Minerva McGonagall: Character Analysis

Welcome to the post-DH discussion of Minerva McGonagall. Previous discussion without spoilers can be found here:
Minerva McGonagall: Character Analysis (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=96590)

1 As a teacher, head of house and Deputy Headmistress.
- Is she impartial or does she show favouritism.
- Other

2 Do you think she is the right person to become Headmistress? Why?

3 Where do you think her main loyalty lies?
- The school
- The Order
- Other

4 Has her character changed through the series? How?

5 What, if any, has her impact on Harry been?

6 What do you think of her role in DH? Do you think she was effective in protecting students from the Carrows?

I have never been suspicious that she would turn out to be bad, but there was that hint of her being a traitor, because she was at the same time at Hogwarts as Voldemort. Glad it was false.

However she was true to Hogwarts and Dumbledore after all. It surprised me that she wasn't present in the beginning of the book. But it makes sense that Dumbledore asked her (or she thought it herself) to remain loyal to Hogwarts and protect it. Dumbledore must have suspected that it would be taken over and next to Harry and Snape I think he did trust McGonagall the most.

When Hagrid carried Harry to Hogwarts castle surrounded by Voldemort and co I thought she might do something rash instead of just screaming No. But she kept her calm.

One of my favorite scenes in the book was when Professor McGonagall did battle with Snape and sent him running from the castle, and then fired up the other professors and did her Piertotum Locomotor spell to get the statues and suits of armor into the battle.

She proved her loyalty to Hogwarts, to the students, to Dumbledore, and to Harry. Although she is always portrayed as stern, I always knew she had a lot of affection for Harry.

I have no doubt she would make restoring Hogwarts her first priority after the battle, and she would have it ready for classes in the fall so all the students who missed school to fight will be able to come back and finish. She will be a very worthy headmistress.

1. As a teacher, head of house and Deputy Headmistress.
- Is she impartial or does she show favouritism.
- Other

McGonagall is many things. She's strict, and she's clever, and she's fair. While she may not be perfect at it, she really strives, I believe, to be unbiased.


2 Do you think she is the right person to become Headmistress? Why?

Absolutely. There's nobody else who would fill the position better. She has been teaching there a very long time, she knows it well. She has been through two wars at least now, and has come out the other side.

3 Where do you think her main loyalty lies?
- The school
- The Order
- Other

Her main loyalties, I believe, lie with the school...possibly specifically its students. She is loyal to the Order also, but her main priority seems to always be to protect the school, its students, and the present and future of magical education. She's the quintessential teacher.

4 Has her character changed through the series? How?

I believe it has, at least a little. She's a lot more likeable now, sometimes less strict, and her sense of humour showed particularly in OotP when being inspected by Umbridge, 'Are you quite sure you wouldn't like a cough drop Dolores?'

5 What, if any, has her impact on Harry been?

She's been a source of knowledge and also a source of confidence. He knows throughout the books that he may not like whatever punishment she gives him, but that she WILL be fair, unlike, say, Snape whose prejudices get in the way, or even Dumbledore, who tends to go easier on him.

6 What do you think of her role in DH? Do you think she was effective in protecting students from the Carrows?

I don't really know. I think she did her best, and I would bet that she shielded as many of them from attention or punishment as she could. Not a job I would want, to be honest.

I don't think McGonagall was specifically protecting the children form the Carrows but I suspect that, as in Umbridge's regime, she was being subversive when she could.

I thought, once she met up with Harry at Hogwarts she showed real leadership. She thought of the safety of the students and got them out quickly and efficiently. She called up all the other loyal teachers, got rid of Snape, and organised the school for battle. She even had a go at duelling Voldemort himself. I thought she really came into her own in the battle for Hogwarts and showed she wasn't dependent on Dumbledore and what he would have done, but made her own decisions, quickly and well. She'll make a superb headmistress and I hope she got the job.

It sort of saddened me that McGonagall didn't play a bigger role in DH.

To the questions:
1. I do think she showed a bit of favouritism towards her House and towards specific students, but I don't think that she let her personal opinions cloud her judgment or negatively affect her ability to teach and administer the school fairly.

2. I would love it if she became headmistress, but I'm not sure if she'd be the best in the world. I can see her being a really good headmistress, or I can see her developing flaws that would make her a really bad one. Also, I have a feeling that because she liked Harry, our Harryvision image of her is more positive than she necessarily is. I don't know enough about her background to really say. I do know that she is a very talented witch, and if that means anything then she should be headmistress.

3. I still think her main loyalty is with the school, especially since the Order doesn't really need to fight Voldemort any more. I have always envisioned her as caring most about the students and if being in the Order helped that along, she'd do it.

4. I do think that her character has changed throughout the series - she has gotten a bit softer and nicer, and her actions seem to reflect more "goodness" than just what is "proper", which I got a little bit of in the beginning of the series. I think all the characters necessarily had to change because the events that happened forced the characters to react to situations that were not ordinarily part of everyday life.

5. I think that because she was really the first teacher he encountered (in a school setting) in SS/PS, McGonagall shaped Harry's idea about what magic was and what a true witch/wizard was like. McGonagall also taught Harry a lot about loyalty and trust; again in SS/PS, it was her trust that he was doing the right thing that got him on the Quidditch team rather than being put into detention for riding a broom without permission. As his Head of House, she was able to help Harry more than some of the other professors could, which developed Harry as a Gryffindor and as a person.

6. Like I said earlier, I wish her role in DH had been much bigger, because I really like McGonagall. That being said, I thought her effectiveness was limited in her efforts to protect the students against the Carrows; like the Umbridge incidents, the professors were largely unable to rebel against administration like that, and that barrier was even more pronounced with Snape as headmaster and a totally infiltrated Ministry.

On a random note, I thought her answer to the Ravenclaw room's question was really interesting, because it gave a little bit of that "almost Ravenclaw but just made it to Gryffindor" feel.

I really thought either she or Hagrid would turn traitor in the last book. I was pleased to see that she held her ground. I was rather astonished, however, that the Death Eaters respected her to some extent, more so than they did others. I have always wondered if there was a reason behind this. I thought that maybe she is somehow tied to something that Voldemort respects, besides Hogwarts, but that seems a stretch to me as he doesn't respect much.

I really enjoyed the last part of book 7 where we see a good deal of her character. Her outward strong will really impresses me.

1 As a teacher, head of house and Deputy Headmistress.
- Is she impartial or does she show favouritism.
- Other

Well, like most people I think she had her favourites (remember the "little strain of pride in her voice" when she spoke about Harry with Amycus) but unlike Snape she was too fair and professional to show it.

2 Do you think she is the right person to become Headmistress? Why?

Yes, I can't see anyone who's more worthy. I think she has served Hogwarts so long that it's absolutely clear that she's loyal enough, and that together with the fact that she's a fantastic witch makes her worthy.

3 Where do you think her main loyalty lies?
- The school
- The Order
- Other

Actually, I would say that her main loyalty lies with Dumbledore. She's extremely loyal to the school but in OotP she was ready to leave the school just to go with Dumbledore when Fudge thought Dumbledore was the leader of DA. For me, it always felt like McGonagall was closer to Dumbledore than Bellatrix was to Voldemort. I never doubted her loyalty to Dumbledore, and because of that also to Hogwarts and the Order.

4 Has her character changed through the series? How?

Difficult question, since we didn't seen very much of her, unfortunately. I would say that she has been the same person all the time, but that the circumstances in the last books forced her to prove sides of herself which she didn't need to show in the first books.

5 What, if any, has her impact on Harry been?

I think that her strong loyalty affected Harry a lot through his years at Hogwarts, and obviously Harry really trusted and liked her. I loved the scene when Harry threw the crucio curse at Amycus after he had spitted her in the face!

6 What do you think of her role in DH? Do you think she was effective in protecting students from the Carrows?

I really hope she succeed to protect the students, and I'm sure she did her very best.

I wanted to see more of here, but in the end she proved herself to be a true leader, and I loved to see her fight Voldemort, because it proved that beneath her harsh exterior lies a heart full of love and courage. Dumbledore's woman through and through!

Minerva McGonagall is a vastly underwritten and underappreciated character. Since she kicked Dolores Umbridge out of the school in Order of the Phoenix, I've always been intrigued by her. She also gave the impression of importance in the first book, as she was second behind only Dumbledore.

The only real candidate for Head of Hogwarts, is Professor Flitwick, another character that came into their own in Deathly Hallows. However, McGonagall was deputy, wasn't she? And when Dumbledore was killed, she was put in charge briefly at the end. I think she would get it, and I believe she would be one of the better Heads of Hogwarts in history. Honestly, I'd be surprised if she didn't end up just as celebrated as Dumbledore. Maybe not for her raw power, but just for her dedication to the school, and forging generations of wizards.

I've always thought that Professor McGonagall was very similar to Hermione Granger in terms of character. I mean, both seem very smart and dedicated to intelligence over silliness, however, neither is in Ravenclaw. It becomes obvious why, as both make great sacrifices, and don't always do the smart thing in crunch time, rather they do the just thing. If Harry Potter is the next Dumbledore, than truly Hermione Weasley is the next Minerva McGonagall.

I was particularly impressed by the role she played in the final chapters. She showed some skill, matching Snape in power, and then she was willing to duel with Voldemort, the greatest dark wizard of all-time, one Dumbledore could not even defeat.

Her character showed great bravery, and I wish there was more on her. Unfortunately we have reached the end.

1 As a teacher, head of house and Deputy Headmistress.
- Is she impartial or does she show favouritism.
- Other

I think she is mostly impartial, or tries to be, but when forced, will show favouritism, like sending all the Slytherins away from the battle, instead of just the underage ones. This was wise, yes, but also a form of favouritism, I would think.

2 Do you think she is the right person to become Headmistress? Why?

Yes, I think she is the right person to become Headmistress, because she doesn't show very much favouritism, is strict and knows how to manage well.

3 Where do you think her main loyalty lies?
- The school
- The Order
- Other

I think her loyalties lie with the school and the Order, formost, and also the people she cares about.

4 Has her character changed through the series? How?

She goes from being all strict, ect. in PS/SS to bending rules and caring in OotP and DH. She breaks rules to protect the students, which she never did in the beginning.

5 What, if any, has her impact on Harry been?

I think she showed that everyone sometimes needs help.

6 What do you think of her role in DH? Do you think she was effective in protecting students from the Carrows?

I think she was a teacher, and protected the students from the Carrows to the best of her ability, which was probably very effective, because she is a good witch, and good at whatever she puts her mind to.

1 As a teacher, head of house and Deputy Headmistress.
- Is she impartial or does she show favouritism.
- Other

I think she shows mild favouritism (eg. Not expelling Harry and Ron in Second Year). She knows that Gryffindor is her life, and has been, for so long. She lived through the worst years of Slytherin, and then suffered under Severus Snape. She believed in him, because Dumbledore, a fellow Gryffindor, believed in him. Had he not, Minerva McGongall might not have trusted Snape at all.

2 Do you think she is the right person to become Headmistress? Why?

Charismatic though she is, she makes a better vice and a better teacher. I think it requires someone knew, fresher, with a better perspective on the school. I think her power is not to be underestimated, but still, not to be overestimated. A good manager and a good strategist. But all in all, more warrior than leader I think. She would do well. But I don't think she's Dumbledore.

3 Where do you think her main loyalty lies?
- The school
- The Order
- Other

I think her loyalities lie with Dumbledore. Always have always will. After years of working with him, her loyalties lie with what he believed in. Harry Potter, the Order, Gryffindor. The school is a central part of her, but she was willing to destroy it to bring down Voldemort and his crones.

4 Has her character changed through the series? How?

I think it hasn't really. From the night the Potters died, to the night VOldemort did, she displayed loyalty, a sense of justice, and the emotion, humour and cynicism that has always been expected of her. Little changed, except that in the latest book, we see her in action as we hadn't before. We had to assume though, that she was fairly brilliant, or otherwise how would she have survived the first time? And she was well in with Dumbledore, so she would also have had to prove herself around him, possibly for a long time. She breaks rules to protect the students, because that's what she knows Dumbledore would have done. Realising Harry's importance, her affection for him shines through. Being strict about rule breaking in book one and two, and then being happy to break rules in book 7, is a completely different situation. She was always flexible, remember Harry and the broom? Winning his position on the Gryffindor team?

