Rita Skeeter: Character Analysis

Rita Skeeter (http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/rita.html) has made her presence very well known through the books.

1. Character analysis. Is Rita essentially good, bad, or just a parody of a journalist?
2. How much of a part will Rita play in the final book? Will she be of aid or hindrance?

Just these questions to start with, please feel free to add more :)

1. Character analysis. Is Rita essentially good, bad, or just a parody of a journalist?
I’d say she’s a parody of a journalist who’s seeking to get the best story and seeking to make her story the most interesting and enticing it can be. Of course, she blows things out of proportion and falsifies quite a bit, but that’s part of the parody on journalists. ;)

2. How much of a part will Rita play in the final book? Will she be of aid or hindrance?
I think she could be a hindrance, especially if she catches wind that Harry’s left Hogwarts and gone off on some expedition. She could end up giving some people more knowledge than they should have. Though it’s possible she might write damaging articles on some of the Ministry officials, which might end up helping the wizarding world in general.

Yeah, she really is a parody of a journalist :lol: She's good if you're the Ministry [well, pre-Quibbler article], but bad in a way as she basically writes bias for whoever is paying her to write.

Yes, she could unknowingly give something away that's best kept secret, although she's pretty harmless when we consider that Hermione still has the illegal animagi threat hanging over her. I wonder what consequences this will have? Rita definitely does not like being under somebody else's control. Although she does write for the ministry, she seems more freelance in the sense that she will write bashing articles about anyone who £^$£*$ her off. I think she will continue to hold an enormous grudge against Hermione.

I agree that she could be a hinderance to Harry as well as help Harry by writing bad stories about the ministry. But will Hermione keep her word and let her write articles - even if they hurt harrys horcrux mission.

And will she - being the nosy little...person she is - find out about the horcruxes?

Maybe she will find out about Ginny and Harry as well. Maybe thats how Voldemort will find out about them.

1. Character analysis. Is Rita essentially good, bad, or just a parody of a journalist?
One more agreement for Rita's a hinderance, but more because she's just so gosh darned annoying. I honestly feel JKR was more going for a parody of the paparazzi/obsessive journalist than really making her into a good or bad character. She's in it for herself.

2. How much of a part will Rita play in the final book? Will she be of aid or hindrance?
More a hinderance, but much in the way she was a hinderance in GoF; she had this knack of showing up at the right place at the wrong time. She'll find something out about Harry/Ginny for sure, and make some horribly-blown-out-of-proportion story out of it...

...although wouldn't it be a kick to have Rita being the one writing the final part of the book? Like the last bit of the story is Rita, for once reporting the truth, telling the story of Harry Potter to the world. Man, that'd be nuts...not necessarily *good* nuts but nuts nonetheless! ;)

1. Is Rita essentially good, bad, or just a parody of a journalist?
I believe she is simply the parody of a journalist. She is very annoying and a pain to have around, but she has helped both sides.

2. How much of a part will Rita play in the final book? Will she be of aid or hindrance?
I do not believe she will play a large role in the next book, I think that for the most part she has played out her role in the series. But if she is involved at all it will be a hindrance definetly not an aid. Now that the world believes Harry there is no way she can be an aid to the order. (except for joining the battle, which she will not do)

1. Character analysis. Is Rita essentially good, bad, or just a parody of a journalist?
I think that Rita is probably one of the most cookie cutter characters in the books. We don't know any backstory, so it's hard to pinpoint any real motivations other than stereptype. Although she might be a parody, I think she's supposed to be a "bad" character; as she spends the whole book spreading vicous rumors and spying on people to find them.

She has to be a competent wizard, to have made herself into an animagus, but she uses her talents in a very low, underhand fashion.

I also think Rita is a parody of a journalist. Possibly JKR was inspired by real journalists, as they also sometimes spread false and and even hurtful rumours. And as JKR is about as famous in "our" world as Harry is in the wizarding world, I can imagine that she sometimes gets very annoyed at reporters once in a while...

