Wizarding Hierarchy: A Portrayal of Discrimination and Prejudice in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter novels

Abstract

This paper explores how the Harry Potter novels by J.K. Rowling touches on the subject of discrimination and general prejudice against minority groups throughout the history of mankind. Though there are many minority groups in the novels, only a few will be discussed. Each of them will be compared to minority groups that faces prejudice in the real world. The paper further examines the effect discrimination has on the wizarding world and the struggle that wizards have to face to break from old habits, such as the enslavement of house-elves and their ongoing quarrels with goblins and other non-human creatures. The history of these feuds will be discussed as well as possible ways of mending the relationship between wizards and the minority groups. Oppression and abuse towards these minority groups are parts of the daily life of wizards and has been for centuries. Likewise, there will a focus on the prejudice werewolves face and how they mirror HIV infected people. In order to compare werewolves and people with HIV, a series of articles and studies on attitude towards diseases such as HIV/AIDS will be analyzed. The paper will also include a discussion about a few characters from the series that in some way are connected to minority groups: Hermione Granger, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Dolores Umbridge, Lord Voldemort, Dobby the house-elf, and lastly the werewolf Remus Lupin. Though many of these characters are important characters, there will be a specific discussion and analysis of Remus Lupin as a representative of illness in the world of wizards. Additionally, there will be a short discussion about the effects of social media has on society in present days. The inspiration for this paper came after a recent reading of the series, during a highly debated racial and prejudice discussions taking place over social media.