5 What, if any, has her impact on Harry been?

I think she taught Harry a lot, taught him, if anything, the true spirit of Gryffindor. She was rather grandmotherly to him at times, and I think he trusted her a lot too. He defended her in a way that maybe he wouldn't have had he not appreciated and valued her so much.

6 What do you think of her role in DH? Do you think she was effective in protecting students from the Carrows?

I think she was, very. But I also think that the DA could not be protected. I imagine they had it in for them from the beginning really. She protected what she could of the other students with vigour. It's obvious that this has resulted in various levels of degradation for her, but at the same time, there's little that she wouln't do for the school, and it's studnets, and I think this shines through.

Um… so much for the Minerva McGonagall is evil idea?

I would have liked to see more of her, but she certainly was the avenging warrior in the battle. I've always loved Professor McGonagall and she lived up to everything I expect from her character.

1 As a teacher, head of house and Deputy Headmistress.
- Is she impartial or does she show favouritism.
- Other
I think that she shows some favouritism, but still she was strict and fair, not letting that favouritism affect her judgement and the ability to be a good teacher.

2 Do you think she is the right person to become Headmistress? Why?
I believe that she could be a good Headmistress, as a matter of fact I can see any other person more suitable for the job. She is skilled and has a lot of experience, not only at Hogwarts but also being a member of the Order. She would be more strict than Dumbledore and maybe less charismatic, but still a very good Headmistress

3 Where do you think her main loyalty lies?
- The school
- The Order
- Other
Her loyalty lies in both Hogwarts and its students and staff and the Order. Of course that she main role stays at the school, so the school, the preservation of the magical studies and the students are more important for her than the Order.

4 Has her character changed through the series? How?
Yes. We could notice more of that change in OotP, where she did the best to protect the students and the school staff, confronting Umbridge. She also shows a great sence of humor in the book.

5. What, if any, has her impact on Harry been?
I think she had. He had confidence and confort from her despite the fact that she was strict, because she was also fair. The fact that she was skilled, strict and fair was important as a balance for Harry, since Snape was at the bottom of the scale and Dumbledore at the top, so a bit of well balanced judgement was very good for him.

6 What do you think of her role in DH? Do you think she was effective in protecting students from the Carrows?
I was sad for the fact that her role was smaller than I was expecting, since I like her a lot. Regarding Carrows, I believe that she did her best to protect the students just as she did when Umbridge took over the school. She was great at the preparation for the battle and during the battle itself. First she worked to make shure that the students that were underage were protected and went to the fight in the front row, very brave. Great woman and great teacher.

I was sad for the fact that her role was smaller than I was expecting, since I like her a lot. Regarding Carrows, I believe that she did her best to protect the students just as she did when Umbridge took over the school. She was great at the preparation for the battle and during the battle itself. First she worked to make shure that the students that were underage were protected and went to the fight in the front row, very brave. Great woman and great teacher. :tu: I have to agree. Minerva is my hero.

I've been re-reading the series, and I have to say how much I love that even though she's such a strict teacher, she's still got this youthful competitive attitude when it comes to the Quidditch Cup. "Do try and win this year. I couldn't look Professor Snape in the face for months the last time..." (I paraphrased) Brilliant!

I was also sad to see so little of her in DH, but every single scene with her in it was fabulous. Especially when she though Harry was dead. I realize that the real reason she was probably so upset was that she figured that now they were done for and LV was going to win, but I like to think she really cares about Harry too. I think she's been almost as much of a mother to him as Mrs. Weasley, just in a different way.

I've been re-reading the series, and I have to say how much I love that even though she's such a strict teacher, she's still got this youthful competitive attitude when it comes to the Quidditch Cup. "Do try and win this year. I couldn't look Professor Snape in the face for months the last time..." (I paraphrased) Brilliant!

:lol: I loved that too, and I think it's all in good fun, but some people think she shows favoritism toward Gryffindor. What do you think?

MM does show Gryffindor favoritism, but I expect what she showed was no worse than what any of the other heads-of-house showed. And MM certainly picked her spots to show favoritism - she wasn't relentless with it.

I was glad to see she wasn't a spy or anything; she just is a character whose backstory we only have a tiny fragment of.

I was a bit disappointed in her using "Imperio"; but at least on the scale of what she did with it, she was relatively harmless. She just made the Carrows stay put. I do wish she'd done it some other way, though :p.

Her leadership, when the opportunity presented itself, was also quite good. She just picked her spots :).

I was a bit disappointed in her using "Imperio"; but at least on the scale of what she did with it, she was relatively harmless. She just made the Carrows stay put. I do wish she'd done it some other way, though :p.

It was war, and people were AK-ing each other all over the place, so the Imperius Curse was not as bad as that. In war, can there realistically be limits?

It was war, and people were AK-ing each other all over the place, so the Imperius Curse was not as bad as that. In war, can there realistically be limits?

I agree with your statement...but she used it on a waking up Carrow; not in the middle of battle. There were no other DE's in the Ravenclaw Tower. However, in battle, there are things that are forgiven that aren't forgiven elsewhere, yes.

Minerva was great in the final battle. There were 2 lines from her that I especially loved: when she told Slughorn that he & his students could leave, but if any of them stayed/returned and tried to sabotage their defense, that they would fight to kill; and when Pansy Parkinson wanted to hand Harry over, McGonagall made her evacuate first with Filch.:tu:

I found it strange that she's never made more use of her animagus form. It seems to have been forgotten after the first book. I only remembered she could turn into a cat while re-reading DH, at the point where it shows her patronus is one.

I found it strange that she's never made more use of her animagus form. It seems to have been forgotten after the first book. I only remembered she could turn into a cat while re-reading DH, at the point where it shows her patronus is one.

I strongly suspect she was using her animagus form during her Order work in OoTP. Her form is probably well-known, though, so using it to wander on into DE camp isn't advisable - many DE children have seen her transform.

That being said, it is sort of curious that we only see it a few times in the books.

Heh, I personally loved McGonagall more in this book than any other - and that's saying something. I love her relationship with Harry - how Harry could get so angry at seeing her being treated badly and stepped on, and her in turn to be glowing with pride over having him in her house, and to do whatever it took to follow Dumbledore's orders on Harry's word, and yet keeping to her strict personality as she reminded him to hop to it in the Great Hall ;P

The use of Unforgivable Curses in this book I actually enjoyed compared with a lot of controversy I've heard from others. Harry using Crucio gave me an idea of the loyalty he felt to her and to Gryffindor and even the school, which she in a way represents. Her using Imperio just after that left me feeling as if it was her way of saying 'it's okay' to Harry. I know they're not curses to toy with, but I by that point, I can understand where McGonagall's coming from. Here are the people who have been getting kids to torture other kids while she's been powerless to prevent it, and has actually been forced to turn kids over to them if they're misbehaving and she can't get them off. They were actually just talking about how the DEs would blame the Ravenclaws for the Mark burning. It could have been a way for McGonagall to siphon off some frustration, while using Amycus almost as despicably as he's treated human life for the past year in Hogwarts.

And while I realize this is no excuse for the Curse, but just the fact that she used it almost humourously rather than to hurt him didn't make me feel at all put off to her character. I actually found it rather amusing, and I liked her even more because of it.

Of course, it all depends on personal tastes.

1 As a teacher, head of house and Deputy Headmistress.
- Is she impartial or does she show favouritism.
- Other

She isn't perfect... but from where I stand she seems to be unbiased.

2 Do you think she is the right person to become Headmistress? Why?

Yep, I think that she is, she's good at being a teacher... has a general good rapport with the students. She's more strict than Dumbledore was, but she cares for the students and faculty about as much as he did and I think she'll make one heck of a headmistress ;).

3 Where do you think her main loyalty lies?
- The school
- The Order
- Other

I think that they lie with both the School and the Order, moreso in some ways with the school though. She does her best to try and keep both the staff and students safe from harm and that's a good thing.

4 Has her character changed through the series? How?

Yep, she's become a more compassionate character and her sense of humor really started to shine through in OOTP ;) :cool:. She cares about the school and the safety and welfare of both the students and the staff under her care.

5 What, if any, has her impact on Harry been?

She has been a good influence, even offering to help him back in OOTP, so he can become an Auror.

6 What do you think of her role in DH? Do you think she was effective in protecting students from the Carrows?

I thought that she would have had a larger role, but I think for the most part that she was effective as she could have been in protecting the students from the Carrows.

I think shes incredible in DH, her fight scene is awesome and i love the way she has pride because harry is in her house, this is reinforeced when harry crucios the carrow because he spat at her - awesome. Real loyalty between the two and when she screams at harrys body, she is softie at heart but theres being a lot thorought other books to show she is as well. Go Minerva!!

Minerva has always been a strong character, and I for one am happy she survived. She came out, in the battle didn't she...we've never seen her that strong....even in HBP, we only saw her partly in battle, but in DH she was grand. Her reaction when she thought Harry was dead............priceless!

M.McGonagall
Headmistress, Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

1 As a teacher, head of house and Deputy Headmistress.
- Is she impartial or does she show favouritism.
- Other

Most of the time she is impartial, but we do see she is a softie underneath and she has shown favouritism. For example, in PS she let Harry join the Quidditch team when other teachers would have instead punished him.

2. Do you think she is the right person to become Headmistress? Why?

I think she would have been a good Headmistress if she had had the chance (she still might have done post-DH). She would have been awesome...a lot like Dumbledore I can imagine...only stricter :D

3. Where do you think her main loyalty lies?
- The school
- The Order
- Other

Primarily, her loyalty lies to Dumbledore and to the school. She trusted what Dumbledore said. The school would be her first priority as she cares for the students within it. Then next the Order because she could not sit by and watch Voldemort take over - she is a true Gryffindor at heart.

4 Has her character changed through the series? How?

We see her soften up as we get further through the series. In PS we just saw her as the tough, strict teacher who would put you in detention in an instant, but as she gets closer to Harry we see her true soft side :D

5 What, if any, has her impact on Harry been?

Other than being a good teacher, she has supported him throughout his school career and I think that's the best you can hope for from a teacher.

6 What do you think of her role in DH? Do you think she was effective in protecting students from the Carrows?

Oh most definitely. She wouldn't have been happy that Snape was Headmaster, and I believe she would have held a rebellion with the teachers if the students weren't at risk. I think also she would have been more lax on students. For example if a student didn't do their homework she wouldn't give them a detention, becase detention would probably entail being in the dungeons with Filch...:scared:

1 As a teacher, head of house and Deputy Headmistress. - Is she impartial or does she show favouritism. - Other
McGonagall is very impartial most of the time, though she does root for the Gryffindor Quidditch team. ;) She certainly doesn't show nearly as much favoritism as Snape does with Slytherin House, but as head of Gryffindor I would expect that she would show a slight bias to her house - it's only natural. We're told that she gives out points to members of her own house, so she is shown as being pretty impartial.

2 Do you think she is the right person to become Headmistress? Why?
Yes, she was the logical person to become Headmistress since she was already Deputy Headmistress. She has shown a lot of loyalty to Dumbledore and to the school during the story, so I think there really was no other person for the job.


3 Where do you think her main loyalty lies? - The school - The Order - Other
I'd say with both the school and the Order - after all, Dumbledore was also loyal to both Hogwarts and the Order. I think her loyalty for both is shown throughout the books in many different ways.

4 Has her character changed through the series? How?
I'm not sure she really changes persay, I think we just get to know her better as the story progresses. In the earlier books, she's just the strict Transfiguration teacher. But starting in OotP, we get to see more of her involvement in helping the Order, fighting against the Death Eaters/Umbridge's squads. And we see a sense of humor from her too in OotP with her telling Peeves the lightbulb unscrews the other way.