I dont think she is bad just very nosy, she has all the traits of a journalist obsessing over trivia within the realms of truth but over the top. She just wants big headlines for her column its very sensational her type of journalism, I dont think she will help Harry in book7, she will turn up at all the wrong times or something when you least need a journalist:D

I totally agree that Rita is just a parody of journalists. I actually find it funny, considering all the false rumors that circulate about JKR and Harry Potter. Even with all her snooping, I would not classify her as a bad person. She just wants to get the scoop on everything and then twist it to make it sell.
I think that with Hermione knowing her little secret, she will be kept in check as far as Harry is concerned. With everything else, she can continue to write whatever her heart desires. I think that she will be able to help Harry as far as calling for more ministry action. She may become a permanent writer for the Quibbler. Haha.

1. Character analysis. Is Rita essentially good, bad, or just a parody of a journalist?
Rita is there to portray a parody of a journalist. She is only looking out for herself. I think she's interesting in that she is a way for JKR to write about her frustrations with the paparazzi. She was a good plot device and she kept the story going by spreading her gossip and lies and not caring about her victims at all. She can be quite heartless, or she just doesn't think about the people she could be hurting.

2. How much of a part will Rita play in the final book? Will she be of aid or hindrance?
I don't foresee her playing a huge part in the last book. Hermione does have some form of control over her, but who knows how long that will last. It would be odd and maybe interesting if she got fed up with everything and decided to become an undercover Death Eater.

Although I agree that Rita is a parody of a journalist, I don't believe that this was Rowling's only purpose in putting her in the book. She serves an incredibly important expository function, just as Hermione is an excellent tool for exposition because we can always believe that she read whatever information she has in a book. Except instead of getting information from a book, Rita gets hers from digging around and snooping. Although her tactics for attaining information are morally reprehensible, her information tends to be very valuable because most people won't sink low enough to get it. Because of this, I think she could be a tremendous source of information for book 7. Of course, I couldn't imagine her providing this information free of charge or out of the goodness of her heart.

I believe that Rita is pretty much just a parody of a journalist. She's like a celebrity journalist--she manages to write pages and pages of nothing filled with lies. I can't find any redeeming quality in her.
I can't see her playing a big part in the 7th book, but it'll be interesting to find out!

Although I agree that Rita is a parody of a journalist, I don't believe that this was Rowling's only purpose in putting her in the book. She serves an incredibly important expository function, just as Hermione is an excellent tool for exposition because we can always believe that she read whatever information she has in a book. Except instead of getting information from a book, Rita gets hers from digging around and snooping. Although her tactics for attaining information are morally reprehensible, her information tends to be very valuable because most people won't sink low enough to get it. Because of this, I think she could be a tremendous source of information for book 7. Of course, I couldn't imagine her providing this information free of charge or out of the goodness of her heart. I think it's kind of an easy answer to simply say that Rita's a parody. You describe her methods of information gathering as 'morally reprehensible,' ahsweape, and that's actually a bad thin, isn't it?

I think her character is essentially bad. She writes vile and distorted stories for the Daily Prophet, which is not much more than a propaganda tool for a corrupt Ministry of Magic. The lies and distortions she puts in her stories are extremely hurtful to her victims. She's a competent journalist who chooses to write lies.

Her life and freedom are on the line when Hermione has to blackmail her into writing the Quibbler story about Voldemort's return. The way she behaves when she meets with the trio to interview Harry makes me think this is the first time she's actually writing the truth.

I don't think she's really bad, just Rowling's parody of a journalist. The way she gets her information is wrong but she could end up being helpful in the last book.

1. Character analysis. Is Rita essentially good, bad, or just a parody of a journalist?
Rita is a character I do not like, even as a parody of paparazzi or gossip columinists or journalists. She digs up loathsome dirt on people and in all honestly is a bit too full of her own importance.

2. How much of a part will Rita play in the final book? Will she be of aid or hindrance?
I'd be suprised if we see her, I think she's served her usefulness already, I dont' think that she's smart enough to better Hermionie either to put herself back on an even footing.

1. Character analysis. Is Rita essentially good, bad, or just a parody of a journalist?
I think Rita Skeeter is a bit more than just a parody of a normal journalist. I would say she is a representation of the paparazzi that haunt JKR now and all other celebrities.

2. How much of a part will Rita play in the final book? Will she be of aid or hindrance?
I can imagine her trying to backstab the trio when she thinks they least expect it. It won't matter too much, though. She will think that her articles will have the same effect as they did in GOF, but in reality, she will either be ignored or be made into a laughingstock.

Rita Skeeter has played her role as a serious antagonist. I foresee a lame comeback to try to counter her growing irrelevance.

