| Luna Lovegood |
Unfortunately, we haven’t seen much of Luna in the books. She is
really only a presence in the same book she was introduced in,
Book 5. In Book 6, other than commentating at a Quidditch match,
she doesn’t have much page time. Though I do think she is a
brilliant character! So without further ado:
really only a presence in the same book she was introduced in,
Book 5. In Book 6, other than commentating at a Quidditch match,
she doesn’t have much page time. Though I do think she is a
brilliant character! So without further ado:
| Order of the Phoenix |
She first appears as a wacky, almost deranged, character we’ve
complimentary light. We see Neville’s reluctance to sit in the
same train car with her, Harry’s mortification at being seen by
Cho in such company as Neville, Luna, and Ginny (implying that
She first appears as a wacky, almost deranged, character we’ve
they are the school’s undesirables [though this is really a
strike against Harry’s character, but I’ll cut him some slack and
She first appears as a wacky, almost deranged, character we’ve
chalk it up to being a teenage boy wanting desperately to impress
never seen before. She is not first introduced in a a pretty
girl]) and covered in stinksap.
complimentary light. We see Neville’s reluctance to sit in the
same train car with her, Harry’s mortification at being seen by
Cho in such company as Neville, Luna, and Ginny (implying that
She first appears as a wacky, almost deranged, character we’ve
they are the school’s undesirables [though this is really a
strike against Harry’s character, but I’ll cut him some slack and
She first appears as a wacky, almost deranged, character we’ve
chalk it up to being a teenage boy wanting desperately to impress
never seen before. She is not first introduced in a a pretty
girl]) and covered in stinksap.
Upon first sight, Harry sees her as this enigma. She’s got her
wand stashed behind her ear (now thanks to Moody we all know you
need to be careful where you put your wand…if it can blow a
buttock off, it could definitely take out an ear or an eye) and
she’s reading a magazine upside down. Also her lack of preamble
or polite segues in conversation...
wand stashed behind her ear (now thanks to Moody we all know you
need to be careful where you put your wand…if it can blow a
buttock off, it could definitely take out an ear or an eye) and
she’s reading a magazine upside down. Also her lack of preamble
or polite segues in conversation...
- “Had a good summer, Luna?” Ginny asked.
“Yes,” said Luna dreamily, without
enjoyable, you know. You’re Harry Potter.”
| Chapter 10, page 185 US Paperback Edition |
...and her belief in creatures that are nonexistent make her seem
a bit off.
a bit off.
She appears fixated on Ron. In Chapter 11, on page 189 of the US
Paperback Edition, she points out that he took Padma to the Yule
Ball and Padma hated it because Ron wouldn’t dance with her.
Luna adds that she wouldn’t have minded.
She laughs almost crazily at his only sort-of-funny joke, so much
so that he thinks she’s making fun of him (page 190). And she
watches him as if he were some “mildly interesting television
program.” (Chapter 11, page 201)
You’re made to think she’s as loony as everyone says she is, but
when she can see the thestrals and no one else can, you know
there’s more to her story than meets the eye.
Paperback Edition, she points out that he took Padma to the Yule
Ball and Padma hated it because Ron wouldn’t dance with her.
Luna adds that she wouldn’t have minded.
She laughs almost crazily at his only sort-of-funny joke, so much
so that he thinks she’s making fun of him (page 190). And she
watches him as if he were some “mildly interesting television
program.” (Chapter 11, page 201)
You’re made to think she’s as loony as everyone says she is, but
when she can see the thestrals and no one else can, you know
there’s more to her story than meets the eye.
It’s important to note that as crazy as she may seem at times,
she was sorted into Ravenclaw and that old Hat hasn’t been wrong
yet...scary judge of character, that Hat.
She might seem out there, but we know she’s very intelligent;
maybe she’s symbolic for keeping an open mind or that childlike
dispension of disbelief. As a kid, when you play pirates you
really are a pirate out on the sea, even though your mother is
yelling for you to stop jumping on the couch, in your mind it’s
the call of the gulls. It’s innocence and imagination.