5 What, if any, has her impact on Harry been?
I think she's been a great source of encouragement for Harry. First, she brings him aboard the Quidditch team and gives him his own broomstick even though it's against the rules for First Years to have their own. She also tells Harry in front of Umbridge that if he wanted to be an Auror then no one would stand in his way. McGonagall seems to care for Harry a great deal, and she looks out for him too.

6 What do you think of her role in DH? Do you think she was effective in protecting students from the Carrows?
I was surprised that she would use the Imperius Curse, but I guess as was pointed out earlier in the thread, what she did with it didn't particularly harm anybody. I thik she was pretty effective in protecting the students from Carrows - she did what had to be done.

What do you think of her role in DH? Do you think she was effective in protecting students from the Carrows?

I was surprised that she would use the Imperius Curse, but I guess as was pointed out earlier in the thread, what she did with it didn't particularly harm anybody. I thik she was pretty effective in protecting the students from Carrows - she did what had to be done.

I respect your opinion and I do agree with you that it seemed strange to see the curses that the Order members (including McGonagall) were willing to use in DH.

I do feel that JKR tried to make this clear to readers in the 7 Potter/Fallen Warrior chapters. She was trying to show that in self-defense, even the unforgiveables were justified against DEs that were aiming to cause serious bodily injury or death to others (or one's self). JKR used Lupin to show this and being a law student, I recognized the terminology she was using immediately and understood what he was trying to say. But I am not sure that it was widely understood by the readers.

I have seen impressions from that portion of the reading where readers felt Lupin was indicating that Harry should purposely 'kill' death eaters - even though he flat out says, 'of course not' when Harry asks him that directly. However, Harry wasn't getting the idea of self-defense being all right; in his mind, any time your curse (even a stunner) caused the death of another, it was wrong. However, that attitude would have seen Harry himself killed. Lupin was kept in character as a person who cared about Harry dearly and so his speech was a bit over-reactive and muddled - I think too much so as it apparently left some confusion in the minds of the readers.

However, Harry imo learned the lesson when Ron returned having issued a stunner on a DE - and Harry was so happy his friend was alive, he had to concede that there were times when in self-defense, such curses were warranted. (Harry said not a word to Ron against his action taken and Hermione praised Ron for his action).

I believe the above scenes were given to us in explanation of what we would see during course of the book; like Minerva's use of an unforgiveable curse. The curses she used against Snape were also quite forbidding (what a great magician she was!). However, there again, she thought she was acting in defense of herself and the student body. So I was not surprised by her action based on the information given earlier. :)

1 As a teacher, head of house and Deputy Headmistress.
- Is she impartial or does she show favouritism.

She is very impartial, unlike Snape. I think she is a great teacher, but I would give maybe a few more points to my own house than others. I would like her much more than Snape.

2 Do you think she is the right person to become Headmistress? Why?

She is definitely the perfect person. She is loyal to Hogwarts (just look at her and Peeves, lol), kind, knows the perfect disciplines for students, is very fair and smart. Kind of uptight, but knows where to draw the line, she is bloody brilliant!

3 Where do you think her main loyalty lies?
- The school
- The Order
- Other

Don't forget Dumbledore! However, I think her true loyalties lie with the school. I loved how she told Peeves "it unscrews the other way". it completely made me LOL. She knew Umbridge was bad for the school, just like she hated the Carrows. A person not loyal to Hogwarts would've left to avoid too much trouble, but she stayed to protect Hogwarts and the students.

4 Has her character changed through the series? How?

I actually don't think so. She had always been so awesome, she just didn't feel a need to show it.

5 What, if any, has her impact on Harry been?

To me, she kind of seemed like a third motherly figure. (Lily being the first and Molly being the second) She was good at discipling, teaching and figuring people out. It was especially obvious in OoTP and DH how much Harry appreciated her. In OoTP, Ron, Hermione and Harry were talking about Umbridge examining McGonagoll, the actual examination was hilarious! Then there was Harry crucioing carrow, that was awesome! It's obvious how much he loves/likes Professor McGonagol

6 What do you think of her role in DH? Do you think she was effective in protecting students from the Carrows?

She definitely was. She really demonstrated her leadership/headmistress abilities in DH. I can imagine her giving out secret, better/fairer detentions for students who did something wrong. the way she planned the resistance really reminded me of Dumbledore. Whatever way she resisted the Carrows, i imagine it would be great, kind of like how she fought umbridge. It seems she's one of the few people who can control Peeves, I imagine he played a big part too.

1 As a teacher, head of house and Deputy Headmistress.
- Is she impartial or does she show favouritism. She is impartial. She's the opposite of Snape who seems to go out of his way to take points from Gryffindor. You'll find McGonagall taking points from her house.

2 Do you think she is the right person to become Headmistress? Why? Yes, I think she's the most qualified of the professors left. It's hard to say that, though, since we don't know much about the other professors. I do think she has the best traits to become headmistress. She's nice, but she's strict. She cares about her students.


4 Has her character changed through the series? How? I don't see her character changing that much. She's the same from book 1. We do see her in a broader scope, though. We see her in the Order and we see her protecting the students and actually showing emotion for Harry, through seeing him in the Ravenclaw common room and seeing him "dead." Seeing her fight is a big change, but it's not that she changes, it's that what we see of her changes.

6 What do you think of her role in DH? Do you think she was effective in protecting students from the Carrows?I think she was like the other professors and punished the students herself as much as she could. She did a good job of protecting everyone when the Carrow sibling wanted to go inside the common room believing Harry to be there.

I was pleasantly surprised by McGonagall's outburst of grief when she saw Harry's body in Hagrid's arms. She was always so efficient on keeping her emotions in check, so I didn't see it coming. I guess with this outburst she vented next to her grief all the frustration she felt from an entire year of seeing Hogwarts going down the drain and not being able to do something about it.

I was pleasantly surprised by McGonagall's outburst of grief when she saw Harry's body in Hagrid's arms. She was always so efficient on keeping her emotions in check, so I didn't see it coming. I guess with this outburst she vented next to her grief all the frustration she felt from an entire year of seeing Hogwarts going down the drain and not being able to do something about it.

McGonagall, as JKR said, is really a big softie at heart, and she was fonder of Harry than she allowed herself to admit. I suspect she felt bad that he'd had to grow up with the Dursleys, too- look at her reaction when Dumbledore says Harry must be left with them, and when Harry goes to her with an unsigned Hogsmeade slip.

I'm actually really amazed at how similar her character is to the character of David Copperfield (although another thread has revealed this to be one of her recommended books to children). When I was in high school, it was one of my favourite books, and I've only now gotten to rereading it (it's my way of procrastinating studying for organic chemistry :)).

As for Professor McGonagall vs. Miss Trotwood

Both characters are strict but incredibly fair. Both possess a strong dislike for the main character's neglectful family (both of which are orphans forced to live with the aforementioned neglectful families). And there are mirror scenes where, both produce an astonishingly different reaction than the "severe" punishment expected by their rigid outward demeanor.

What do you think of her role in DH? Do you think she was effective in protecting students from the Carrows?

I think she rose to the occasion. It is difficult to say whether it was right or wrong of the teachers to stayat Hogwarts. They certainly had the well-being of their students in mind but their staying can be interpreted as silent support from the outside. However, I think that McGonagall was marvellous in DH. Finally, she was able to show what she is capable of. I loved her grim humour in the face of war and I admired her strength.

I think McGonagall and the other teachers were right to stay, someone needed to make sure that the students weren't tortured to death. The Carrows would certainly not have hestitated to go that far.

Has anyone any idea why McGonagall wasn't in the original Order of the Phoenix? She appeared to me as one of the most active Dumbledore supporters so it would be logical for her to have joined.

I think that McGonagall and Flitwick and Hagrid, among others, stayed entirely to try to mute the effect of Snape and the Carrows upon the students. In a way, they were of more use to the Order and to the fight against Voldemort at Hogwarts than they would have been outside the school grounds. I see McGonagall as providing tacit support for the DA trio and other rebelling students (much like when she gave Harry biscuits and warned him about Umbridge in OoTP and when she installed Harry as seeker is SS/PS).

As to why she wasn't in the original order, maybe it took the events of Godric's Hollow to get her into the Order? Or perhaps Dumbledore never asked her, since she was a teacher and he may have thought in the first war that he should only use people not teaching at Hogwarts? There is a bunch of possible explanations, but I don't really like any of them...I'm trying to avoid blaming it on Dumbledore distrusting McGonagall because she was a contemporary of Tom Riddle at Hogwarts. I don't think that's the explanation, so I'm searching for others, better ones.

Or perhaps Dumbledore never asked her, since she was a teacher and he may have thought in the first war that he should only use people not teaching at Hogwarts?

That's not such a bad suggestion. It actually makes a lot of sense if you consider that apart from Snape and Hagrid only McGonagall was in the Order. Professors like Flitwick and Sprout, avid Dumbledore supporters, didn't join the Order. Dumbledore's relationship with the Ministry has always been touchy, so maybe, like you suggest, he thought it better for Hogwarts, if as much teachers as possible stayed out of the fight with Voldemort. That way when it went wrong they could not be linked to Dumbledore and their jobs were safe.

McGonagall might have insisted when Harry's parents got killed and Harry got sorted in her house to join the Order when it was reinstated. She never showed her feelings easily (until she was very provoked), but she cared for Harry in her own way. She has taught Lily and James too so that provides an extra motivation.

:agree:...

Hagrid was not a teacher during Vold War I (carefully worded statement there on my part), and Snape was a member because he was a spy and had to be a member. I think the omission of Sprout and Flitwick shows that this may be the case. And, it's completely within McGonagall's character to have her insist on joining after Godric's Hollow. In a way, her showing up on 4 Privet Drive's doorstep the entire day may have been her way of initiating herself into the Order.

:agree:...

Hagrid was not a teacher during Vold War I (carefully worded statement there on my part), and Snape was a member because he was a spy and had to be a member. I think the omission of Sprout and Flitwick shows that this may be the case.

Yes I know Hagrid wasn't a teacher in Voldy War I, I was thinking more in general terms there, why some people are in the order and others not. Might have been a bit clearer there :whistle:

And, it's completely within McGonagall's character to have her insist on joining after Godric's Hollow. In a way, her showing up on 4 Privet Drive's doorstep the entire day may have been her way of initiating herself into the Order.

Hmm good point again. There was no real reason for her to be there in an official Hogwarts capacity. She showed curiosity about what happened, but it was still a bit odd. So maybe she showed her willingness to avenge the Potters in due course to Dumbledore with her presence.

Sorry Hes - I was clarifying my own post :rolleyes:. Didn't mean to imply that you thought he was a teacher during Vold War I - the books are quite clear that he wasn't :lol:.

The contrast to Flitwick - who's also clearly on the Order's side but not in the order - does lend some credence to the suggestion that McGonagall forced her way into the Order by sitting at 4 Privet Dr. I know that it was a gap of 14 years or so before she had to take action again, but she showed her willingness then - and never wavered.

Sorry Hes - I was clarifying my own post :rolleyes:. Didn't mean to imply that you thought he was a teacher during Vold War I - the books are quite clear that he wasn't :lol:.

I must have been hit by what Luna calls a wackspurt, which makes my brain go fuzzy thus misinterpreted your post :lol:

The contrast to Flitwick - who's also clearly on the Order's side but not in the order - does lend some credence to the suggestion that McGonagall forced her way into the Order by sitting at 4 Privet Dr. I know that it was a gap of 14 years or so before she had to take action again, but she showed her willingness then - and never wavered.

True, loyalty is in my view her biggest strength. If she believes in something she sticks with it, that's why she was always so though on her own Gryffindor students. Loyalty to the school and Dumbledore.

I wonder how much she was genuinely hurt by Dumbledore's lack of trust concerning his plans for Harry. Or did she accept it and pushed it away because of her unwavering loyalty.

McGonagall is my she-ro!!! She's exceptionally fair and when its time to handle business, this lady ain't no joke!!! I believe her astrological sign would be a capricorn. She harbors all the traits of one. I believe her loyalties lie with both Hogwarts and The Order. I love the way she keeps her composure amidst certain company, very professional and classy. I fell in love with McGonagall after she took 4 blasts to the chest and simply stumbled. She's strong in more ways than one. Her strength is what makes her who she is. She doesn't fall to pieces like Molly, I'd say she's like Bellatrix, but with a more sophisticated air about her.