I don't think she's really bad, just Rowling's parody of a journalist. The way she gets her information is wrong but she could end up being helpful in the last book.
The way she gets her information is wrong, and the way she portrays her victims… er, subjects, causes distress and ruined reputations. She takes pride and delight in trashing people in her stories. So if she's not honest, not honorable and causes harm to people, is she really not bad?

I think she's a truly rotten person, who had to be blackmailed by Hermione into doing something positive. Maybe since she benefitted by having that story be wildly popular, she'll change her tactics out of self interest, but I think she's just about as dreadful as Dolores Umbridge.

Is Rita essentially good, bad, or just a parody of a journalist?

I do not think that I can classify Rita as good or bad - she is herself (I suppose, just a parody of a journalist). She doesn't care what she writes about/insults/destroys as long as she gets money and fame (good or bad) from it. As I say, I cannot classify her as good because she has done her best to destroy many of the "good" wizards/witches, so how would that make her good? However, she has done nothing more than try to destroy their reputations. She has not done any Dark deeds, and thus cannot be classified as bad. She's just a bad journalist - that's all.

How much of a part will Rita play in the final book? Will she be of aid or hindrance?

Now that she is free to write about anything once more (I believe that she was actually able to in HBP, but I do not think that she did - correct me if I am wrong). However, I think that she may be somewhat banned from the Prophet for all the stories she did about Harry and others in GoF. If she is not, then I think that she may seek revenge on Hermione for what she forced Rita to do. I doubt, though, that anyone will take to heart what Rita writes, so her attempts will be useless.

Is Rita essentially good, bad, or just a parody of a journalist?

I do not think that I can classify Rita as good or bad - she is herself (I suppose, just a parody of a journalist). She doesn't care what she writes about/insults/destroys as long as she gets money and fame (good or bad) from it. As I say, I cannot classify her as good because she has done her best to destroy many of the "good" wizards/witches, so how would that make her good? However, she has done nothing more than try to destroy their reputations. She has not done any Dark deeds, and thus cannot be classified as bad. She's just a bad journalist - that's all.
Trying to destroy people is bad, isn't it? Whether or not she uses magic is irrelevant. Detroying a person's reputation can ruin his/her life. That's an evil act. Just because there's no Crucio involved doesn't mean cruelty is not bad.

How much of a part will Rita play in the final book? Will she be of aid or hindrance?

Now that she is free to write about anything once more (I believe that she was actually able to in HBP, but I do not think that she did - correct me if I am wrong). However, I think that she may be somewhat banned from the Prophet for all the stories she did about Harry and others in GoF. If she is not, then I think that she may seek revenge on Hermione for what she forced Rita to do. I doubt, though, that anyone will take to heart what Rita writes, so her attempts will be useless. A person who is so skilled at damaging people's reputations can find ways to harm others. If she chooses to continue to do evil, she has it in her to succeed, I think.

1. Character analysis. Is Rita essentially good, bad, or just a parody of a journalist?
I agree with the people who've said that she is just a parody of a journalist. The kind that try to squeeze as much as they can out of everything, and aren't afraid to write anything if it'll help them sell their story and get popularity. They are all too common in real life, and perhaps Jo was feeling some resentment towards them (just look at the Rubbish Bin on her official website!), hence her idea for the character? Just a thought.

2. How much of a part will Rita play in the final book? Will she be of aid or hindrance?
I think that Rita has already played her part. I think that if she is mentioned, it will just be in passing and probably in humour. She was a great hinderance to Harry in Goblet of Fire but then redeemed herself slightly (even though it was on Hermione's orders) by giving Harry the interview for the Quibbler. She does have some unfinished business with Hermione, I suppose, but it's hard to say whether that would fit into the storyline of the book. It's a possibility.

Trying to destroy people is bad, isn't it? Whether or not she uses magic is irrelevant. Detroying a person's reputation can ruin his/her life. That's an evil act. Just because there's no Crucio involved doesn't mean cruelty is not bad.
I am not suggesting that destroying reputations is not bad - it certainly is. However, I was taking 'bad' as in Dark behavior (such as Voldemort, Death Eaters, how the Blacks were, etc.) - not just occasional bad deeds.
A person who is so skilled at damaging people's reputations can find ways to harm others. If she chooses to continue to do evil, she has it in her to succeed, I think.
Yes, Rita certainly has it in her to succeed, but I do not think that the Wizarding public will listen to what she says anymore. They know what she is, and now that Voldemort is back they do not want to hear/read criticism of people like Harry, Dumbledore, Aurors, etc. The public will hurt Rita more than she will hurt the public.

