What Rowling’s reader later finds out about the characters is based on what they say and how they behave. For example, the description of Hermione made me think instantly of a woman in Asterix in Corsica (p.9, if you’re interested! British, big teeth, bushy brown hair, and likes to cook in boiling water… I ask you). What Rowling gives the reader is an assemblage of discrete physical characteristics the reader fills in the gaps, literally. In each case, this is more or less all that we ever hear about the appearance of these characters. Snape, at the first Hogwarts dinner: “a teacher with greasy black hair, a hooked nose and sallow skin.” Professor McGonagall, meeting the first-years at the castle door: “She had a very stern face and Harry’s first thought was that this was not someone to cross.” Hermione, on the Hogwarts Express: “She had a bossy sort of voice, lots of bushy brown hair and rather large front teeth.” Ron Weasley, at King’s Cross: “tall, thin and gangling, with freckles, big hands and feet and a long nose.” Oh yes, and there was the little black smudge on his nose. Mr Ollivander: “An old man was standing before them, his wide pale eyes shining like moons through the gloom of the shop.”
Now Draco Malfoy, in Madam Malkin’s the first time: “a boy with a pale, pointed face.” He has a large overcoat and a pink umbrella. He’s large, hairy, and has beetle-bright eyes. The following examples are all from PS.Ĭonsider her description of Hagrid when he bursts into the Hut-on-the-Rock. She gives what she wants to describe a name, and leaves the rest up to the reader. I noticed fairly early that her descriptions are slyly non-descriptive. Rowling, apparently, is a master of this form of butling. The reader goes through that door himself or herself. The best descriptions often offer no more than hints, keywords, a trained butler’s unobtrusive opening of a particular door. Most authors expend substantial effort on description, describing scenes, events or characters so that readers will be able to visualise them.
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