She is not to be underestimated and she's slick with her vocabulary. Knows exactly what to say and when to say it with sincerity and sarcasm. She exemplifies a true lady. Her mannerisms, strategy, and composure.

Furthermore, when its time to fight she has proved that she is not a "prissy" lady when its time to get down and dirty. When War was declared at Hogwarts she was the commander in chief and shot caller. Also she dueled with Voldemort herself the most so called feared wizard of all time and she was getting hers in with him.

She is one of my most loved favorite characters in the whole Harry Potter series.

She is one of my most loved favorite characters in the whole Harry Potter series.


Same here. (Great post btw even though I didn't quote it all:p)

I've always loved McGonagall. She's tough, won't take any nonsense from anyone but she is fair and loyal. She was always the character I relied on to sort things out! No messing. I always remember being outrages when she got stunned in OOTP:no:. And I think she had a great deal of affection for Harry.

She would make a great headmistress:tu:

I wonder how much she was genuinely hurt by Dumbledore's lack of trust concerning his plans for Harry. Or did she accept it and pushed it away because of her unwavering loyalty.

I think she accepted it because I think that she understood Dumbledore and what he was doing. He had many reasons for not filling her in. 1)She was nearly motherly, dare I say, to Harry in many instances. Imagine if she ever got too attaced to Harry only then to find out he was a "lamb to the slaughter"? She never would have allowed it. 2)What Dumbledore's main reason was is to keep her focused on the school. Especially when Dumbledore figured out the Horcruxes he knew that he would not be able to devote his attention to the school and would need someone who could run the school in his stead.

Being in the Order means you have to do a lot of work outside of your regular job. It doesn’t just mean you support Dumbledore and the cause. Perhaps McGonagall is the only professor willing to do the extra work.

Discussion brought over from the Snape analysis thread, v. 13.

:agree: (Frankly, I think Minerva should have been more sympathetic to Neville too. :no: She gets there in the end, in OotP.)

I feel strongly that the Wizard World we are shown is one in which modern Muggle child psychology and theories of education are not known. And thus I find that "should have" is problematic.

Especially as I do not see the evidence that Neville was damaged by his school experiences. He was not successful in Potions or Transfiguration, but he did manage enough OWLs to have worthwhile NEWT classes to take, and he grew as a person.

I do agree that Minerva had a responsibility towards Neville which Severus did not have, as she was his Head of House, the closest thing to a surrogate parent for him at the school. However, it is my opinoin that she discharged it, if not personally. I think she was well aware that there was a teacher with whom Neville had a close, supportive relationship, and in whose classs he was succeeding brilliantly. Namely, Pomona Sprout. "Moody" picked up on this early in GoF, which suggests,a s he was new there, that it was common knowledge.

Recogniziong that Pomona was more personally suited to help Neville and leaving her to it, seems a reasonable approach to me.

I feel strongly that the Wizard World we are shown is one in which modern Muggle child psychology and theories of education are not known.

Which is a big problem I have with it, I have to confess. :yuhup:

Not in literary terms, obviously. The story is what it is.

But I wouldn't want to live in the Potterverse. It's rather ... regressive. :whistle:

Especially as I do not see the evidence that Neville was damaged by his school experiences. He was not successful in Potions or Transfiguration, but he did manage enough OWLs to have worthwhile NEWT classes to take, and he grew as a person.

Sure. :tu:

I do agree that Minerva had a responsibility towards Neville which Severus did not have, as she was his Head of House, the closest thing to a surrogate parent for him at the school. However, it is my opinion that she discharged it, if not personally. I think she was well aware that there was a teacher with whom Neville had a close, supportive relationship, and in whose classs he was succeeding brilliantly. Namely, Pomona Sprout. "Moody" picked up on this early in GoF, which suggests, as he was new there, that it was common knowledge.

Recognizing that Pomona was more personally suited to help Neville and leaving her to it, seems a reasonable approach to me.[/QUOTE]

Oh, I like Minerva a lot, and find her to be very fair pretty much most of the time.

One of my favourite Minerva passages is when she is counselling Harry not to antagonise Umbridge in OotP. The conversation ends with her saying brusquely, "Well, thank heaven you listen to Hermione Granger, at least," or words to that effect. :lol:

And her putdown of Umbridge, when she is giving Harry careers advice on becoming an Auror, is delicious. :D

I think McGonagall lacked patience with children like Neville and Peter - but I don't feel that her behavior ever crossed the line to the extent of bullying or mistreating them. Nonetheless, I do think there was room for improvement in her teaching - I think she could have worked on being more patient and empathetic with this type of student.

I think McGonagall lacked patience with children like Neville and Peter - but I don't feel that her behavior ever crossed the line to the extent of bullying or mistreating them. Nonetheless, I do think there was room for improvement in her teaching - I think she could have worked on being more patient and empathetic with this type of student.

With Minerva I don't think it was a problem of patience. My impression, is that she intended to treat her whole class equally. A bright student (i.e Hermione), like an average one (i.e Harry) like a weak student, (i.e Neville). Personally, I find this way of teaching, a really good one, as long as she was being fair with the three types of students. She was a capable teacher. Which makes me that think her teaching methods would be enough to help weak students and raise their self-confidence. Not to mention that being treated the same way as a bright student would help weak students alot. I spotted some compassion in her as well. In HBP, I was suprised by how kind she was to Neville, when he couldn't achieve a good grade to carry on studying her subject. The way I saw it, her manner didn't make him hurt or feel tardy. On the contrary, she tried to boost his ego, by saying that; while he wasn't so good at transfiguration, he could certainly perform admirably in other magical areas. I admired Minerva's strictness, too. Being strict was the way to help average students like Ron and Harry. Students who could perform very well, as long as they concentrated on their work.

She probably wasn't a perfect teacher. She had some flaws and mistakes, but I consider her as one of the best teachers we knew in the series :tu:

1 As a teacher, head of house and Deputy Headmistress.
- Is she impartial or does she show favouritism.
- Other

I think that she tries to be as impartial as possible, but she's only human. She's head of Gryffindor house so she's going to have some sort of preference to them, but she doesn't want to be seen as showing favourites (Like Snape was always known to). I think that she shows her preferences very little, but they are still there, like when she doesn't give Harry and Ron homework in the week leading up to the Quidditch match.

2 Do you think she is the right person to become Headmistress? Why?

Yes. She knows how to run the school and has done so on a number of occasions. In Harry's sixth year, we know Dumbledore to be missing from the school a lot of the time, so it's only natural that he's left the school in the capable hands of his deputy- someone who knows how to keep things running smoothly, and who is respected by (the majority of) the pupils.

3 Where do you think her main loyalty lies?
- The school
- The Order
- Other

The school. I mean the Order's important and all, but I think her main loyalty is to the school. She is, first and foremost, a teacher, and the protection and education of her students comes before anything else.

4 Has her character changed through the series? How?

I don't think that her character has changed, more like Harry's relationship with her has changed- it's the same with any teacher/student relationship. Harry's getting older, he's getting more mature, and she can see that, so she's able to react to him in a different way. She knows that he's gone through a lot more than most, and she's able to show him that she's a person, not just a teacher.

5 What, if any, has her impact on Harry been?

Well, as we see in DH, Harry has a lot of respect for her, and I think he always did. Yes, he got on the wrong side of her a lot, but that's the same with any students with their teachers- even if they're your favourite teacher/pupil, you're still going to have run-ins with them. I think that she showed a lot of faith in Harry, and what springs to mind there is Harry's career advice. I know that a lot of it was just to get at Umbridge, but I think that she really did believe that Harry could become an Auror, because she began to tell him about what he'd need to do in order to achieve it, even before Umbridge stuck her nose in.

6 What do you think of her role in DH? Do you think she was effective in protecting students from the Carrows?

As effective as she could be. I think that she may have worried that her standing up to the Carrows would have a worse effect on those they were bullying than had she said nothing. Saying that, I very much doubt that she did say nothing. I don't think that her actions would have had much effect on those two, they were very disagreeable characters, and we know that they couldn't stand her, hence the fact that Harry stood up for her in the Ravenclaw common room

With Minerva I don't think it was a problem of patience. My impression, is that she intended to treat her whole class equally. A bright student (i.e Hermione), like an average one (i.e Harry) like a weak student, (i.e Neville).

It seemed to me, through aside sorts of mentions in the books, that McG did not treat all students equally. In particular, I believe she served as a special mentor for Hermione Granger. Little details that lead me to this conclusion include the fact that McG seeing Hermione's bad resport card was Hermione's Boggart, the fact that McG arranged for the Time-Turner in PoA, and McG's comment to Harry in OotP, that it is a good thing he at least listens to Hermione. (To know what Hermione was saying, she presumably had to have spoken to Hermione herself...)

I also think that she was not ideally suited to be a "soft, friendly" teacher for Neville specifically, in part because she would have reminded Neville of his grandmother, a person he feared almost as much as Snape based on is comments in the Boggart lesson of PoA. Like his grandmother, she is an elderly, so far as we can see single/widowed, tough, talented witch.

Then again, I do not believe that at secondary school, it is the job of every teacher to be the perfect teacher to every student. I do agree she is an excellent teacher. :)

While McGonagall definitely liked Hermione as a person I don't think she ever gave her any preferential treatment inside lessons. Unlike other teachers (excluding Professor Snape), who doted on her for her abilities. I think McGonagall only gave Hermione as much attention as anyone else in the class, making her more evenhanded. As has been mentioned above I think this made her one of the best teachers. In some ways her fairness made her a good teacher, in that no-one felt singled out or patronised. However, it didn't do as much good to students like Neville as a caring, individual teacher such as Professor Lupin.

It seemed to me, through aside sorts of mentions in the books, that McG did not treat all students equally. In particular, I believe she served as a special mentor for Hermione Granger. Little details that lead me to this conclusion include the fact that McG seeing Hermione's bad resport card was Hermione's Boggart, the fact that McG arranged for the Time-Turner in PoA, and McG's comment to Harry in OotP, that it is a good thing he at least listens to Hermione. (To know what Hermione was saying, she presumably had to have spoken to Hermione herself...)

I agree and quite like the idea of McGonagall being Hermione's 'mentor' in the series. But I think this is less about McGonagall prefering Hermione, and more that McGonagall's strict style of teaching was exactly the kind of environment that Hermione excelled at, and also that McG was Hermione's Head of House. In other words, I think it was more about McG being a perfect fit for Hermione just the way she was, rather than McG giving her special treatment. Of course, their relationship changes as the books go on, but this is how I think it was initially.

...and McG's comment to Harry in OotP, that it is a good thing he at least listens to Hermione.(To know what Hermione was saying, she presumably had to have spoken to Hermione herself...)

I always thought that this was McG being intuitive and knowing that Harry wasn't really intelligent enough to reach the conclusion (that the Ministry was interfering at Hogwarts) from Umbrige's speech.

I found McGonagall on eof the best Hogwarts teachers. She was a role model with a fierce desire to do good in the world, be extremely loyal and be a most capable teacher. Students rarely found the nerve to be particularly disobedient in her class, yet she was not cruel. McGonagall truly valued education and I believe she was skilled at spotting potential in her students.

I think McGonagall lacked patience with children like Neville and Peter - but I don't feel that her behavior ever crossed the line to the extent of bullying or mistreating them. Nonetheless, I do think there was room for improvement in her teaching - I think she could have worked on being more patient and empathetic with this type of student.

She really pushed everyone to stirve for perfection, those who were less than average (ie neville) were pushed that much more by her. She was a very important "elder" or "mentor" type of person to Harry, but it was very much indirect than Dumbldore, Lupin, Sirius, Hargird. She was always much more in the backround, but present and influential none the less.

