Introduction

J.K. Rowlings series, Harry Potter, is a world phenomenon for this generation,
and I believe for generations to come. The successhas made the name [Harry Potter]
a permanent fixture in popular culture, and like all popular pieces it has also become a
target for criticism. However, despite some of the controversy surrounding the books, the
Harry Potter story continues to be read. (Walters, 2015) The examination of race,
hierarchy, and power assists in the recognition of the social and political systems at work
in the series. (Vollmer, 2007) What is incredible about this series is that Rowling
incorporated so many different themes such as the problem of racism demonstrated in the
dispute over pure bloods, half bloods, and muggle-born individuals. In this paper, I will
examine several social, racial, and political themes within the series that, along with the
story line, keeps it so popular and relevant.
Summary of Research
Erin Vollmer, in her Harrys World essay, explores the sophisticated structures of
social and political themes embedded in the story sine the first novel in the series,
(Vollmer, 2007) including power and prejudice, the caste system, racism and the creation
of the ultimate villain, Harrys paradoxical existence, materialism, and lastly power and
ethics. In her closing she makes a statement that although Harry embodies the ideals of
a classless, virtuous society, his utopian society will never exist. Human nature has
always, and will always, deny the emergence of a perfect society. (Vollmer, 2007) In her
review and exploration of the series this conclusion Vollmer comes to is not surprising;
although this series is set in a fictitious realm that coincides with ours, Rowling shows
that even in a realm of magic and endless possibility a utopian society does not exist,

even in the closing of the series when the good guys win. All people struggle with the
same problems: power, prejudice, racism, materialism, and ethics.
My second source examines the intricacies and depth of the racial ideologies
presented in the books, as well as how they can be equated with historical and real world
issues. (Walters, 2015) There can be no doubt that some of the most prevalent themes
in the series include political corruption, racial prejudices and the consequential social
inequalities that stem from those themesIssues of racism, felt by both human and nonhuman beings, is the most significant conflict represented in the series. (Walters, 2015)
Rowling grows her characters and as a result, in each successive novel, introduces more
and more ideologies that the characters would indeed have to face, as they get older.
Biases towards blood status are not recent developments but one that have been carried
out through wizarding, (Walters, 2015) and have been carried out in our recent history.
You grow up in a hostile world governed by codes and norms that seem
nonsensical to you, and you discover at a certain age that there are people like you
whats more theres a whole subculture with its own codes and norms right alongside
yet strangely invisible to it. (Barrott, 2012) This is very true in Harry Potter, but what
many fail to recognize is that this is also true in our own real world. In the United
States, people aged 18-35 are the ones least likely to vote and least likely to express an
interest in politics-even though they are the ones are likely to live the longest with the
consequences of any political decision. (Barrott, 2012) Barrott then continues on to
explain that these individuals are apathetic to politics because they are so complicated
they feel they are unlikely to be able to understand it, (Barrott, 2012) but then argues
that if they are someone who has grown up with Harry Potter they do understand dozens

of the most important themes in political science and history. (Barrott, 2012) The fact
of the matter is that, according to history, those in the range of 18-35 are the most
influential in progressing change, meaning that those individuals need to be politically
aware and involved in the process. Harry Potter and his friends show us that is possible,
despite the odds, to change the world if they recognize and understand what is going on
around them and try to make a difference.
In the last article that I examined Goodman argues the books teach magic can
rescue us from hardships, misfortunes, cosmic threats, child abuse, or even prohibitions
on candy and sweet drinks, and that magic can also recue us from the aesthetic squalor
which is all that is offered by public institutionsthe subjectis power, an important
matter for children, since they have so little of it. (Goodman, 2004) These books in and
of themselves are an escape for many students. While children dont have access to the
magic and the rescue it brings to Harry and his friends, they do have the fictitious world
that they can escape to in their imagination. Magic calls attention to the awe and
wonder of ordinary life. Rowling ingeniously enhances and amplifies the vitality of
ordinary objects. (Goodman, 2004) In todays world where many children are
bombarded by media and technology, the series offers them a different view of the world,
one where technology is not the norm, one where the students are encouraged to be
outdoors and adventurous.
Then there is also the matter of Hermione; her ability to transcend class and race
through her library learning makes her seem a particularly good example of a feminism
which formulates freedom through self-determination and focuses on building identity
through self-construction and autonomy. (Goodman, 2004) Hermione is the example I

would argue, not only to girls, but also to anyone who has been considered a failure.
Hermione comes from a world without magic and therefore has to work harder than her
half-blooded or full-blooded counterparts to achieve success. This is a good lesson to
many who read who may not be book-smart as it shows that anything is possible if they
just try and apply themselves.
Conclusion
The series introduces and discusses many more topics than what these articles
examined. However the main issue I believe the series brings to light is that our world is
not perfect; there are copious issues we each have to face and it is on us as individuals to
make our world a better place, not the adults in our life or even the government that
makes all the codes and laws that are to be followed. At the heart of the booksis one
message in particular: the promotion of political participation for young people.
(Goodman, 2004) Through this series, readers learn about and can associate with
characters that deal with conflict and difference (Walters, 2015) and see ultimately
what society should strive for: harmony that can only exist in diversity (Vollmer, 2007)
even though prejudice will still exist, some will still place the individual ahead of the
community, and hierarchy will not be wiped out. (Vollmer, 2007)

References

Barratt, B. (2012). The Politics of Harry Potter. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
Goodman, R. T. (2004). Harru Potter's Magic and the Market: What Are Youth Learning
About Gender, Race, and Class? Workplace (11), 148-164.
Rowling, J.K. (1998). Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. New York: Scholastic.
Rowling, J.K. (1998). Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. New York: Scholastic .
Vollmer, E. (2007). Harry's World: An Exploration of J.K. Rowling's Social and Politcal
Agenda in the Harry Potter Series. La Crosse: University of Wisconsin. Retrieved
August 2, 2015, from University of Wisconsin: http://www.uwlax.edu/urc/JURonline/PDF/2007/vollmer.pdf
Walters, T. L. (2015, May). Not So Magical: Issues with Racism, Classism, and Ideology
in Harry Potter. Marquette , MI.