Racism in the Harry Potter Series

Racism in the Harry Potter Series Kaitlin Ollivier-Gooch The cultural phenomenon of the Harry Pot- ries; however, the most prominent example by ter series is one that affected the lives of an far is the Muggles. Any wizard in the novel who entire generation. Countless young adults today is not Muggle-born or raised by Muggle parents were raised alongside Harry Potter, Hermione expresses racist tendencies towards Muggles. De- Granger, and Ron Weasley, learning as they spite the fact that the intentions of their actions learned. J.K. Rowling accomplished something are spawned from different mentalities, both the with her novels that most authors cannot: she `good' and the `bad' wizards in the novels are created characters that truly grew with the read- racist, whether expressed through the colonial ers. The characters came up against problems of concept of Orientalism or the negative feelings friendship and romance, and wrestled with the of xenophobia. The books show that the lines concept of death throughout the novels; and, as that delimit racist thought and action are not they dealt with these problems, the readers did clear, and that being racist is not something for too. only the `bad guys'. It also shows readers that One of the prevailing issues dealt with in racism, while obviously worse when it stems the Harry Potter novels is racism. There is a from hatred, is not something that is exclusive very clear othering of many groups in this se- to villains in books or in real life, it can affect 75 stereotypically good characters as well. throughout the novels. He states that \[Muggles Orientalism is a concept that came from the will] go to any lengths to ignore magic, even if exploration of foreign cultures. It is defined as it's staring them in the face" (Rowling, 1998), an outsider's interpretation of the Orient (East- and when explaining Portkeys (objects that can ern Asia), showing a stereotyped version of the be used to transport individuals from one place Orient and embodying a colonialist perspective. to another) he clarifies that they are charmed Orientalism emphasizes the Orient as being dif- out of \unobtrusive things, obviously, so Mug- ferent from the West; \a place of romance, exotic gles don't go picking them up and playing with beings, haunting memories and landscapes, re- them stuff they'll just think is litter" (Rowling, markable experiences" (Said, 1978). It comes 2000). This illustrates the way that wizards see from western societies, such as England, as a the Muggles as allowing magic to happen by be- way to separate themselves from the Orient's cul- ing ignorant of the more intelligent, purposeful tures and peoples, exoticizing them and seeing magical world around them. The fact that the them as backwards and uncivilized. While tra- person who is the most interested in Muggles, ditionally used to describe the portrayals of the enough to build his career around it, does not Orient in Western culture, this concept echoes understand Muggles in the slightest indicates the way that wizards treat and view Muggles in the way the rest of the wizarding world feels to- the Harry Potter novels. By applying a concept wards Muggles. Mr. Weasley exoticizes the very used in anthropology to review both the novels people he is supposed to be working to protect, and literature written on the Harry Potter series, mirroring the view of Western colonizers towards this paper looks more in depth into the themes their colonies in the Orient. behind Harry Potter. Most wizards portrayed in Like Arthur Weasley, most of the good or the books see Muggles as exotic, less advanced neutral wizards view Muggles in an oriental- humans who are miraculous in their way of man- ist lens. At the Quidditch World Cup (a large, aging to live their lives and accomplish day to magical sporting event), the gathering of wizards day tasks without the use of magic. together takes place in a Muggle campground, The most prominent of the orientalists in so the wizards dress up in `Muggle clothing' to the novels is Arthur Weasley. Throughout the appear inconspicuous in case any non-wizarding novels, he is depicted \as the bewildered British folk are around (Rowling, 2000). When Harry, intellectual explorer, both infinitely curious and Hermione and the Weasleys arrive at the camp- confused as to the workings of the Muggle world" ground, they are greeted by a man wearing \a (Lamb, 2015). He is seen as endearing to the tweed suit with thigh-length galoshes; his col- readers, used as comedic relief at times as he league, a kilt and a poncho" (Rowling, 2000); is \continually mis-pronouncing the key word very poorly crafted outfits out of Muggle cloth- to the non-wizarding technology: electricity" ing. Wizards are the