Vernon Dursley is not capable of doing any kind of magic, but he can definitely be called a bad character.

I guess I understood the question to mean is Rita's character bad in general terms, not whether she uses magic for bad purposes. Although she does that too.

I need to disagree with MrSleepyHead. I think that the wizarding public will believe her false stories. In fact I think that they may even be more believable now then they were in GoF. Harry gave an interview with her. Now she has the approval of "The Chosen One" - or so it would seem to the general public, and if she doesn't take full advantage of that then I don't who would.

For example: Mrs Weasley believed the Story in Witch Weekly about Hermione and Harry even though she is familiar with her reputation.

Amos Diggory believed Harry was the cause that Cedric didn't get mentioned in the article about the tournament - and HE worked at the ministry, meaning he knew about her reputation also.

And most of the public doesn't know about her reputation. We're given a very biased view of the magical world. We don't see from the perspective of the general public.

I think that she will definatly write horrible articles atleast about Herminoe

1. Character analysis. Is Rita essentially good, bad, or just a parody of a journalist?
I don't believe she is either good or bad..she's a journalist...she tries to find juicy stories and report them. I will say she is a poor journalist in the aspect of her adding her own details to the stories, no respected journalist should stoop to that lvl.

2. How much of a part will Rita play in the final book? Will she be of aid or hindrance?
I think it could go either way. She is an embeilsher, she adds substantially to her stories, which could be used for the OOTP's caue. If thy were to persuede her to write a story on what was going on, knowing she would embelish it they might be able to raide a lot of support to defeat Voldremort.
Skeeter is a poor journalist, but she has a large following, and a great media to use..She works with severaldifferent paper's and magazines so she reaches a lot of people, which would allow for a large audiance if they wanted to use it.

However if she were to support not Voldermort, but say parts of the ministry wishing to keep the public unaware of the situation with Voldermort, then she would be a powerful tool to them and a harsh weapon against the OOTP. Overall it is a 50/50 shot of who she would follow...

I like Rita. A lot, I think she's a great character, and I really enjoy reading about her. Is she bad? Good and bad are such relative terms, I don't think she's evil. I think she's annoying to those whose stories she embellishes, in other words, to those she write about. If she's going to be in the last book then I think she will be an aid more than a hindrance, perhaps by accident, though.

1. Character analysis. Is Rita essentially good, bad, or just a parody of a journalist?

She's a parody of a journalist. She's not essentially bad, she's let her journalist attitude go too far. She only considers herself and what hse has to gain.


2. How much of a part will Rita play in the final book? Will she be of aid or hindrance?

It depends on whether she feels it will be of more benefit to herself to be an aid or a hindrance. If Hermione can still blackmail her, she will probably be an aid, but if she has higher friends somewhere else, she could also be a hindrance.

I like Rita. A lot, I think she's a great character, and I really enjoy reading about her. Is she bad? Good and bad are such relative terms, I don't think she's evil. I think she's annoying to those whose stories she embellishes, in other words, to those she write about. If she's going to be in the last book then I think she will be an aid more than a hindrance, perhaps by accident, though.

I agree. I'm sure it was Sirius who said the world is not seperated into good people and death eaters. I think she'll do something completly stupid and Harry will have a lot of trouble. Then she'll realize what she's done - maybe while sneaking around some more, and possibly help...but idk

Rita amuses and exasperates me, is she evil? no.. i don't think she is.. she's in it for the business... she's disgusting, annoying, mischievious.. but i don't think evil to the core like i'll kill your family or sell them out to voldemort..she just gives the public what the public wants.. and terrible as it is.. journalists like Rita exist becuase pople read their stories, there are a lot of Petunias out there who follow the private lifes of the famous out of having nothing better to do..it makes galleons.. and Rita likes her galleons.. remember her expensive bag and perfect manicure in GOF? she was certainly not at her best when she had unkempt hair and chipped nail polish..