One of my favorite parts of book 7, a scene I am desperate and very hopeful to see in DH 2 (although very unlikley to see, due to it's direct involvment of the complex and neglected diadem plot) is when Harry does the crucio spell on one of the Carrows after they spit on Mcgonagall. It really shows the amount of underlying respect he has for her and that she has for him when she and carrow are talking just prior to the spell. The relationship betwenn Harry and Minerva was not really neglected, cause I think Jo already had a full plate of "primary" influences for Harry in Lupin, DD, Sirius ect...I would have liked to see more take place between them though. Not to mention more Mcgonagall in general.

One of my favourite McGonagall quotes are

"But why would he be in the Ravenclaw Tower? Potter belongs to my House!"

I think it sums up McGonagall to the last 'l'.

One of my favourite McGonagall quotes are

"But why would he be in the Ravenclaw Tower? Potter belongs to my House!"

I think it sums up McGonagall to the last 'l'.

I wouldn't say that. Whilst the quote shows many sides to McGonagall such as her fond admiration of Harry and pride of her own house, there are still parts of her personality that are not at all sighted. McGonagall's fierce loyalty to the Order and Dumbledore as well as love of traching are not summed up in that quote.

:agree: But yes, it is a good one.

McGonagall truly valued education and I believe she was skilled at spotting potential in her students.

I quite agree. While she didn't expect all students to excell in her own subject, she believed that all of them had other fields and areas in which they could shine and show true skill.

McGonagall truly valued education and I believe she was skilled at spotting potential in her students.

That's true. When she couldn't accept Neville in Transfiguration, she encouraged him to take Charms, because of his good grades in it, and told him "she would drop Augusta a line that just because she failed her Charm OWL, it did not mean that it was a useless subject," or something along those lines.

1 As a teacher, head of house and Deputy Headmistress.
- Is she impartial or does she show favouritism.
- Other

I think she really tries to be impartial. It's difficult at Quidditch Matches, of course. But, even then she's always onto Lee Jordan for being totally pro-Gryffindor in his commentary.

When she metes out her punishments, she is as fair as possible. Even when Harry wants to go to Hogsmeade, she won't break the rules to let him go (we know partly because of Sirius Black, partly because of the rules).

It's hard to belong to a House for seven years and then not show a tad of partiality. But, I think she works very hard to be impartial.

2 Do you think she is the right person to become Headmistress? Why?

Yes. She has been Dumbledore's "right hand," as far as running the school, and, filled in for him many, many times when he was away. As Deputy Headmistress, it's only fitting that she be promoted, since is most capable of doing the job.

3 Where do you think her main loyalty lies?
- The school
- The Order
- Other

I think she would see that what was good for the Order was good for the school, in that, if there was no Order to protect it, the school would fall quickly. So, I think her loyalty was to both -- one through the work of the other.

4 Has her character changed through the series? How?

No. She was the one, to me, who stayed the same through the entire series. She was pretty much the same at the end, other than her health being affected by getting hit by a curse.

5 What, if any, has her impact on Harry been?

I see her impact as showing fairness and the value of loyalty to your friends and to a cause.

6 What do you think of her role in DH? Do you think she was effective in protecting students from the Carrows?

She did everything she could under the circumstances. There wasn't a lot anyone could do once Voldemort took over Hogwarts and put in his own regime.

1. As a teacher, head of house and Deputy Headmistress, is she impartial or does she show favouritism?

As a Head of House she does, of course, show favouritism towards Gryffindor, for example, she wants them to beat Slytherin at Quidditch, however, she treats all pupils the same, which makes her a better teacher than Snape, IMO. She deducts points from Gryffindor, even when they're in danger of losing the Cup and she disciplines Gryffindor students as much as any other pupils.

2. Do you think she is the right person to become Headmistress? Why?

She is definately the right person to become Headmistress. She has always shown immense loyalty to the school, she is a very powerful witch and she is a strict, but fair teacher which would make her an effective leader of the school.

3. Where do you think her main loyalty lies?
- The school
- The Order
- Other

I think her main loyalties lay in Albus Dumbledore and so because he was Headmaster of Hogwarts and founder of the Order, she showed both institutions equal amounts of loyalty.

4.Has her character changed through the series? How?

I think as the series goes on she becomes more protective of the school. She defends the students and staff against Umbridge, she goes to help Hagrid when the Aurors come for him and she goes into Ravenclaw Tower to protect the students against the Carrows.

5. What, if any, has her impact on Harry been?

She encouraged him in his dream to become an Auror, she enforced how much Dumbledore cared for him and she grew to be quite close to him - she defended him personally against Umbridge, she took Hermione's concerns about the Firebolt seriously and she was horrified and devastated when she thought he was dead. In return, Harry was disgusted when Carrow spat on her and jumped to take revenge.

6. What do you think of her role in DH? Do you think she was effective in protecting students from the Carrows?

I think she did all she could to defend the students against the Carrows and I think she played an important role in the final battle.

Brought over from discussion on Snape: character analysis thread:

McGonagall wants to see Gryffindor win, but not at the cost of letting people get away with things. I seem to recall it was McGonagall who took 150 points from her own House. We never see Snape taking points from Slytherin. I don't see why not, as the House Cup wouldn't have mattered a jot to Voldemort
, Severus didnt figure that out( neither did Proff Mcgonagall, for that matter). Gifted teachers like Remus are very very rare.

I'd like to point out the fact that McGonagall never punished a student for their school work. She never took points, shouted at a child because he/she failed to answer a question or manage to perform a spell. WHen Harry and Ron failed to perform a certain spell in class, they were only given extra homework (which, I think was to help them improve their level at the subject). The only case where we were told that she had punished a student for school work, was when Draco failed to hand his homework multiple times.
The only incident when McGonagall was hard on Neville (at least what I remember), is when he lost the password to the Gryffindor tower, which resulted in allowing mad murderer into their common room. I think she punished him, then, because he needed to be more careful in regards to his friends' and his own safety. Also, I now remember, when she punished him for being out of bed in their first year, that was for his safety, as well. And he learnt a good lesson there, judging with how he stood up to the trio, when they tried to get out of the common room.

I don't recall any incident when Neville was trembling or even worried in a Transfiguration class. He may have struggled with the subject, but that wasn't because McGonagall was scary, or harsh with him, as far as I remember she never punished for school work.

Thus, I don't see where the impression that McGonagall is harsh teacher comes from. To me she is as good as Lupin. She rewards her students for their achievments and doesn't punish them if they struggled. She is strict, and doesn't like lazy students, but she isn't at all cruel, imo.

Actually, some students (like myself) like McGonagall-type teachers more than those like Lupin (that's not saying he's a bad teacher). I think Hermione liked her too much. And those who didn't like her, always had some respect for her. Even Draco never made fun of her, the way he did of other teachers.

^ I agree. I quite like McGonagall, she's a very strict, no-nonsense type who tries to be fair and encourages her students. You know you can depend on her when there's trouble, and she'll go all out to protect her charges. I feel that Remus based his style of teaching on her (since he's an ex-student), but he's more approachable and friendly. Out of the two, I prefer Remus.

1 As a teacher, head of house and Deputy Headmistress.
- Is she impartial or does she show favouritism.
- Other
She is decidedly impartial. Very much so. When Harry does well, or ron or hermione, she rewards them as other teachers, except snape, do. But when they do something wrong she is all over them with almost a righteous indignation.

2 Do you think she is the right person to become Headmistress? Why?
Yes, I would say so, and precisely for this ability to look at students in an objective manor, with the appropriate distance, thus making it easier for her to be just, not show favoritism. Plus she has a healthy level of disgust with breaking rules.

3 Where do you think her main loyalty lies?
- The school
- The Order
- Other
Othere. The students.

4 Has her character changed through the series? How?
I don't really think so, though in OOTP she, like other profs, turned a blind eye to the weasley twins attempts to **** off umbridge.

5 What, if any, has her impact on Harry been?
I don't know.

6 What do you think of her role in DH? Do you think she was effective in protecting students from the Carrows?
I'll have to come back to this after I reread the book next week.

1 As a teacher, head of house and Deputy Headmistress.
- Is she impartial or does she show favouritism.
- Other

I don't think she's exactly impartial because although she doesn't tend to show favouritism, she does seem to be harsher on the Gryffindor's because I'm assuming she expects the best from them. In GoF, she tells Neville not to try to show how inept at transfiguration in front of the students from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons which is too harsh IMO, and she is unlikely to do it to any other student from a different house. Apart from that, there is a bit of favouritism when it comes to Quidditch - she didn't really need to get Harry the best broom on the market in PS but there is no outright favouritism the rest of the time.

2 Do you think she is the right person to become Headmistress? Why?

She must have been appointed Dumbledore's deputy for a reason, so I think she would be a good headmistress. She was for a while in CoS and the end of HBP and we see her working with the other heads of houses and that's good.

3 Where do you think her main loyalty lies?
- The school
- The Order
- Other

This is a hard question. I think that because her work for both sort of intertwined then her loyalty would be the same for both.

4 Has her character changed through the series? How?

Probably not, we don't really see her much apart from as a teacher at the beginning of the series - it's only in OotP that she really shows her personality. From what we see of her I don't think she changes.

5 What, if any, has her impact on Harry been?

I think she did have an impact because Harry felt so strongly about sticking up for her in DH, but he'd probably do that for most of the teachers that he knows (apart from Snape maybe :p). Heck, he even offers to take Trelawney to Dumbledore's office in HBP.

She's probably the teacher Harry's closest to except for Dumbledore and Hagrid (and Lupin in PoA). I think he respects her a lot and she gave him a chance in PS letting him on the Quidditch team - that certainly had an impact on him.

6 What do you think of her role in DH? Do you think she was effective in protecting students from the Carrows?

I'm sure she did the best she could, there would have been a fine line between protecting the students and making sure the Carrows didn't find out and have her sacked, or killed.

1 As a teacher, head of house and Deputy Headmistress.
- Is she impartial or does she show favouritism?
She's definitely more fair than say, Snape, but she is prone to occasional bias (such as when she gives Ron and Harry the night off homework before Quidditch games). Nothing major and it's perfectly natural, but she's not wholly unbiased.

2 Do you think she is the right person to become Headmistress? Why?
I think so - she's clearly proven herself to be a leader and a competent teacher who cares about her students without getting too close.

3 Where do you think her main loyalty lies?
- The school
- The Order
I think her loyalty to the school and the Order is one and the same. Yeah she continued to teach while the school was under Voldemort's control - however I'm sure she did all she could in secret to help the dissidents.

4 Has her character changed through the series? How?
I think we're definitely seeing a lot more of her lighter side these days, especially in her dealings with Umbridge in OoTP. I love her snarky sense of humour - "he has achieved high marks in all Defence Against the Dark Arts exams set by a competent teacher."

5 What, if any, has her impact on Harry been?
I think she's definitely had an impact - not to the extent of Dumbledore and Snape, but as Harry pointed out, she's always "dependably, solidly present". I think that constancy was something Harry valued.

6 What do you think of her role in DH? Do you think she was effective in protecting students from the Carrows?
I think she was as effective as she could be, especially since Snape had to keep up the facade of working with the Carrows.

To me, she hasnt changed, we've just other aspects of her as the books have come by. She has always been constant , with her set of beliefs and firm loyalty to Dumbledore and understanding of Harry.

Her role on Harry was wonderfully shown in the 7th book when Harry uses the Cruciatus curse because Carrow spat at her. It just showed that despite the fact that she wasnt a major character, and that she never favoured Harry in the way say Snape favoured Malfoy and that Dumbledore or Remus Lupin and other teachers had a more direct influence on her, there was an understanding and a subtle bond between them. She was a constant and she genuinely cared about Harry just like he did about her, only it wasnt obvious

She was a constant and she genuinely cared about Harry just like he did about her, only it wasnt obvious

I agree with this. I think McGonagall was always fond of Harry and always valued his bravery. It first showed, when she told him about his father being a Quidditch player when at Hogwarts, and that he would've been proud of Harry. The way I read that remark, she wasn't just complimenting Harry's Quidditch abilities but also his bravery in standing up to Malfoy.

I also like that she was sympathising with him a lot of times; in PoA when he had to stay at the school when all the kids went to Hogsmeade, she showed that she was sorry for him. Same thing when he had to compete in the Triwizard Tournament, she sympathising when he faced difficulties, proud and encouraging when he achieved something.

