Tools of Characterization
Characterization in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2
Speech
The Harry Potter franchise is pretty heavy on action, but when the characters talk to each other (you know, between duels, dragon rides, and wizard bank break-ins), we certainly get some insights into what makes them tick.
Take Molly Weasley, Ron's mom. The nicest lady, right? She's warm, affectionate, doting, and a great mother. We get to see a different side of her in this film, though—and particularly after one of her sons, Fred, gets killed in battle.
She's been fighting the Battle of Hogwarts bravely all along, but losing her son adds a metric ton of rage to her efforts…so when Bellatrix Lestrange comes this close to killing Ginny, Molly loses her usually sweet demeanor and let's Bella have it—first with words:
MOLLY: Not my daughter, you b****!
…and then with actions. When she kills Bella. And we have to say, we don't blame her one bit.
Anyway, this fierce, aggressive, cursing Molly is definitely new to us, and it shows you just how far this battle against Voldemort has pushed her.
Actions
Harry and Voldemort provide us with pretty good case studies in how actions tell us a lot about the character. Voldemort likes to murder people to ensure his own safety and longevity, which tells us he's, well, not fantastic.
In fact, in this film, he even murders one of his (supposed) lieutenants because he thinks that will allow him to use the Elder Wand more effectively:
VOLDEMORT: The wand, does it truly answer to me? You're a clever man, Severus. Surely you must know: Where does its true loyalty lie?
SNAPE: With you, of course, My Lord.
VOLDEMORT: The Elder Wand cannot serve me properly, because I am not its true master. The Elder Wand belongs to the wizard who killed its last owner. You killed Dumbledore, Severus. While you live, the Elder Wand cannot truly be mine. You've been a good and faithful servant, Severus, but only I can live forever.
Nice, right? We knew Voldemort was only out for Voldemort, but that is ice cold.
On the flip side, Harry's actions show us just how amazing he truly is. He actually lets Voldemort kill him without putting up a fight, because he believes that is one of the last steps to defeating Voldemort. That shows us some serious bravery and selflessness, even above and beyond what we've come to expect of Harry. Color us seriously impressed.
Direct Characterization
Sometimes it's handy when characters just go ahead and tell you what to think of them.
Even if we hadn't seen (like, through actions) that Severus Snape had turned out to be a standup guy, Harry's speech to his son at the end of the movie would have given us a clue:
HARRY: Albus Severus Potter, you were named after two Headmasters of Hogwarts. One of them was a Slytherin, and he was the bravest man I've ever known.
Man, what a turnaround, right? Earlier in the film, Harry had been berating Snape for killing Dumbledore, but now he's all "Snape's the bravest dude ever" and naming his kid after him.
But that definitely drives home our point: Snape's actions were so selfless and brave that even Harry had to stand up and take notice.