very much a bumbling fool who could barely do any magic. He himself told the trio that his family had to force some magic out of him and that his Uncle Algie threw him off the roof to do so. We see Neville continue this theme of inability and wizard-class hierarchy during his first flying lesson where his first attempt at riding a broom goes awry. Compared to the likes of Hermione Granger, Neville’s ability as a wizard is subpar. Even his personal character was portrayed as weak when Rowling delved into the bullying theme by having Malfoy and his cronies mock and mistreat Neville. There is, however, some promising redemption for the character when he begins standing up to Malfoy as well as his friends when the trio decides to go find the Sorcerer’s Stone at night. Nonetheless, Neville’s character seemed flat and plain.

This one-dimensional depiction of this character continues throughout the first part of the series until we reach Goblet of Fire. During Harry’s exploration of Dumbledore’s memory within the Pensive, we discover that Neville comes from very powerful and renowned parents, Aurors who were tortured by Death Eaters into insanity. In Order of the Phoenix, we see Neville visiting his parents in St. Mungo’s, and at this point, it dawned on me that Neville embodies the theme of a traumatic past. Neville was revealed to be a broken character. Neville comes from good stock, but what happened to his parents has shattered his life just as Harry’s loss of his own parents has shattered his. Neville’s similarity to Harry is only stressed with the Prophecy. This truly added depth to Neville’s character. In addition to his growing of a backbone in the first two books, Neville begins to improve his magical capabilities within Dumbledore’s Army. Both improvements can be seen when he joins Harry in the Battle of the Ministry in Order of the Phoenix, and when he remains in the Battle of the Tower in Half-Blood Prince. Neville’s progression from a zero to a hero has taken a powerful charge. Within the first half of Deathly Hallows, it is revealed that Neville is leading a strong resistance against Voldemort’s control of Hogwarts.

Neville’s character development will continue to the end of the last novel, lending support to themes such as courage, identity, resistance, and more.