I’m not sure if she symbolizes anything or not, but maybe, just
maybe, she’s there to remind the whole Harry gang to think
outside the box (and maybe that kind of thinking is what will
help Harry on his quest to destroy evil).
she was sorted into Ravenclaw and that old Hat hasn’t been wrong
yet...scary judge of character, that Hat.
She might seem out there, but we know she’s very intelligent;
maybe she’s symbolic for keeping an open mind or that childlike
dispension of disbelief. As a kid, when you play pirates you
really are a pirate out on the sea, even though your mother is
yelling for you to stop jumping on the couch, in your mind it’s
the call of the gulls. It’s innocence and imagination.
I’m not sure if she symbolizes anything or not, but maybe, just
maybe, she’s there to remind the whole Harry gang to think
outside the box (and maybe that kind of thinking is what will
help Harry on his quest to destroy evil).
She also stand by Harry when the while school thinks he’s made up
the story about Voldemort coming back.
the story about Voldemort coming back.
- Many of his classmates turned curiously to
without so much as a preliminary hello:
- “I believe you fought him and escaped from
| Chapter 13, page 261 US Paperback Edition |
Hermione insults the Quibbler, saying it’s a nonsensical magazine
before Luna admits that her father owns and operates the against
the formidable and opinionated Hermione. Her flighty demeanor
leaves her as she states that her father owns the magazine and
snatches it back from Harry. She is proud and defiant here.
Luna is strong enough in herself to stand against the grain –
unusual for a teenager, when most kids will do anything to just
fit in with the crowd.
before Luna admits that her father owns and operates the against
the formidable and opinionated Hermione. Her flighty demeanor
leaves her as she states that her father owns the magazine and
snatches it back from Harry. She is proud and defiant here.
Luna is strong enough in herself to stand against the grain –
unusual for a teenager, when most kids will do anything to just
fit in with the crowd.
Harry doesn’t know what to think at first because he’s not sure
the school lunatic is a good person to have on his side. Hermione
disagrees with Luna’s perception of things and tells Harry he
doesn’t need the likes of her agreeing with him. But also, it is
clear that since the experience on the train Hermione has spoken
to Ginny about Luna and got a not-so-good review.
the school lunatic is a good person to have on his side. Hermione
disagrees with Luna’s perception of things and tells Harry he
doesn’t need the likes of her agreeing with him. But also, it is
clear that since the experience on the train Hermione has spoken
to Ginny about Luna and got a not-so-good review.
- “Ginny’s told me all about her, apparently
there’s no proof at all.”
| Chapter 13, page 262 US Paperback Edition |
It’s also important to note that where Hermione’s dislike of
Fleur was chalked up to jealousy (which the dislike actually
predates Ron’s fascination), her disagreements with Luna are
never, to my knowledge, thought of in the same light. The girls
are just opposites and you almost wouldn’t expect them to agree
on anything.
Luna is Hermione’s foil. They are almost exact opposites...in
the way the view the world and approach problems. However, by
the end of Book 5, Luna has proven herself beyond measure and we
see Hermione making a concentrated effort to not argue with her.
Hermione even realizes before the Department of Mysteries that
Luna is an asset because of the very thing that set them off on
the wrong foot...The Quibbler.
Fleur was chalked up to jealousy (which the dislike actually
predates Ron’s fascination), her disagreements with Luna are
never, to my knowledge, thought of in the same light. The girls
are just opposites and you almost wouldn’t expect them to agree
on anything.
Luna is Hermione’s foil. They are almost exact opposites...in
the way the view the world and approach problems. However, by
the end of Book 5, Luna has proven herself beyond measure and we
see Hermione making a concentrated effort to not argue with her.
Hermione even realizes before the Department of Mysteries that
Luna is an asset because of the very thing that set them off on
the wrong foot...The Quibbler.
...Ernie Macmillan had stepped up to him.
- “I want you to know, Potter,” he said in a
We also see that the other kids at school are mean to her:
- they call her names (“Loony”, Ernie calls her a weirdo),
| Chapter 13, page 262 US Paperback Edition |
- they steal and hide her books on the last day.