minority in the world, with (Lamb, 2015). Mr. Weasley is an official at knowledge of both the magical and non-magical the Ministry of Magic, working in the Misuse of worlds, and therefore it should not be difficult Muggle Artefacts Office. He is championed as for those who do not openly oppose Muggles to one of the most Muggle-sympathetic wizards in spend time gaining an understanding of their the wizarding world, and yet he cannot grasp the èxotic' cultures and customs without having concept of the telephone, nor can he do much to interact with Muggles. Particularly customs better than pronounce electricity \eckeltricity" around the way they dress, which are easy to (Rowling, 2000) throughout the novels. Mr. explore through observation, thus eliminating Weasley might be \crazy about everything to do any worry of exposing magic to the Muggles. with Muggles" (Rowling, 1998), but he also un- Even the Ministry of Magic exists largely to derestimates their intelligence a number of times keep magic from non-magical beings, and \the 76 wizard's superior abilities and intellect combined is clear by the way the other characters in the with the ineptitude and ignorance of the Mug- books react to the word. It is a word used to gles" (Lamb, 2015) is what allows the Ministry demean Muggle-borns and belittle their abilities to, seemingly, do its job successfully. When Cor- and right to exist in the magical world. The only nelius Fudge, the Minster for Magic, speaks to reason for it being that the pure-bloods believe the Muggle Prime Minister about the return of that they are superior and likely fear that their Voldemort, the villain in the novels, it is shown magic is being taken beyond them to those who just how much the wizards know about the na- are not worthy of it. ture of the attacks and how determined the Mug- Xenophobia is a fear or dislike of the cus- gles are to ignore the presence of magic in their toms, dress, etc., of people who are culturally world. Bridges breaking, hurricanes happening different from oneself. The term can be applied in West Country, and mysterious murders are to the views of pure-bloods in Harry Potter. baffling to the Muggle Prime Minister, but he They believe they are better than Muggles and explains them the only way he knows how, the Muggle-borns, but it is clear that even the well- non-magical way, until Fudge tells him the truth meaning wizards do not understand the culture (Rowling, 2005). The wizards know exactly of Muggles. This would be a natural progression what is happening to the world around them, from not understanding the Muggles, to fearing but the Muggles are confused, and their Prime the culture that the pure-blood wizards do not Minister can barely grasp the truth even when understand, and then acting out against it; and it is explained to him. This scene shows the there are many examples in the novels. One power dynamic between the ìgnorant' Muggle such example is the Black family that lives in a and the àll-knowing', and sympathetic, wizard. house surrounded on either side by Muggles in The intentions of most wizards towards Muggles the heart of London, yet when Andromeda Black are well-meaning for the most part. However, married a Muggle-born, she was struck off the any wizards who openly despise Muggles are family tree and disowned. The Black's house-elf viewed by the main character, and therefore by clearly hates Muggle-borns and half-bloods, re- the readers as an extension of the point of view, ferring to members of the Order of the Phoenix, as being èvil' or `bad'. a secret society created to fight Voldemort and Those who do not see Muggles as exotic, his followers, as \Mudbloods and traitors and blissfully ignorant beings, are the wizards who scum" (Rowling, 2003), while the late Walburga treat muggles like animals. To these wizards, Blacks moving portrait literally screams, \stains Muggles are not their equals and therefore de- of dishonor, filthy half-breeds, blood traitors, serve to be treated like lesser beings. These children of filth” (Rowling, 2003) at the mem- pure-blood families, families whose members bers, making it clear how this pure-blood family are all witches and wizards without marrying loathed their neighbours. There exist numerous Muggles, Muggle-borns, or half-bloods, are rep- real events which parallel the series' exploration resented throughout the novels by Draco Malfoy of this pure-blooded perspective of fearing and who \acts as a mouthpiece for his parents' pure- hating different cultural groups. blood views, rationalizing his racist ideology and Perhaps the most famous example of racism his ambition to learn the Dark Arts as `sensible'" and xenophobia in modern history is mani- (Lamb, 2015).

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