Hey everyone,
Welcome to another installment of Harry Potter Theory.
Due to all of the demand in the comment section, today we’re going to be discussing Rubeus
Hagrid- played by the late and great Robbie Coltrane.
For those unaware, Robbie Coltrane, who famously played Rubeus Hagrid, tragically passed recently
at the age of 72.
Coltrane, who had been fighting poor health for the last couple of years, finally died
in hospital near his home in Scotland.
The last time Coltrane appeared on-camera was this year during the 20th Harry Potter
Anniversary Special - Return to Hogwarts, and it was here that he reassured fans that
though HE may not be around forever, Hagrid isn’t going anywhere- forever cemented in
film and in the hearts of millions upon millions of Hagrid fans worldwide.
A few different videos were requested on the loveable half-giant, ranging from ‘10 Best
things about Hagrid’ to ‘Things we don’t know about Hagrid’, but I decided to land
on the latter so that I can uncover some aspects of Hagrid’s character that casual fans may
not have ever known.
Let’s get in to it.
10.
His Hogwarts House
Though there has been MUCH speculation over the years (and a considerable number of theories)-
it turns out that (rather unsurprisingly) Hagrid was a part of Gryffindor.
Given Hagrid’s bravery, kindness and nobility this probably isn’t much of a shock.
While his house is NOT revealed in the books, it IS revealed in an article published on
wizarding world.
That makes this little factoid CANON.
Do you share a house with Hagrid?
9.
Based on a REAL person
The list of Harry Potter characters inspired by REAL people is lengthy- including Severus
Snape, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and even Gilderoy Lockhart, to name a few.
So it shouldn’t come as a surprise to you that, just like these other characters, Hagrid
too was based on a real person- a biker to be precise.
“In Harry Potter: Page to Screen: The Complete Filmmaking Journey, according to Robbie Coltrane,
the character was modelled on a real biker.
Coltrane said that J.K.
Rowling told him that Hagrid was ‘based on a Hell's Angel she knew in the West Country’.
‘He was just huge and terrifying,’ Coltrane recalled Rowling telling him.
‘And then he would sit down and talk about his garden and how his petunias had been very
bad that year.”
8.Larger Plans for Hagrid
In the beginning of the Philosopher’s Stone, we see Hagrid delivering an infant Harry Potter
to the Dursley residence at Privet Drive.
It was an emotional scene, as the soft / loveable half-giant could barely contain himself as
he released Harry from his grasp.
But what many may not know is that this scene both protected Hagrid’s character AND set
the stage for a similar scene in the Deathly Hallows.
In an interview J.K.
Rowling revealed that she had always planned for Hagrid to carry Harry’s seemingly lifeless
body out of the Forbidden Forest during the Battle of Hogwarts.
She also explained that Hagrid carrying Harry at the end was symbolic, because it mimicked
Hagrid carrying baby Harry in the first book.
Apparently this image ‘kept him safe’ and ensured that Hagrid was kept around for
future books.
7.
Dementor’s Meal
In the Chamber of Secrets Hagrid is wrongfully sent to Azkaban after being accused of re-opening
the Chamber of Secrets.
Of course, Hagrid was NOT responsible in the slightest, but that didn’t stop him from
being Cornelius Fudge’s scapegoat.
Azkaban destroys a lot of its prisoners.
It ages them- wears them down- strips them of their vitality, and that’s largely due
to the presence of its prison guards- the Dementors.
With that said, it’s worth noting that Hagrid was able to keep his sanity in check at the
prison, despite only being there a brief period.
Apparently, after Hagrid was released from Azkaban, the Dementors nearly revolted because
they had lost a ‘good’ food source- someone with strong emotions that they can feed on.
6.
Importer
In the Harry Potter story there are all sorts of interesting creatures roaming around- but
quite often I’ve found myself thinking - why are so many of these creatures within proximity
to Hogwarts?
Yes, the Forbidden Forest is close to the school- but it’s even remarked in the books
that some of these creatures are exceptionally rare- creatures like Thestrals and Acromantulas.
As it turns out, HAGRID is the one responsible for bringing both Thestrals AND Acromantulas
to the UK.
“Thestrals are extremely rare, wild creatures that the Ministry of Magic considers to be
dangerous because of their link to death.
Hagrid tamed one male and five female Thestrals to bring to Hogwarts, who spawned an entire
herd.
The Hogwarts Thestrals are the only herd to ever be tamed and used as pets in all of England,
and no other cases are known around the world either.
Hagrid is also responsible for bringing Acromantula to England, as the species is native to Borneo.
Hagrid released Aragog into the forest before snagging a female Acromantula named Mosag;
Aragog and Mosag's resulting colony is the only one to exist in England.”
5.
His Weakness
Given that Hagrid was the Care of Magical Creatures professor, and showed an affinity
for magical creatures on par with famed magizoologist Newt Scamander, you may be surprised to hear
that Hagrid’s ONLY weakness is a tiny pet you may have heard of- a CAT.
In the Philosopher’s Stone, Hagrid tells Harry that he ‘don’ like cats' because
they make him sneeze, which is why he chose to buy Harry an owl, Hedwig, for his birthday
present.
4.
Stunted Magic
Magical powers aren’t revealed in a magical child UNTIL they are provoked out of them-
sometimes remaining dormant for a considerable amount of time.
In Hagrid’s case, this was the reality, as his powers didn’t truly manifest until
AFTER he had received his Hogwarts letter and purchased his first wand from Ollivander’s.
Hagrid simply never had an incident in his childhood where his emotions were heightened,
and for this reason his powers didn't manifest.
3.
He Can’t Cast this Spell
In the Harry Potter story casting the Patronus Charm seems to be a rite of passage- a signifier
that a witch or wizard has truly honed his or her magical abilities.
The Patronus charm is a positive energy force- a physical representation of hope, happiness,
survival and purity.
It’s the primary defence that a witch or wizard might use against Dementors, as because
the patronus does not feel despair or hopelessness, the Dementors are repelled by its presence.
But what may surprise you is that Hagrid CAN’T cast a Patronus.
In a Q&A with Harry Potter fans on Twitter, J.K.
Rowling was quizzed what Hagrid’s Patronus would be.
In reply, she wrote, ‘Hagrid couldn't produce a Patronus.
It's a very difficult spell.'
Provided that the Patronus (in corporeal form) assumes the shape of an animal guardian, it’s
surprising that Hagrid doesn’t have one!
2.
Where his NAME Came From
Hagrid’s full name is ‘Rubeus Hagrid’- and, just like many of the other characters
in the story, his name actually has a lot of depth.
He wasn’t named haphazardly!
“Hagrid is a big drinker who's regularly seen by Harry to indulge in visits to the
pub and even getting inebriated.
His name alludes to his personality trait because "Rubeus" is related to the word "ruddy,"
which means reddish and is apparent on someone who drinks a lot.”
1.
His First Wand
It seems strange that for as long as we’ve known Hagrid he’s held an umbrella in place
of a wand.
And while Hagrid’s original wand is INSIDE of this umbrella, it was once a fully-functioning
magical item in it’s own right.
Hagrid’s first wand (pre-umbrella) was a 16 inch oak wand, rather bendy, with an *unknown*
core material.
Those with oak wands usually have an ‘affinity with the magic of the natural world’, a
‘bendy’ wand signifies a high level of adaptability in his personality, and the length
of his wand is representative of his large stature and enormous personality.
And that’s it for this video!
Thank-you for joining me in honouring the late and great Robbie Coltrane by dissecting
his iconic character.
Until next time
Remember
What’s comin’ will come, an’ we’ll meet it when it does.”