Bella Swan vs. Hermione Granger
Image via Wikipedia There’s an interesting article over at the MTV Movies blog that seems to have one purpose and one purpose only: to perpetuate a really unnecessary rivalry between Twilight’s Bella Swan and Harry Potter’s Hermione Granger. Here’s the relevant snippet:
Bella is magnetic. Hermione is awkward. But fans of both the Twilight and Harry Potter series pick Hermione over Bella any day. Why?
“Some girls want to see themselves as Bella,” said Megan Schuyler, who’s been capturing the wizard rock scene in her documentary film “The Wizard Rockumentary.” “If you’re feeling clumsy and different, it’s fun to imagine that some dreamy perfect guy would be obsessed with you.”(speaking of Bella) “She’s wimpy!” Megan Schuyler said, who’s been capturing the wizard rock scene in her documentary film “The Wizard Rockumentary”. “When I went to the book release party, I wore a shirt that says, ‘Bella Sucks.’”
“I think Bella is a bit underdeveloped as a character,” said Amy Snow, of the wizard rock band Romilda Vane and the Chocolate Cauldrons. “Hermione was first and foremost a person, and she’s realistic. It’s a pity Bella doesn’t have a secret inner strength. She’s more of just a pure maiden.”
- source
What do you think? I can’t really speak to Bella’s character because I haven’t read the books. But judging from what I’ve heard, and how well I know Hermione, I would say Hermione is a WAY better fictional role model and general all-around character. Come on, let’s tawk!
Tags: Bella Swan, Harry Potter, Harry Potter fandom, Hermione Granger, Kids and Teens, Series, Twilight, Twilight seriesRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Harry Potter, Hermione Granger
15 opinions for Bella Swan vs. Hermione Granger
Sarah
Aug 23, 2008 at 03:33
Hermione is definitely more well-rounded of a character whereas Bella is a flat Mary Sue. Plus Hermione’s smart, and she can kick butt on a battlefield.
I’d pick Hermione any day.
hermioneg247
Aug 23, 2008 at 08:09
God, can people just stop comparing the two series?!?!?! It’s so annoying because they are both great, but they have nothing in common. Both are fantasy, but that’s pretty much it. So, I’m not going to answer the question because I’m sick of all the comparing. Sorry if I offended anyone or anything.
vive xe
Brian
Aug 23, 2008 at 10:40
I totally agree.
Better is to compare the teachers! On the London Times, they have a list of the worst teachers in the movies, with Umbridge at number one. No Snape in the list, although others have suggested him and Trewlany.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/schoolgate/2008/08/the-worst-teach.html
Yedi Weasley
Aug 23, 2008 at 18:39
well i haven’t read the twilight series…but from what i have heard from my friends about bella Hermione is way better!! =]]
Pat
Aug 23, 2008 at 19:18
I agree with all of you. The character Hermione is more realistic and comparable to today’s society. We all know her, we have all had a “Hermione” in our own schools, and once you get to know her, she is an all rounded, witty, bright and is a true friend. What I know about the Twilight series, this Bella does not hold a candle to our dear Hermione. I would rather have my daughter or niece roll model after the “smart” and “clear-headed” and knowing from the right and wrong! Carry on Hermione Granger!
Em Dy
Aug 23, 2008 at 20:27
I’ve read both books and definitely, Hermione’s better than Bella because she has more sense.
puavanh
Aug 23, 2008 at 23:05
I think the comparison is categorically unfair. The situations that are portrayed in the book for the characters are completely different. Bella’s story is all about love and the lengths people will go for those they love. If a girl who truly loves the people around her is a bad example, then that is quite sad. Bella is smart, tolerant of the differences in the people that she loves, comfortable in her own skin (in relation to her peers), is true to herself, and in her darkest times (New Moon) manages to continue functioning, rather than retreating to a dark corner in her room. Hermione is just as impressive in her own way, but many of the challenges that she faces are intellectual. Despite her relationships with boys, we are really never privy to her thoughts or emotions about Krum, or anyone else, not even Ron. Hermione is brilliant, a loyal friend, incredibly kind, brave, comfortable in her own skin, and able to withstand peer pressure. Any girl who can do that is fabulous in my opinion. I teach middle school and can tell you that peer pressure is HUGE and I truly admire those girls and boys who can stand for what they believe in and not give in to all the persuasion around them. Both characters are strong, fabulous girls and are FAR ABOVE other female characters in popular YA fiction today. Sorry for the soapbox, but thanks for listening. :)
Love the blog btw!