In OotP, I think it was the first time that she didn't make an effort to hide her support for him (Career Advice), I think she was risking her position by standing up to him and defying Umbridge like that.

IMO, this treatment was very likely to trigger Harry's respect and the admiration/pride he felt in DH, when Carrow humilated her.

Minerva McGonagall: Character Analysis

1 As a teacher, head of house and Deputy Headmistress.
- Is she impartial or does she show favouritism.
- Other
She may have her preferences - she obviously likes Hermione and Harry and doesn't care a lot for Draco, but as a teacher, head of house and deputy headmistress, she shows the utmost impartiality.

She defended Draco when he was turned into a ferret (great scene, that) though she must have laughed inside.

She's also very supportive Neville. Unlike his grandma, she sees his potential.

I guess once she got to be headmistress, she still retains a special affection for Gryffindor, but she wouldn't let it show or affect her decisions.

2 Do you think she is the right person to become Headmistress? Why?
Yes, because of the traits listed above, and because she's smart. She's kind but can be stern, she has all the makings of a good headmistress.

3 Where do you think her main loyalty lies?
- The school
- The Order
- Other
IMO the side of good in general. Doing what's right, moral and ethical.

4 Has her character changed through the series? How?
She may have come more sympathetic to muggleborns. Not that she had anything against them before, but seeing Hermione may have dissolved any reservations she may have had before.

She's probably gotten a lot tougher too.

5 What, if any, has her impact on Harry been?
Given him more confidence in the Hogwarts staff. She counterbalances Snape's impact. She also got him onto the Quidditch team in his first year.

6 What do you think of her role in DH? Do you think she was effective in protecting students from the Carrows?
There wasn't much she could do, but what little she could, I think she did. The way, in fact, Snape himself did, like sending Ginny, Neville and Luna to the Forest as "punishment". Definitely better than leaving them to the tender mercies of the Carrows.

She's obviously very brave - but she's also very smart. The Sorting Hat may have had trouble deciding whether to put her in Gryffindor or in Ravenclaw, IMO.

I'm not going to answer every single question, because I'm' rather tired right now, but I will say that I believe that she is most loyal to Dumbledore. I think someone up there said it but I'm not sure... Of course her main priority is Hogwarts, but Dumbledore resided at Hogwarts. When Dumbledore had to leave because of Umbridge, McGonnagal was ready to leave with him, but decided to stay at Hogwarts. Moreover, she is her own individual person, which makes her that much more amazing. She is 130% loyal to Dumbledore, but she isn't a shadow trailing after him, waiting for his instructions like Peter Pettigrew - like during the battle at Hogwarts, she knew what to do, and she did things herself also, which makes her her own self... As to Bellatrix, which is more of a shadow like Peter, and whom is scared of Voldemort, and listening to his every instruction.
You could say that Minerva and Bellatrix are a lot alike in some ways, but then again, you could also say the opposite.

1 As a teacher, head of house and Deputy Headmistress.
- Is she impartial or does she show favouritism.
I think Minerva is as impartial as she can be. In P.S, she handed out detention time to Draco andthe Trio. It didn't matter whether they were from her House or if they had done something to "protect' the welfare of another Student, all three were caught outside the school and had broken the same rule.

2 Do you think she is the right person to become Headmistress? Yes, because she's strict but fair. She also has somewhat of a domineering presence and because of that, I don't see any Student trying to over power her or questioning her. I kind of see her being like Judge Judy. The more a Student questioned or argued with her,the angrier she'd become and I see the Students knowing this and not messing with her.

3 Where do you think her main loyalty lies? Her main loyalty lies with Dumbledore and the School and Students. She'd lay her life on the line to protect them and become very aggressive if anyone laid a hand on them. I think she regarded The Order more as a necessity.


4 Has her character changed through the series? How?

5 What, if any, has her impact on Harry been? She probably was the first Maternal figure he ever had. Maternal in that she wasn't afraid to lay down the law and make him accountable for any misdeeds he committed. She didn't have that "Oh, the poor boy, we have to make exceptions for him.

6 What do you think of her role in DH? Do you think she was effective in protecting students from the Carrows? She was as effective as she could be under the circumstances. If she took on that Mother Bear "Like heck you will" "Don't fuss with me" attitude, she knew they'd probably fatally wound her and have no second thoughts. Most of all, she adored those Kids and wouldn't do anything to put their lives on the line.

1 As a teacher, head of house and Deputy Headmistress.
- Is she impartial or does she show favouritism.
- Other

I think she was a fair, just and brave person and those characteristics transferred over into all of her positions.

2 Do you think she is the right person to become Headmistress? Why?

Of course she is. She is wise, fair, loyal, brave, sympathetic, intelligent woman. IN my opinion, her and Dumbledore were almost on the same level (Dumbledore being slightly better - of course)

3 Where do you think her main loyalty lies?
- The school
- The Order
- Other

I think her loyalty lies with the school and the students. She always has their best interests at heart.

4 Has her character changed through the series? How?

I think as time goes by she becomes easier on Harry - perhaps growing more affectionate towards him? But she is ready to push him back in line if he goes too far.

5 What, if any, has her impact on Harry been?

Hmmm, I know she has quite the influence, but I just can't word it right, so I'm not even going to bother trying to avoid confusing you.

6 What do you think of her role in DH? Do you think she was effective in protecting students from the Carrows?

I think her role in DH shows how much she believed and cared for Harry. The shreik after Voldemort announces Harrys' "death" proves that.
On the Carrow front, I think she was caught between a rock and a hard place. If she stood up to the Carrows, she'd be fired, and nobody would be there to protect the school, its reputation and the students. But if she didn't then the students would continue to be abused and tossed around. But I think she did a good job.

2 Do you think she is the right person to become Headmistress? Why?
Yes, I would say so, and precisely for this ability to look at students in an objective manor, with the appropriate distance, thus making it easier for her to be just, not show favoritism. Plus she has a healthy level of disgust with breaking rules.

I think she has a respect for rules, and holds them as important. An important quality in a teacher, and moreso in a Headteacher/Deputy Head. However, as she showed in OotP and DH, she will not blindly follow rules, just because they are rules. She can see the difference between "rules" and "right and wrong".

1 As a teacher, head of house and Deputy Headmistress.
- Is she impartial or does she show favouritism?
She's definitely more fair than say, Snape, but she is prone to occasional bias (such as when she gives Ron and Harry the night off homework before Quidditch games). Nothing major and it's perfectly natural, but she's not wholly unbiased.

We see other heads of house giving leeway coming up to a Quidditch match, so it's nothing out of the ordinary. She would, IMO, be putting her Gryffindor team at a disadvantage if she had not given them the exemptions other team members got.

To me, she hasnt changed, we've just other aspects of her as the books have come by. She has always been constant , with her set of beliefs and firm loyalty to Dumbledore and understanding of Harry.

I really like this interpretation of McGonagall -Harry and the reader come to see more of her over time and get to know her better.

She defended Draco when he was turned into a ferret (great scene, that) though she must have laughed inside.

I don't think there's any canon to say she found it at all amusing. Her reaction was immediate, instinctive, IMO - she dropped the books she was holding in surprise, and went directly to stop "Moody".

4 Has her character changed through the series? How?
She may have come more sympathetic to muggleborns. Not that she had anything against them before, but seeing Hermione may have dissolved any reservations she may have had before.

I think McGonagall would have seen many Muggleborn students pass through Hogwarts. There's no indication that she was surprised that a Muggleborn could be so skilled or that she had reservations about them. In any case, she held Lily Evans Potter, another Muggleborn student, in high regard, and was visibly shaken by both the Potters' deaths.


5 What, if any, has her impact on Harry been? She probably was the first Maternal figure he ever had. Maternal in that she wasn't afraid to lay down the law and make him accountable for any misdeeds he committed. She didn't have that "Oh, the poor boy, we have to make exceptions for him.

I didn't see any of the other teachers taking on an attitude of making exceptions of that kind for Harry, either.


I think her role in DH shows how much she believed and cared for Harry. The shreik after Voldemort announces Harrys' "death" proves that.
On the Carrow front, I think she was caught between a rock and a hard place. If she stood up to the Carrows, she'd be fired, and nobody would be there to protect the school, its reputation and the students. But if she didn't then the students would continue to be abused and tossed around. But I think she did a good job.

I think she was in a very difficult situation, yes. I think she turned a blind eye to whatever she knew about the newly reformed DA. I imagine she also kept quiet where she could, rather than turning punishments over to the Carrows. Given what we see of her interactions with the Carrows and Snape (whom she still believed to be a DE at that time) I think she was politely unhelpful when she could be. She couldn't be openly defiant, but nor was she going to make life easy for any of them, nor would she jump on command.

I dont think Mcgonagall alienated them. When she said, "if the rest of your house coud follow you, Miss Parkinson..", she probably was referring to those of them who were underage or those who wanted to leave. By no means did she separate or discriminate against Slytherin House.
Canon shows how McG has always been fair to Slyth House.

I would like to preface my remarks by noting that Minerva McGonagall is one of my favorite adult characters; I like only Dumbledore and Snape better. :D However, I don't agree that canon shows much about Minerva's fairness towards Slytherin. I'd say all we can say is that we never see her being unfair to them. (Erm, with the possible exception of the scene I discuss below, discussion carried over from the Slytherin thread).

Minerva is shown, in my opinion, to have something of a temper. We can see this, for example, in her decision to take on four Aurors in defense of Hagrid in OotP, in contradiction to her own advice to Harry in the same book. And I think she found it very hard to continue on at Hogwarts under Voldemort's administration and keep that temper in check. So that when she finally had a reason to fight and targets on which to vent her pent-up feelings, I can totally understand why she would. And it does not bother me, because the things that made her angry, injustices and cruelty to her students, are things that should make her angry, as far as I am concerned. They are things that make her angry because she is a good person.

However, it was not the Slytherin students as a group who did these things. She could not even know that they all approved (though certain examples certainly did, and I presume she knew this as well). Yet she speaks to Slughorn of his students as a collective who must decide what to do (and who she seems to suspect might choose to take up arms against her side), and allows the other students to associate them all with Pansy's words, though none of them stands with Pansy. I understand why she acted as she did, but I do not agree with her handling of the situation. I think she should have asked Pansy to leave just as she did. Then, she should have asked the students who had their wands pointed at the Slytherins to stand down, as the Slytherins, still sitting at their table, had made no threatening mtions or indicated any objectionable intentions. This would have made it clear that the commander of the school's defenses, anyway, would welcome the contribution of any Slytherins who chose to stay. I think she did not, both because she was so angry at Snape, the Carrows, and Pansy that she was not thinking as logically as is usual for her, and because she entertained a suspicion that any Slytherin she allowed to stay would attempt to sabotage the school's defenses and so was happier with them gone.

I disagree with your statement that the school was pointing their wands at all members of Slytherin House. I am copying my post fromt the Slytherin thread:

As I read the passage, the students who are defending Harry face Slytherin's table because that is where Pansy is. She is described as a figure who arose from the Slytherin table, which is the opposite side of the Hall from where Harry sits. I read it as a direction, like North or East. The passage does not say at all that the students point their wands at Slytherins in general. It says they are expressly looking at Pansy:

Before Harry could speak, there was a massive movement. The Gryffindors in front of him stood facing, not Harry, but the Slytherins. Then the Hufflepuffs stood, and almost at the same moment the Ravenclaws, all of them with their backs to Harry, all of them looking at Pansy instead, and Harry, awestruck and overwhelmed, saw wands emerging everywhere, pulled from beneath cloaks and from under sleeves.

So I am not getting from that passage that the Slytherins were attacked or run out of the school at wandpoint.

Well...u could be right about that:sad::sad:
But i still maintain that when she asked them to leave she didnt mean it that way. All she said was " if the rest of your house could follow you..".
I'm repeating this, but i think she was referring to those students who wanted to get away. She probably asssumed that most Slyths would not want to stay and thats why she said what she did, not realising that the ENTIRE SLYTH HOUSE took her words at face value.

