JK Rowling and Introversion

[sweettalkeress.livejournal.com]

So here’s something that just occurred to me as I was pondering stuff. I’ve recently gotten interested in a book called Quiet, which is designed to be empowering for introverted people, especially in the US where they’re often marginalized. And one of the things it mentioned is that Rowling is an introvert. So how do you guys think that’s influenced her writing (if it even did at all)?

It sometimes seems like she doesn’t think very highly of introverted people in general, since Snape (for example) is an introvert generally regarded with disdain, while Harry always hangs out with his friends and Ron has a large family, which we’re supposed to think of as charming (to say nothing of how the Marauders’ friendship is portrayed). Not to mention, Gryffindors are portrayed as being virtuous because they’re bold, charismatic, and hang together in packs, rather than because of any virtues that a more introverted person might have (Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, the most introverted houses, are treated as little more than window dressing).

On the other hand, it seems like many supposedly sympathetic characters also have traits in common with negative introvert stereotypes. For example, Hermione is a neurotic bookish know-it-all whom nobody likes, Harry treats his friends as people he can use and summarily ignores or pushes away anyone he fails to accept as equally special, and Ron argues and fights with his family constantly and wishes to be better than all of them. And then, of course, there’s Dumbledore, who thinks himself too good to fraternize with anyone other than Harry and the like, it seems. Meanwhile, Voldemort had many acquaintances over the years, but never cared for them, and we're supposed to think of this as ultimate moral degeneracy.

So what are your thoughts on this? Anyone care to comment?

Incidentally, I'm not trying to offend anyone here. I'm an introverted person myself, which is why I got interested in the book in the first place.

Comments

[condwiramurs.livejournal.com]

Very thought-provoking - thanks for posting (and I'm curious about the book; I've seen it advertised but haven't read it).

I don't have a full response yet, however I disagree that Hufflepuff is an introverted house. Hufflepuff is ALL ABOUT the group over the individual. Ravenclaw and Slytherin are, IMHO, the more introverted houses. Sure Slytherins network, but they clearly do not prize the group over the individual the way 'Puffs do and do not share everything on their minds. Gryffs are the most showy extroverts, but 'Puffs still charge their emotional batteries through social contact. 'Claws and Slyths charge their batteries through individual pursuits. -- In fact, if I had to make a spectrum, Hufflepuff would be one polarity and Ravenclaw the other, with Gryffindor and Slytherin in-between:

social interests/ties strongest influence (H) -- social interests strong but smaller 'packs' operate (G) -- social interests flexible in favor of individual interests (S) -- individual interest strongest (R)

I do agree that the more introverted houses are generally met with either ignorance or disdain, and that extroversion is praised, overall. Hufflepuffs aren't as important as Gryffs because Bravery and Wit, but it's interesting to see that the only student considered worthy enough to share the TWT victory was a Hufflepuff, not a Ravenclaw, and that our most prominent example of a Ravenclaw is the politely-tolerated but laughed-at (and very individual) "Loony" Lovegood.

[the-bitter-word.livejournal.com]

I think it's a truism that in order to be a writer, you have to be somewhat introverted, to be able to sit with only yourself for company for hours, listening to your inner thoughts and following your inner direction. Extroverts need an audience for validation. This is probably why some actors and politicians hire ghost writers: they can perform for an audience while dictating, rather than isolating themselves to write (not that all actors or politicians are extroverts).

I agree with condwiramurs about the alignment of the houses. I also don't think Hermione is much as much of an introvert as Harry, who with rare exception can't really seem to get out of his own head enough to understand others or try to see the world from their perspective, and who with rare exception doesn't seem to like being around others or receiving a lot of input from them. He seems fine on his own, more so, I'd wager, than Hermione or Ron would be. He theoretically makes a good leader in Quidditch and in Dumbledore's Army, but giving instruction isn't the same as socializing.

I'd be interested to know why you think Severus was an introvert. I'm aware that it is a popular opinion.

I think Rowling had contempt for some characters and love for others, and this had little to do with their introversion or extroversion. We see giggly gangs of girls, for example, whose names I can't remember if they were given, who are probably extroverts, as well as Fudge and Lockhart, again probably extroverts, and she seemed to have a lot of contempt for all of them. If many of her characters come off as introverts, it's probably because that is the head space she is most comfortable occupying and she just doesn't "get" what it is to be extroverted.

[kaizopp.livejournal.com]

Eh tbh introvert and extrovert don't mean jack shit to me (there's only two type of people in the world don'tcha know?), but even so, a random book mentioning that JKR is an introvert doesn't make it true, so not sure what you want to get from that?
Also I'd argue that Hermione isn't an introvert as she's all about the validation from other people.

[wolf-willow31.livejournal.com]

Yes, is JKR really an introvert? I certainly never would have guessed that! To me, she seems to actively seek attention and loves to put herself in the spotlight with interviews, websites, playing guessing games with the fans, pontificating on her work, etc. She'll probably go into withdrawal when all the fans have moved on to other things.

I'm an introvert, and I'd never do the stuff she does. I started writing purely for my own entertainment, and have no idea why I started posting a story (I must have been out of my mind!), but when I realized that people were actually reading it, I was so frightened that I almost hid under the bed. You'd have to hold a gun to my head to get me up on a stage, or on camera.

If JKR's an introvert, I'm Queen of the Nile!