Rebecca
Aug 24, 2008 at 13:56
i love twilight and harry potter! But i have to say Hermione Granger is so much better than Bella Swann!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
taylor
Aug 25, 2008 at 11:48
“Hermione is awkward”
Okay. this is Balogna Sandwich (BS) cmon. there is hardly a more confiendt character out there. hermione—-awkward????? hardly. how many of you out there can think of 5 times in all the books where shes awkward? sheesh.
finally ive got my hands on twiligh and gosh. i get so tired of bella. shes the wimp. yes, she does have some appeal, but ohmygolly, get some backbone girl!!!!!!! HERMIONE FOR PRESIDENT!!!! and yes i would pay the 7 sickles for a SPEW badge :D
vive xe i NEED to talk to you about twilight
Erin
Aug 25, 2008 at 14:33
I think that puavanh is right. Hermione and Bella are two completely separate characters and people need to stop comparing them. Since Harry Potter is about Harry you never know Hermione’s feelings like you know Bella’s. People need to stop complaining about Bella if they’ve never read Twilight. Bella is strong in her own way which is defiantly different than Hermione’s. Hermione and Ron’s relationship or Hermione and Krum’s isn’t like Bella and Edward’s. They don’t need one another to be complete. Bella and Edward could never survive without each other because they were born for each other.
Camm
Sep 27, 2008 at 12:36
Hermione all the way!! Bella makes me see red. I can’t stand her……… She’s so……… dense. I think 11-year-old Hermione was more intelligent than 17/18-year-old Bella.
Ebbs
Sep 27, 2008 at 18:05
I definetly think Hermione’s a much better character, because she seems so much realer to me. Bella Swan never came across as a reallistic character, which honestly isn’t her fault; Truth is, JK Rowling is just ten times the writer Meyer is! I’m sorry to any Twilight fans, but one of the things that makes Harry Potter so “magical” is how well-developed and . . . well, REAL the characters are. Whereas, Twilight’s characters are so stripped down to nothing. . . . Plus, she’s really annoying -_-”
Point is, if Rowling had written about Bella, maybe she would seem like a realer character– an actual person– and I’d be able to actually stand her. But, since she’s Meyer’s creation, I can only pity her while supporting Hermione all the way!
Alley Cat
Sep 27, 2008 at 18:35
Ok Twilight started the trashing Harry Potter in behind the scenes filming of Twilight so i don’t think trashing them back is much of a problem since they are pretty horrible. Also Bella’s a- meanie… and Hermione atleast has a backround. Why is it that I feel like what’s going on at Hogwarts could really be happening, I feel the horrors, and am totally absorbed in Harry Potter so much unlike Twilight?
Now, totally off topic, but who here thinks that
1 Anne Hathaway should’ve played Bella had the movie been made a couple years back?
2 We should be comparing Cedric and Edward instead of Hermione and Bella?
-I mean- they’re the same actor and to start it off, i think the actor much more suits the description of Cedric than what I imagined Edward to look like. Not that the outcome with their comparison would be much diferrent than this one.
Back to Twilight and Harry Potter, and this is my closing, which would YOU rather read? A story about a Mary Sue and a Gary Stu falling into a total obsession with eachother that seems more like a soap than a fantasy OR a confusingly complex great long fantasy series that can fill you w/ every emotion possible while reading including “comprehension” which makes it the ultimate story because it is so well written that it makes you believe the unbelievable again and again without getting old. Also Twilight is the same thing every book. Harry Potter gets longer, more descriptive and throws you off w/ a dif. type of story w/ every book.
I am unbiased because I understand where Twilight lovers are coming from, but still, Rowling is just a better writer than Meyer by a thousand times.
Twilght Lover
Dec 4, 2008 at 20:03
ok this is soo biased!!! last time i checked this is a HARRY POTTER WEBSITE!!! i know all u kidds love harry potter(except me) but u seriously must grasp on to the concept that Bella is a waayy better character than Hermine!!!Bella is soo much easier to relate to!!!(if u cant relate u r impossible)lik jeez almost all of u children havent even read twilight!!!!and if u hav u dont understand the concept of the story!!!its about two deserving ppl finding each other and doing anything to mak sure they stay together!!!!!if u cant appreciate a beautiful romance with a twist than u should never pick up another book as long as u live
!!!!!!!and to make myy point clear, anyone that thinks Hermine is better than Bella can go eat a shoe!!!!!caz u must really not understand y so many ppl love twilight!!!and the child that said JK Rowling is ten times the writer Meyer is was completely and utterly WRONG!!!!!!Stephanie Meyer is an amazing writer and u should be assamed of ur self for saying that!!!!!ok im done…………but before u kidds all gang upp on mee for dissing harry potter, i want u to actually read twilight and think about the story……….bye kidds………..(edward<3bella)
Katz
Dec 4, 2008 at 20:53
Dear Twilght Lover,
One: If you’re going to diss on Hermione, AT LEAST SPELL HER NAME RIGHT.
Two: I’ve read Twilight. I got all the way to halfway through Breaking Dawn. Harry Potter was BETTER.
Three: If you’re going to tell us we’re all idiots, at least do it in normal speak instead of chatspeak.
Four: I’m not a “kidd.” Furthermore, “kid” is spelled with only one d.
Five: I’m sorry I can’t relate to Bella. I’m sorry my life is not determined by a cold-as-ice, stalking, manic-depressive vampire who is his very own cockblock.
Six: Oh, and uh, “beautiful romance with a twist”? You mean sappy love scenes à la George Lucas, aka the worst romance writer in history? And a vampire controlling my life? Sorry, that doesn’t scream “beautiful romance with a twist.” Instead, it screams “abusive boyfriend.” Oh, and the “with a twist”? M. Night Shyamalan could do better. Can we say cliché?
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