Some concerns about the Harry Potter series
Values are found in all stories that children listen to, read and view and the Harry
Potter books are a series of stories full of values. Before looking at the Christian values
contained in the novels and commenting on their suitability for teaching values it is necessary to make comment regarding concerns expressed by critics about the possibility of readers
gaining unsatisfactory values and beliefs from the books. They have attacked the series for
containing elements of xenophobia, supporting inequalities in Western societies through their
portrayals of elements of those societies particularly in the portrayal of women, and of being
supportive of the current class system in Great Britain (Park, Dresang, Zipes, Westman, et
al.). There is no doubt that many criticisms of the novels are justifiable and that parents and
teachers need to have some understanding of these concerns. Part of the reason for these
attacks is because Rowling adopts a conventionality in her literary form that carries with it
some of the tradition prejudices associated with those forms.
The books reinforce traditional, ordinary, literary genres that readers generally find
attractive but that are not challenging to them possibly because Rowling herself is
comfortable with these genres. Sexism and other prejudices are apparent in the Harry Potter
books. The books seem to support the view that certain people/creatures are best suited to
certain roles in society, particularly that the house elves seem unable to cope with freedom
and may be better off as slaves. A passion for consumerism is also shown in the books
through Harry, Ron and other characters coveting the latest model broomstick or collecting
wizard trading cards. The series generally depicts foreigners, such as the students of
Durmstrang, and races, such as the Giants, in an unpleasant light. However, as stated
previously, interpretation depends on how one reads the text and what one is seeking from a
text. One could justify Rowling’s portrayal of women in the books and other aspects of the
books as being an accurate portrayal of the real world as it exists, not an ideal world of social
and racial equality (Gallardo-C & Smith, 2003). Some readers might want their emotions
shocked and their lives changed by reading a certain book but the Harry Potter books would
not provide this reaction. Rowling essentially does not enter new literary grounds and if
critics read her books hoping for something completely new or especially challenging then they will be disappointed. Many of these criticisms of the series can be traced to the use of
Harry Potter as a traditional hero, a character that has been part of our culture of stories for
generations, and due to this he suffers some of the weaknesses of those heroes.
As Harry Potter follows in the tradition of other heroes Margery Hourihan’s (1997)
work on literary heroes is relevant to the Harry Potter series because she specifically deals
with the problematic meanings young readers may acquire from reading hero stories
available to them (p. 5). She feels that hero stories are a powerful agent in shaping social and
political attitudes, and that their influence is always conservative (p. 21). While Harry Potter
shows some modern differences to traditional heroes, including some feminine attributes
(Nikolajeva, 2003, p. 135), Hourihan’s opinions on heroes are relevant in studying the Harry
Potter series because Harry is predominantly modelled on the traditional hero. Hourihan’s
views are referred to in more detail below.
The Harry Potter stories, like many other hero stories, show a view of the world that
is prejudiced. There are very few ethnic characters in the series that we are generally made
aware of. These include Angelina Johnson, a black girl, Cho Chang, of Asian ancestry, and
the Patil twins, Parvati and Padma, of Indian ancestry. The central characters, both good and
evil are white Europeans. Hagrid, who is half-giant, is the only exception to this but, while he
is shown in a good light, he is also shown as a person with limited intellect. As much of the
story occurs in the magical world non-human species are generally shown as inferior. Giants
are depicted as being violent and uncouth (OoP, pp. 377-383) and house elves are depicted as
being unable to cope with freedom from slavery as depicted through the character of Winkie
who declines into apparent alcoholism when freed from her slavery (GoF, pp. 466-467).
There are some exceptions to this dominant portrayal of non-human creatures but generally
white Europeans dominate the series, even if they are still in their teens. This would support
Hourihan’s (1997) view that white Europeans, in hero stories, are generally depicted as “the natural masters of the world because they are strong, brave, skilful, rational and dedicated”
(p. 1).
Values are found in all stories that children listen to, read and view and the Harry
Potter books are a series of stories full of values. Before looking at the Christian values
contained in the novels and commenting on their suitability for teaching values it is necessary to make comment regarding concerns expressed by critics about the possibility of readers
gaining unsatisfactory values and beliefs from the books. They have attacked the series for
containing elements of xenophobia, supporting inequalities in Western societies through their
portrayals of elements of those societies particularly in the portrayal of women, and of being
supportive of the current class system in Great Britain (Park, Dresang, Zipes, Westman, et
al.). There is no doubt that many criticisms of the novels are justifiable and that parents and
teachers need to have some understanding of these concerns. Part of the reason for these
attacks is because Rowling adopts a conventionality in her literary form that carries with it
some of the tradition prejudices associated with those forms.
The books reinforce traditional, ordinary, literary genres that readers generally find
attractive but that are not challenging to them possibly because Rowling herself is
comfortable with these genres. Sexism and other prejudices are apparent in the Harry Potter
books. The books seem to support the view that certain people/creatures are best suited to
certain roles in society, particularly that the house elves seem unable to cope with freedom
and may be better off as slaves. A passion for consumerism is also shown in the books
through Harry, Ron and other characters coveting the latest model broomstick or collecting
wizard trading cards. The series generally depicts foreigners, such as the students of
Durmstrang, and races, such as the Giants, in an unpleasant light. However, as stated
previously, interpretation depends on how one reads the text and what one is seeking from a
text. One could justify Rowling’s portrayal of women in the books and other aspects of the
books as being an accurate portrayal of the real world as it exists, not an ideal world of social
and racial equality (Gallardo-C & Smith, 2003). Some readers might want their emotions
shocked and their lives changed by reading a certain book but the Harry Potter books would
not provide this reaction. Rowling essentially does not enter new literary grounds and if
critics read her books hoping for something completely new or especially challenging then they will be disappointed. Many of these criticisms of the series can be traced to the use of
Harry Potter as a traditional hero, a character that has been part of our culture of stories for
generations, and due to this he suffers some of the weaknesses of those heroes.
As Harry Potter follows in the tradition of other heroes Margery Hourihan’s (1997)
work on literary heroes is relevant to the Harry Potter series because she specifically deals
with the problematic meanings young readers may acquire from reading hero stories
available to them (p. 5). She feels that hero stories are a powerful agent in shaping social and
political attitudes, and that their influence is always conservative (p. 21). While Harry Potter
shows some modern differences to traditional heroes, including some feminine attributes
(Nikolajeva, 2003, p. 135), Hourihan’s opinions on heroes are relevant in studying the Harry
Potter series because Harry is predominantly modelled on the traditional hero. Hourihan’s
views are referred to in more detail below.
The Harry Potter stories, like many other hero stories, show a view of the world that
is prejudiced. There are very few ethnic characters in the series that we are generally made
aware of. These include Angelina Johnson, a black girl, Cho Chang, of Asian ancestry, and
the Patil twins, Parvati and Padma, of Indian ancestry. The central characters, both good and
evil are white Europeans. Hagrid, who is half-giant, is the only exception to this but, while he
is shown in a good light, he is also shown as a person with limited intellect. As much of the
story occurs in the magical world non-human species are generally shown as inferior. Giants
are depicted as being violent and uncouth (OoP, pp. 377-383) and house elves are depicted as
being unable to cope with freedom from slavery as depicted through the character of Winkie
who declines into apparent alcoholism when freed from her slavery (GoF, pp. 466-467).
There are some exceptions to this dominant portrayal of non-human creatures but generally
white Europeans dominate the series, even if they are still in their teens. This would support
Hourihan’s (1997) view that white Europeans, in hero stories, are generally depicted as “the natural masters of the world because they are strong, brave, skilful, rational and dedicated”
(p. 1).
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