Will she be of hinderance? perhaps.. she's been before, as she has been helpful.. i just hope she's not the one to blab out information to help Voldy by will or accident.. really.. we need all the help we can get on this side :S

1. Character analysis. Is Rita essentially good, bad, or just a parody of a journalist?
Rita, Rita, Rita. She's not "essentially" good nor bad, to my mind. She's obviously quite intelligent and observant (good things for a journalist to be!), and she also has quite the knack for writing. She just doesn't seem to be very good at telling the whole truth, or sharing the facts. (Not so good things for a journalist). Rita seems to have very little concern other than getting The Big Story and personal glory. At least until she's backed into a corner. Or a jar. ^_~ She's a distorted and exaggerated (hopefully?) image of what journalism can be like.


2. How much of a part will Rita play in the final book? Will she be of aid or hindrance? I don't think she'll have a large role in the Book 7. My first thoughts is that she'll be both a bit of a stumbling block for our heros - and an (albeit unwitting) aide. As in, perhaps, letting slip some vital information.

Yes, she's a parody, and a biting one. She illustrates a whole series of vile breaches of journalistic ethics. Journalists simply are not supposed to:

--Make up quotations.
--Bug private conversations.
--Interview minors without parent/guardian's permission.
--Slant stories through pure innuendo.
--Come to a story with a fixed attitude and ignore all contrary evidence.
--Use intimidation to get their way.

Her behavior is hilariously over the top, but does illustrate some real problems in journalism. In real life, these things are more common in the tabloids but, alas, the last three items on the list sometimes happen with the mainstream press as well. And don't even ask about television!

Career worries, market competition and ego all factor into it. Competing for column-inches in the papers, reporters are tempted to make stories more sensational. Investigative journalists constantly complete for prizes and face temptation to slant a story to make it more prize-worthy. Career success can lead to arrogance. But sometime pressure from an editor is a factor, too.

So JKR is making some serious points in her portrayal of Rita.

Yes, I also agree that she is not rounded. It's one of the nastiest portrayals in the whole series, other than the Death Eaters, right up there with Umbridge. Not an ounce of sympathy or a scintilla of back-story. For the sake of decent journalists, who do exist in reasonable numbers, it would be nice to see another side of things. (And not just in the tabloid sector!) But it doesn't look like it will come from Rita!

I think she's going to factor in DH. The reasoning is: before HPB, the Daily Prophet was always the Daily Prophet. In HBP, we had references Evening Prophet, which apparently is an afternoon edition.

It must be important for us to know there is an afternoon edition. Something is going to come out in this edition in DH, something that happens in the morning that the paper will publish the same day. Look for Rita.

1. Character analysis. Is Rita essentially good, bad, or just a parody of a journalist?
I agree with the people who've said that she is just a parody of a journalist. The kind that try to squeeze as much as they can out of everything, and aren't afraid to write anything if it'll help them sell their story and get popularity. They are all too common in real life, and perhaps Jo was feeling some resentment towards them (just look at the Rubbish Bin on her official website!), hence her idea for the character? Just a thought.

2. How much of a part will Rita play in the final book? Will she be of aid or hindrance?
I think that Rita has already played her part. I think that if she is mentioned, it will just be in passing and probably in humour. She was a great hinderance to Harry in Goblet of Fire but then redeemed herself slightly (even though it was on Hermione's orders) by giving Harry the interview for the Quibbler. She does have some unfinished business with Hermione, I suppose, but it's hard to say whether that would fit into the storyline of the book. It's a possibility.

I love this idea. She is the worst in every journalist. She may yet help them by calling attention to something the Death Eaters are doing which will stop them from gaining an advantage. In other words she may become a journalist in the best tradition, instead of the worst.

1. Character analysis. Is Rita essentially good, bad, or just a parody of a journalist?

I think she is a parody of a journalist, because she will report anything, as long as she gets the scoop and gets paid.

2. How much of a part will Rita play in the final book? Will she be of aid or hindrance?

It depends what she does. If she tries to get revenge on Hermione, write something about Harry, or the Order, she will be a hindrance, but she could also help out by doing stuff like she did in OotP.

1. Character analysis. Is Rita essentially good, bad, or just a parody of a journalist?
just a ambitious journalist - everything for sale news

2. How much of a part will Rita play in the final book? Will she be of aid or hindrance?
she know all stories (she was in DE's judgement)
maybe HP can get some informations with her .

Just like some journalist today, Rita is looking for a good story and can't be concerned with details like the facts.