- “Well, I’ve lost most of my possessions,”
them, you know. But as it’s the last night, I
really do need them back, so I’ve been putting
up signs.”
- She gestured toward the notice board, upon
all her missing books and clothes, with a plea
for their return.
| Chapter 38, page 862 US Paperback Edition |
Harry offers to help, but she declines saying it happens all the
time and she’ll deal with it herself as usual.
In this context, we see her strength and her resilience and that
these ways, she’s like Hermione...more alike than either girl
will admit, probably. But both stick up their chin and get the
job done when the going gets tough. And whereas it’s nice to
have other people’s approval, I don’t think either girl is the
type to let it slow them down if they don’t have it.
time and she’ll deal with it herself as usual.
In this context, we see her strength and her resilience and that
these ways, she’s like Hermione...more alike than either girl
will admit, probably. But both stick up their chin and get the
job done when the going gets tough. And whereas it’s nice to
have other people’s approval, I don’t think either girl is the
type to let it slow them down if they don’t have it.
She shows true courage by going to the Department of Mysteries to
save a man she doesn’t know with a bunch of kids who kind of all
regard her as crazy. She goes and fights hard, and winds up
carrying Ginny through after she breaks her ankle (Chapter 35,
page 796). Luna doesn’t stop until she is knocked unconscious,
another similarity to Hermione. They get knocked around and
bounce right back up again, ready to fight. They don’t give up,
or wuss out, they’re only out when they’re forced out.
save a man she doesn’t know with a bunch of kids who kind of all
regard her as crazy. She goes and fights hard, and winds up
carrying Ginny through after she breaks her ankle (Chapter 35,
page 796). Luna doesn’t stop until she is knocked unconscious,
another similarity to Hermione. They get knocked around and
bounce right back up again, ready to fight. They don’t give up,
or wuss out, they’re only out when they’re forced out.
No one knows how her mother died; I think the assumption, or at
least the movie account, is an experiment gone bad. It would seem
that Luna was there to see her mother die.
I only mention it because her adoption and zealousness in this
cause surpasses Dean, Seamus, Lavender, Parvati and everyone else
in the DA, it rivals Neville...but we know why he’s so adamant
about learning how to defend himself and fighting back...his
parents were stolen from him in the same way Harry’s were, and
for the same stupid reason.
least the movie account, is an experiment gone bad. It would seem
that Luna was there to see her mother die.
I only mention it because her adoption and zealousness in this
cause surpasses Dean, Seamus, Lavender, Parvati and everyone else
in the DA, it rivals Neville...but we know why he’s so adamant
about learning how to defend himself and fighting back...his
parents were stolen from him in the same way Harry’s were, and
for the same stupid reason.
| Half-Blood Prince |
On a different note, it’s mentioned at the end of Book 6 that
Luna and Neville are the only ones who respond when the coins are
activated and how that’s because they don’t have lives/friends
and need the DA. But I like to think that it shows their
loyalty, their friendship and their awareness of the events
taking place around them. All three of those things are
forgotten, disregarded or completely ignored by our infallible
“Golden Trio!”
It’s curious too, that even after the Patil twins’ younger
brother gets attacked in book 6, they aren’t more involved in
fighting for the cause. They don’t seek Harry out to review last
years DA lessons and they aren’t there at the end when the coins
are activated. But Luna was there.
Luna and Neville are the only ones who respond when the coins are
activated and how that’s because they don’t have lives/friends
and need the DA. But I like to think that it shows their
loyalty, their friendship and their awareness of the events
taking place around them. All three of those things are
forgotten, disregarded or completely ignored by our infallible
“Golden Trio!”
It’s curious too, that even after the Patil twins’ younger
brother gets attacked in book 6, they aren’t more involved in
fighting for the cause. They don’t seek Harry out to review last
years DA lessons and they aren’t there at the end when the coins
are activated. But Luna was there.
Book 6 was like the last ditch attempt for these kids to act like
kids...and we all saw how successful they were at trying to be
something they’re not. Unfortunately, they haven’t been children
for some time now. Hopefully, they’ve gotten total idiocy out of
their systems and can get back to being who they really are.
kids...and we all saw how successful they were at trying to be
something they’re not. Unfortunately, they haven’t been children
for some time now. Hopefully, they’ve gotten total idiocy out of
their systems and can get back to being who they really are.