(uh....this is in reply to arithmancer's post.)

So I am not getting from that passage that the Slytherins were attacked or run out of the school at wandpoint.

If McG had acted as I propose, this would have been clear to the students of Slytherin House. Heck, if all those student were all worried just about Pansy, they might have even lowered their wands voluntarily, or moved them to track her movements, once she headed for the exit, which would have been even better (though as Minerva cannot control the voluntary, unprompted actions of other students, she could not count on this happening.) This is why I propose she ought to have acted differently.:lol:

I would like to preface my remarks by noting that Minerva McGonagall is one of my favorite adult characters; I like only Dumbledore and Snape better.


;)mine too.

All she said was " if the rest of your house could follow you..".
I'm repeating this, but i think she was referring to those students who wanted to get away. She probably asssumed that most Slyths would not want to stay and thats why she said what she did, not realising that the ENTIRE SLYTH HOUSE took her words at face value.

(uh....this is in reply to arithmancer's post.)

Yes, I think if someone had pointed this out to her she would have agreed Slytherin students could stay if they chose. But I also think you are right, and she was not expecting any to stay.

If McG had acted as I propose, this would have been clear to the students of Slytherin House.

I don't see that it wasn't clear to the members of Slytherin House. The students were all looking at "Pansy" when they drew their wands, not "Slytherins". I just don't see that Slytherins were run out at wandpoint with McGonagall's endorsement.

Yes, I think if someone had pointed this out to her she would have agreed Slytherin students could stay if they chose. But I also think you are right, and she was not expecting any to stay.

:elaugh::elaugh::elaugh::elaugh::elaugh::elaugh::e laugh:
whew!!!!! I'm so relieved and glad that this argument ended at a point where we both agree...!!!
It was really nice talking with you, arithmancer:wave:

1 As a teacher, head of house and Deputy Headmistress.
- Is she impartial or does she show favouritism.
- Other

I think she is pretty fair. She obvioulsy has a closer bond with the Gryffindor students but she treats them as she would treat anybody else.

2 Do you think she is the right person to become Headmistress? Why?

I think she would be suitable but she is quite old so maybe somebody new to the school would be better.

3 Where do you think her main loyalty lies?
- The school
- The Order
- Other

I think her main loyalty is Hogwarts and by extension Dumbledore. She is also loyal to the order however.

4 Has her character changed through the series? How?

I don't think her character has changed hugely. I definitely think she is closer to Dumbledore and Harry towards the end of the series however.

5 What, if any, has her impact on Harry been?

I don't think she has had a huge impact on Harry. She definitely encouraged him to follow his aspiation as an auror though.

6 What do you think of her role in DH? Do you think she was effective in protecting students from the Carrows?

Its hard to tell since we didn't really "see" Hogwarts. I think she would have though. When Harry enters the castle she does come over to the Ravenclaw common room to find out what the carrows are up to. I think Snape held more control over the carrows.

I really admire McGonagall. She's definitely my favourite out of the Professors at Hogwarts. There was no question in my mind about her loyalty and her trust in Dumbledore and the Order. When I saw some theories which questioned her loyalty in MuggleNet just before the DH release, I think I screamed "blasphemy" at the computer screen. :lol: I just could not imagine McGonagall as a spy for the Death Eaters.

1 As a teacher, head of house and Deputy Headmistress.
- Is she impartial or does she show favouritism.
- Other

I think she, like every other teacher, obviously had students that she liked more than others. I dont think she ever took this into consideration when punishing/awarding students. I think she was always fair and would give one of her favourites the same punishment that she would give a student she disliked (eg when she gives neville/harry/hermion and draco the same punishments even though it set her own house back hundreds of points).

2 Do you think she is the right person to become Headmistress? Why?

Definitely, more so than any of the other teachers including Snape. Very clever, magically powerful and extremely fair. I always saw her as DD's deputy in every sense, his natural successor. I do feel that as a charector she was massively underappreciated in the series. Always coming accross as a prodigously gifted witch, yet we only really see this in the battle of Hogwarts. She even commands the respect of high up ministers and even the DE's daren't pick too much of a fight with her.

3 Where do you think her main loyalty lies?
- The school
- The Order
- Other

I think this is where hers and Snapes charectors and loyalties to DD difer. Even though she was a member of the order, I never saw her as a key member. The school seemed to be her main priority always, and I think that's the way DD liked it. Having a deputy at the school who wasn't as heavily involved in the order's activites. What would have happened to Hogwarts if all the teachers were killed in the Order's activities? Snape was always lower ranked than her at Hogwarts, yet higher up with the Order because he was needed to play the double agent. Another example of DD not putting all his trust into one individual, such a clever bloke.

4 Has her character changed through the series? How?

I think we see a natural progression with the charector. As a younger child I disliked the stricter teachers, however as I got older I got along with them a lot better because I understood why they were being strict and that if you showed them respect and gave your best to school they were fine with you. I think it's the same with Minerva, Harry and company saw the less strict side to her as they grew up because they were more mature than the earlier years. She always was a different type of strict to Snape, she only punished and scorned when she needed to. Otherwise she showed humour and understanding to her classes.

5 What, if any, has her impact on Harry been?

I think Harry had a massive amount of respect for her, she was someone that he knew he could always rely on. Examples of this were his disgust when she was attacked by the aurors on Umbridges command while she was barely ready to duel (I love madame pomfreys comment about how they'd have never stood a chance against Minerva McGonagall in the light of day and in a fair duel) and when he attacks Carrew when he spits at her. However, I always felt it was hermione who was most influenced by MM. It seems that she is a hero to Hermione like how DD is to Harry, in a way.

6 What do you think of her role in DH? Do you think she was effective in protecting students from the Carrows?

I think she really showed who was DD's second in command during the battle, to think Kingsley was present who was the future revolutionary minister for magic and out of the two I'd say she was the leader present. Magically I think she out did herself dueling Snape (although to be fair he was hardly gunna kill her was he? :p) and then having the guts and magical prowess to stand against old Voldy before Harry turns up to finish him off. The magical world was lucky they were left with MM to pick up Hogwarts and sort it out after the war while Kingsley/Harry/The Order went about sorting the ministry out. I think this may have been how DD visualised things, making sure that MM was there to pick up the pieces of Hogwarts when all was said and done. After all he pretty much predicted everything else.

1 As a teacher, head of house and Deputy Headmistress.
- Is she impartial or does she show favouritism.
- Other
no i don't believe so, the most you could say is that in the first book she allowed harry to be seeker but that was because the gryffindors didn't have one and he's boy wonder but aside from that and like one other thing i believe she is overall fair
2 Do you think she is the right person to become Headmistress? Why?
yes, she doesn't have favorites wich wasn't the case with dumbledore everyone was his favorite, especially harry, but she was a wise choice she is good with the rules and plays fairly,
3 Where do you think her main loyalty lies?
- The school
- The Order
- Other
the order is a little above the school, if u remember in the fifth book she inactivley protested at umbridge who ran the school at one point but if the school is by the right people she may lie with them but then they'd be with the order anyway so the order is probly a stronger allegance to her.
4 Has her character changed through the series? How?
no i don't see how, maybe she has seemed to grow softer and more caring towards harry but other than that i don't see a big change.
5 What, if any, has her impact on Harry been?
a good one, that he can't always get his way, and that there will always be a place for him at hogwarts, that she does care for him as a son possibly, maybe more. but those are the things that stick out most,
6 What do you think of her role in DH? Do you think she was effective in protecting students from the Carrows?
yes slightly though it could have been better if it where a different teacher like snape or dumbledore in charge of proteciton. but snape was part of the other side and dumbledore was kinda dead so she had to do it. lupin probly wouldve been equally adequate or better even as well.

1 As a teacher, head of house and Deputy Headmistress.
- Is she impartial or does she show favouritism.
- Other

In all capacities, she is relatively impartial. She took 150 points from Gryffindor in one night. I do think, however, she has a soft spot for Harry. At its best: she warns him of Umbridge; allows him to play Quidditch; etc.
At its worst: she bought him a Nimbus 2000. I've just always found that so dumb...

2 Do you think she is the right person to become Headmistress? Why?

Yes. Besides the logical ascent of Deputy Headmistress to Headmistress, McGonagall's no-nonsense manner lends itself to running an institution such as Hogwarts. Flitwick couldn't see over the desk; Sprout thrives in her greenhouses; Trelawney would consult her Inner Eye to make any decision.


3 Where do you think her main loyalty lies?
- The school
- The Order
- Other

McGonagall's loyalities lie to goodness -- of which the school and the Order are subsets.

4 Has her character changed through the series? How?

Naturally. JKR really fleshes out her character throughout the series. When she catches Ron and Harry trying to visit Hermione in CoS, we observe Minerva's well-shrouded humanity. ;) OoTP is a McGonagall festival. "It unscrews the other way" - we learn that she, like Hermione, might bend a rule here or there. Racing out in the middle of the night and taking four stunners for Hagrid speaks volumes of her loyalty. She and Hagrid don't always see eye-to-eye (no pun intended! see SS/PS 1), yet she goes out to his defense. And not to mention coaching Harry nightly to be an Auror (I have a Sue Sylvester-esque image...sweat suit, sneakers, whistle :rotfl:)

It has been a pleasure to see McGonagall's role evolve from that of a crabby schoolteacher to a devoted, formidable witch.

5 What, if any, has her impact on Harry been?

She has been Harry's teacher, Head of House, associate through the Order...by the Battle of Hogwarts, they seem to be speaking as two adults "on the same playing field," so to speak. Not to mention Harry using Cruciatus on the Carrow who insulted McGonagall. I'd say he's devoted!

6 What do you think of her role in DH? Do you think she was effective in protecting students from the Carrows?

This is difficult to answer because we see so little of McGonagall in this capacity. I do, however, hazard a guess that she did everything within her power. Her speech in the Ravenclaw Common Room, I think, confirms that she'd had it, and was ready to fight for her students.

As far as impartiality goes I never saw a classroom situation where McG show preference to the Gryff's students over any others. She may have been closer to Gryff student due to them specifically being in her charge while they are at Hogwarts.

Telling Pansy she can be the first to go was perfect, this was a war, a battle, no spies or traitors in the camp.

And I seem to be in the minority saying that I feel McG greatly impacted Harry's life. Harry used a Unforgiveable curse to defend McG's honor and to protect her. (top five favorite scene in the series)
And let us not forget the heart wrenching mournful sound Minerva makes when she thinks Harry is dead, a sound to rival Ron/Hermione.

As far as impartiality goes I never saw a classroom situation where McG show preference to the Gryff's students over any others. She may have been closer to Gryff student due to them specifically being in her charge while they are at Hogwarts.

Telling Pansy she can be the first to go was perfect, this was a war, a battle, no spies or traitors in the camp.

And I seem to be in the minority saying that I feel McG greatly impacted Harry's life. Harry used a Unforgiveable curse to defend McG's honor and to protect her. (top five favorite scene in the series)
And let us not forget the heart wrenching mournful sound Minerva makes when she thinks Harry is dead, a sound to rival Ron/Hermione.

I stand proudly with you in that minority! I completely forgot about how McGonagall screamed when she thought Harry was dead - tearjerker!

As far as impartiality goes I never saw a classroom situation where McG show preference to the Gryff's students over any others.

There's a good reason for that - for 5 books, we only see her teach Gryffindors. She has no opportunity. ;)

While I agree that she had a much more limited opportunity to show bias she did still managed to do so - a few example that spring to mind include that she let Harry get way with serious misbehaviour on several occasions (one time she even rewarded his misbehaviour with a recommendation to the house quidditch team!), bought a present for Harry that was forbidden for any of his year, Harry even notices that she chooses not to give homework to a Gryfindor class when there are members of the quidditch team in that class and they need extra time to practice for an important match - she does show a strong preferance to her house. I think that she is often viewed as being unbiased is due to several factors; mainly that she is likable and she is 'one Harry's side'.

Given her limited opportunity to show bias - she managed to show quite a lot imo :)

McGonagall bent the rules with regard to the broom, yes. But she was not the only teacher to take Quidditch seriously and bend the rules when it came to Quidditch. McGonagall gave her players homework off, but she did not ignore reports of people hexing opposing team members. McGonagall gave her players homework off, but she did not over-rule a pitch booking in favour of her House team. I think all the Heads of House took the Quidditch matches seriously. It does not mean McGonagall was biased or played favourites.

Also, in regards to more serious matters, McGonagall did not make allowances. She punished students from her own house when they did wrong. She liked Harry and Hermione, and she punished them when they were caught doing wrong. McGonagall did not turn a blind eye to misbehaviour of her students. She punished students who broke the rules, whether they were Gryffindors or from another House.

While I agree that she had a much more limited opportunity to show bias she did still managed to do so - a few example that spring to mind include that she let Harry get way with serious misbehaviour on several occasions (one time she even rewarded his misbehaviour with a recommendation to the house quidditch team!), bought a present for Harry that was forbidden for any of his year, Harry even notices that she chooses not to give homework to a Gryfindor class when there are members of the quidditch team in that class and they need extra time to practice for an important match - she does show a strong preferance to her house. I think that she is often viewed as being unbiased is due to several factors; mainly that she is likable and she is 'one Harry's side'.

I was responding to a quote that referred to her lack of bias in classroom situations. Since for some reason Transfiguration (unlike, e. g. Potions and Care of Magical Creatures) is never a "double" class when Harry takes it, we only ever see her teach Gryffindors, until HBP and NEWT level Transfiguration (in which, unless my memory fails me, non Gryff students are not even mentioned by Harry, though they must presumably be present...)

I agree with your point, in fact. I was pointing out the defense "she never favors Gryffindors in class" is not saying much, since we never see her teach mixed classes, for us to observe any differential treatment by House of the sort readers sometimes ascribe to other teachers. ;)

I also think she tries to be fair, and some of her apparent unevenness in this area may be her trying to compensate (e. g. her big taking of points in PS/SS regarding the Norbert Affair, which contrasts with other situations in which she seems to disregard infractions of comparable seriousness).

And I seem to be in the minority saying that I feel McG greatly impacted Harry's life.

I think she did, too. I think after ten years with the Dursleys, Harry really needed a role model who was both strict and reasonable. In my opinion, Harry needed to see that a strict authority figure could be deserving of the respect her position bestowed upon her, and that rules themselves were not pointless and arbitrary beasts having no function than to oppress the person they were aimed at. Given what the Dursleys were and what was come with Voldemort taking over, I think McGonagall provided an important demonstration of how authority should work.

And I seem to be in the minority saying that I feel McG greatly impacted Harry's life.I’m going to join you in agreeing that McGonagall had a significant impact on Harry too. She got his Quidditch career started; she acted as his advisor in OotP and encouraged him to follow the path to become an Auror; and as OldMotherCrow said, she provided Harry with an appropriate role model for an authority figure. That’s actually something I hadn’t really thought of before, but I think it’s very true. Harry had only been exposed to people who abused authority before he came to Hogwarts. But McGonagall is much different from the Dursleys: she does punish Harry several times when it is warranted, but she doesn’t abuse her authority, and she still shows Harry on a number of occasions that she cares for him. I especially admire her in OotP, where she tells Harry in front of Umbridge that he could be an Auror, no problem.

On another note, as I was re-reading PoA, I noticed that her attitude toward Divination is similar to Professor Binns' disdain in CoS for myths and legends. I liked that she wouldn't speak ill of a colleague though, even if she didn't believe in what that colleague was teaching (knowing that Trelawney doesn't usually make true predictions on a day-to-day basis).

Also, I like McGonagall's witty sense of humor. Some examples I remember are after the class has its first Divination lesson, McGonagall puts them (and especially Harry) at ease by saying that Harry looks in excellent health, but need not hand in his homework if he were to drop dead. :lol: Then, at the Christmas dinner when Trelawney is upset about thirteen people dining and asks whether Harry or Ron stood up first, McGonagall says that unless there are any mad axe men waiting in the Great Hall, nothing's going to happen. :) I also love how she tells Peeves to unscrew the chandelier in OotP. She may be strict, but does let her hair down sometimes.

I love MM. I really wish there had been more of her in all the stories.

There were a couple of times when I was very surprised by her reaction to Harry:
- Book 1 ... Harry was frantically looking for DD. But MM told Harry that DD wasn't at Hogwarts. I remember feeling Harry's frustration when I read this. And I remember that Harry did not tell MM what he wanted to tell DD. I mean, with Harry being who he is, I would have thought that MM would have been more interested in what Harry had to tell DD.

- in book 6 ... when Harry told her that Draco gave the necklace to Katie Bell. After having him as a student for 5 years, it seems to me that she would have asked more questions about how he came to this conclusion despite the fact that Draco was in detention with her. Harry's instincts seem to be right most of the time. And this time, Harry trusted MM enough to tell her ... but she didn't follow up on it or get curious about it.

This popped up in the discussion on Snape and Dumbledore: Joint Character Analysis (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=113993&page=54), so I thought I would post it over here:

Even between how McGonagall and Snape are viewed. McGonagall's treatment of Neville is in my view not exactly sweet or kind (and IMO harsher than Snape's actions towards Neville ever were), but I think the one great difference between how Snape and the other teachers are viewed is Harry's opinion of them. Harry thinks McGonagall is a strict but fair teacher and her comments on Neville go unrecognised to a large extent; her partiality towards Gryffindor is seen as okay because Harry is fine with it IMO.
Your comparison with her treatment to Snape's is spot on. McGonagall critizes Neville many times throughout the books. Additionaly, she, like Snape with Slytherin, shows preferential treatment to Gryffindors, especially when it affects Quidditch, but Harry benefits so of course he is okay with it. It's interesting that we never see the Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff head of house talk about Quidditch.

I wouldn't say that McGonagall shows undue preference of Gryffindor. Yes, she buys Harry a broom and allows him to join the Quidditch team in first year and she cheers for her own team harder than for others. But showing a little kindness to an orphan isn't such a bad thing for a head of house, is it? When it comes to disciplinary actions she's strict to her own house, even if that means losing points for the house cup; she cracks down hard on the trio for their midnight activities in PS. And yes, she chides Neville frequently. But, as I see it, she pushes her students in order to get improved results without threatening them. In my view, she knows where to draw the line. When she finds out about the passwords Neville carried around she seems genuinely upset and and angry because it put her whole house at risk. But she also encourages Neville when she finds out that his grandmother is patronising and bullying him in regard to NEWTS. McGonagall is protective of her house but she doesn't let things slide to make Gryffindor look better, in my view.

I don't think McGonagall bought Harry a broom. It is never refered to as a gift in the text, or as a gift by Harry or McGonagall or any other character, in PS/SS or in any book following. I think she just arranged for Harry to have a broom because first years generally are not allowed to have one at school. There is precedence for first years to be on Quidditch teams, though, and I think it is a reasonable exception to allow a first year to have the equipment needed for their sport.

I don't think McGonagall, though strict, ever showed herself to be one who blindly follow the letter of the law at the expense of the spirit of the law. To me it seems that she takes into account the circumstances and intent around what happens (as she percieves it, anyway). When she thinks that Harry and Hermione were up on the Astronomy Tower and trying to lure Draco out of bounds with a dragon tale, she brings the House Points hammer down hard. Draco and his pals get the same treatment in PoA when they pretended to be dementors at a Quidditch match. I think she judged events like that as the kids using their talents (such as courage or resourcefulness) in frivolous and harmful ways, and sought to discourage that through harsh punishments. I think if she saw the circumstances and intent were for good reasons, she tends to be lenient, like seeing Harry stand up to a bully and save Neville's remembrall, or when Harry and Ron were caught in the corridor in CoS and lied to her about trying to go to the hospital wing to see Hermione. I think in those circumstances McGonagall is swayed by what she sees as the intent behind the actions, and because she wants to encourage kindness and courage she reacts very differently than when she sees students act with thoughtlessness or with cruelty.

[QUOTE=OldMotherCrow;5829923]I don't think McGonagall bought Harry a broom. It is never refered to as a gift in the text, or as a gift by Harry or McGonagall or any other character, in PS/SS or in any book following. I think she just arranged for Harry to have a broom because first years generally are not allowed to have one at school. There is precedence for first years to be on Quidditch teams, though, and I think it is a reasonable exception to allow a first year to have the equipment needed for their sport.

Also McGonagall could see just how well Harry could fly. It wasn't like he crashed into the building or anything like that. She saw his potential as a seeker right away. I love that about McGonagall, when she spotted potential in a student she acted on it. She got the Time Turner for Hermione, she encouraged Neville to go for a different subject, she stood up for Harry to Umbridge's face and she was simply an awesome teacher in general.

I don't think McGonagall, though strict, ever showed herself to be one who blindly follow the letter of the law at the expense of the spirit of the law. To me it seems that she takes into account the circumstances and intent around what happens (as she percieves it, anyway). When she thinks that Harry and Hermione were up on the Astronomy Tower and trying to lure Draco out of bounds with a dragon tale, she brings the House Points hammer down hard. Draco and his pals get the same treatment in PoA when they pretended to be dementors at a Quidditch match. I think she judged events like that as the kids using their talents (such as courage or resourcefulness) in frivolous and harmful ways, and sought to discourage that through harsh punishments. I think if she saw the circumstances and intent were for good reasons, she tends to be lenient, like seeing Harry stand up to a bully and save Neville's remembrall, or when Harry and Ron were caught in the corridor in CoS and lied to her about trying to go to the hospital wing to see Hermione. I think in those circumstances McGonagall is swayed by what she sees as the intent behind the actions, and because she wants to encourage kindness and courage she reacts very differently than when she sees students act with thoughtlessness or with cruelty.

She does seem to look at the whole picture and not just what fits into a rigid frame. She has a good deal of tolerance for people who need that little bit extra and she was willing to help them get it.

1 As a teacher, head of house and Deputy Headmistress.
- Is she impartial or does she show favouritism.
- Other

I think throughout the books she was fair but her character was passionate. I think its safe to say that she loved her job. She was not afraid to speak her mind or correct injustices, either, no matter the culprit. I see to remember her correcting Harry quite a few times, though she was obviously very found of him.


2 Do you think she is the right person to become Headmistress? Why?

Yes. She loves the school and she has proven herself to be a powerful and capable witch. Some have said she was too passionate about Griffindor to be a fair headmistress, but we know that many Headmasters throughout Hogwarts history were former heads of houses... there were even a few Slytherins in there, and I dont think she would be any more bias than any of them were.

3 Where do you think her main loyalty lies?
- The school
- The Order
- Other
I think her loyalties lie with Dumbledore. Her friend, her mentor... I think he would have been proud of her and the way she defended the school by rallying the other teachers and the Order of the Phoenix. This also makes her a perfect for headmistress.

4 Has her character changed through the series? How?

I think she has remained the same for the most part, throughout. She's one of my favorite characters, honestly. I love her roll at the school and how she stayed despite everything till the very end.

5 What, if any, has her impact on Harry been?
I think he has enormous affection and respect for her. She has been with him, whether he realizes it or not, since he was placed on his aunt and uncles doorstep. I think she is protective of Harry and she cares for him very much. I think she is proud of the man he becomes. I also believe that Dumbledore hadn't shared things with her that he shared with Snape, and this is probably why she is so passionate about maintaining her post and her roll at Hogwarts. She still believe that Snape was DD's murderer.

6 What do you think of her role in DH? Do you think she was effective in protecting students from the Carrows?

Yes. I think that she did all that she could. Keeping her roll as a professor at the school seemed to be her main priority through the Carrows reign over the school, just as she did with Umbridge.
AND i LOVED her in deathly hallows, when Harry finally comes back to the castle, I love how she defends him from snape and how Harry defends her from the carrows. I love how she defends the students, rally's the teachers, and uses her extraordinary magical skills to protect the school. I really admire her so much!!

McGonagall is my favourite character in the books (Next to Dobby,Ron and Luna) and I have loved her from the begining but I think she really shone through from OotP onwards and I really respect her for what she did in the last book, I believe she did get the role as headmistress!! =D

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