Funny too that at the end of Book 6, Luna and Hermione are both
sent to guard the dungeons. The two smartest witches are
relegated to the basement to run interference. I’d like to know
whose ingenious idea it was to get rid of the two smart kids.
plan is that...it’s like sacrificing your Queen three moves into
the chess game!
There’s obviously a link between them here. I’m not smart enough
right now to think what it is exactly...maybe they knew Hermione
and Ginny wouldn’t work well together (at that point, they’d
already had words twice...mean ones).
Maybe Ron was trying to protect them...a valid reason, but then
why would he let his baby sister be upstairs in the hall...
I’ve always gotten the impression Ron was more afraid of Hermione
then his sister, so if she pitched a fit there’s no way anyone of
them would have been able to stop her from being in the
corridor. Which would have to mean either there was a point to
it, or Hermione went willingly and why would she do that?
sent to guard the dungeons. The two smartest witches are
relegated to the basement to run interference. I’d like to know
whose ingenious idea it was to get rid of the two smart kids.
plan is that...it’s like sacrificing your Queen three moves into
the chess game!
There’s obviously a link between them here. I’m not smart enough
right now to think what it is exactly...maybe they knew Hermione
and Ginny wouldn’t work well together (at that point, they’d
already had words twice...mean ones).
Maybe Ron was trying to protect them...a valid reason, but then
why would he let his baby sister be upstairs in the hall...
I’ve always gotten the impression Ron was more afraid of Hermione
then his sister, so if she pitched a fit there’s no way anyone of
them would have been able to stop her from being in the
corridor. Which would have to mean either there was a point to
it, or Hermione went willingly and why would she do that?
Or maybe it was just a way of showing that no one was thinking
clearly with their brains in the dungeons.
clearly with their brains in the dungeons.
| Luna in a Nutshell |
Luna is a strong, independent free-spirit unafraid to swim
against the current. She is very well aware of her surroundings,
of the people (stealing her books) and events (the war) despite
her apparent “dottiness.”
She is smart, capable, dedicated and loyal (proven in that she
goes to the Department of Mysteries with them to save a man she’s
never met and then still shows up at the end of Book 6 to help).
She did it not for the attention (she is made uncomfortable by it
on the train at the beginning of Book 6), she did it because it
was the right thing to do.
So we see that Luna is indeed highly intelligent, trustworthy,
honorable, courageous, and loyal. We get to see a bit of
vulnerability in her as well.
Just because she is different, the other kids abuse her
mercilessly. They don’t take the time to get to know her...ask
why she wears butterbeer corks around her neck. They judge based
on appearances. That she can see thestrals is a rare gift/burden
and we get a bit of insight to her obviously deeper story.
In Book 5, we have just scratched the tip of the iceberg that is
Luna Lovegood and, unfortunately for us, she was all but dropped
from Book 6. And we can only wonder why...
against the current. She is very well aware of her surroundings,
of the people (stealing her books) and events (the war) despite
her apparent “dottiness.”
She is smart, capable, dedicated and loyal (proven in that she
goes to the Department of Mysteries with them to save a man she’s
never met and then still shows up at the end of Book 6 to help).
She did it not for the attention (she is made uncomfortable by it
on the train at the beginning of Book 6), she did it because it
was the right thing to do.
So we see that Luna is indeed highly intelligent, trustworthy,
honorable, courageous, and loyal. We get to see a bit of
vulnerability in her as well.
Just because she is different, the other kids abuse her
mercilessly. They don’t take the time to get to know her...ask
why she wears butterbeer corks around her neck. They judge based
on appearances. That she can see thestrals is a rare gift/burden
and we get a bit of insight to her obviously deeper story.
In Book 5, we have just scratched the tip of the iceberg that is
Luna Lovegood and, unfortunately for us, she was all but dropped
from Book 6. And we can only wonder why...
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| Choosing what is Right over what is Easy |
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