Harry Potter

This article is about the Harry Potter book series. For information about the character, see Harry Potter (character). For the first book in the aforementioned series, see Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

File:Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.jpg

Cover of the original novel in the series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. This original edition was distributed throughout the English-speaking world outside of the United States (within the U.S., it was distributed as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone).

Harry Potter is the name of a series of fantasy and wizardry novels by J. K. Rowling and the movies based on them. The main character is a fictional young wizard Harry Potter. The first novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in the United States), was released in 1997, but takes place in 1991 (see Dates in Harry Potter).

Overview

To read a complete synopsis of the first six books, and an incomplete synopsis of the seventh, see Harry Potter (plot).

The Harry Potter books are primarily aimed at older children (because they have progressively darker themes), but have fans of all ages, as demonstrated by the publication of editions of each book with cover artwork intended for adults. There is also a series of Warner Brothers films based directly on the books, the first of which was released in 2001.

According to the author, J.K. Rowling, the stories appeared in her head, fully formed, while she was on a train from Manchester to London. Her favourite place to write the first book was at an Edinburgh café table, while drinking endless cups of coffee. Sales from the books, as well as royalties from films and merchandise, have made Rowling the 552nd wealthiest person in the world [1]. Rowling is richer than Queen Elizabeth II.

Each book chronicles one year in Harry's life at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry where he learns to use magic, brew potions, and play Quidditch. Harry also learns to overcome many obstacles, both magical and social, as he struggles through his adolescence.

Rowling has announced that seven books are planned, each a little darker than its predecessor, as Harry ages and his nemesis, Lord Voldemort, gains power. As of July 2005, six books have been published, the latest being Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, published in its English language version on 16 July 2005. Rowling has revealed hints about the plot of the book on her personal website [2].

With the exception of several chapters, the books are written in third person limited omniscient mode, with Harry as the central character. The books are generally written from Harry's point of view, with short exceptions in Philosopher's Stone, Goblet of Fire and Half-Blood Prince. This is one reason that readers feel such a strong kinship to Harry; the story is told through his character.

The books have been compared to many well-known novels, including C. S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia and J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. They also fit into a British genre of novels about boarding school life, and sections involving the Dursleys, Harry's relatives, remind some readers of Roald Dahl's works.

Aspects of the Harry Potter series have even entered the real world, such as Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, which inspired an actual product of that name, marketed by the Jelly Belly Company.

Themes

Like many works of science fiction and fantasy, the Harry Potter series presents events in the form of analogies with regard to real issues, confronting social issues in an indirect manner.

Class prejudice and racism

Rowling utilises the obsession of some in the wizard world with "blood purity" as an analogy for class prejudice and racism. The wizard world is composed of a small number of "pure-blood" families, and the majority heralding from "half-blood" or "muggle-born" ancestry. (See blood purity in Harry Potter). These categories, while irrelevant to many within the book, are frequently cited by the more intolerant characters as a measure of personal worth.

Some believe that the concept of "blood purity" within the wizard world is a reference to elements of the class-system that was previously a feature of British society, particularly within educational institutions such as universities or public schools similar in nature to Harry's school, Hogwarts. It also references World War II era Germany, particularly that the leader of the rising hatred and oppression against the so-called "half-breeds", Lord Voldemort, is in fact a "halfblood" himself, much like Adolf Hitler was allegedly part Jewish.

Harry Potter makes statements about real issues of prejudice by assuming that they do not exist. For example, it is taken for granted that every profession in Rowling's world has personnel who are both male and female; even the sports teams are mixed.

Even families who ignore the concept of "blood purity" are generally prejudiced against "non-humans" or "half-breeds". This theme is explored with characters such as Remus Lupin, a werewolf and Rubeus Hagrid, a half-human, half-giant. Additionally, house-elves are considered fit only for subjugation and slavery, despite their human-like feelings and their own powerful magic (demonstrated by Dobby in Chamber of Secrets).

Rowling also uses the Weasleys, an extremely tolerant "pure-blood" family, as examples of people that hold prejudices without even realising it. Harry's friend, Ron Weasley, is shocked to learn of Lupin's affliction in Prisoner of Azkaban, and Hagrid's ancestry in Goblet of Fire. Ron's mother, Molly Weasley, also unwittingly expresses open prejudice against werewolves in Order of the Phoenix.

Slavery

Enslavement of house elves (HP2, HP4, HP5, HP6)

Choices

Rowling has stated that, rather than intentionally placing themes in her books, she lets them "grow organically". One of the most significant recurring themes is that of choice. In Chamber of Secrets, Dumbledore makes perhaps his most famous quote on this issue: "It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." He confronts the issue again in Goblet of Fire, when he tells Cornelius Fudge that what one grows up to be is far more important than what one is born. Rowling has commented that Dumbledore often speaks for her.

Also, through the novels, Harry must choose between what is right and what is easy. This theme is expected to arise more and more frequently as the choices Harry must make become more and more difficult.

Harry's entire destiny (the reason it is the Harry Potter not the Neville Longbottom series) hinges on a choice made by Voldemort as explained by Dumbledore at the end of the fifth book.

Humility

The novels also focus on the importance of humility. Harry has to spend many tedious years in the muggle world with his abusive relatives, who treat him very poorly. When Harry learns that he is the famous "Boy Who Lived", he is more concerned about living up to his reputation than using it to his own advantage, contrasting with his counterpart, Draco Malfoy. Harry turns out to be a highly skilled Quidditch player with a talent for Defence Against the Dark Arts. Instead of basking in the glory of his abilities, he is humble, and even bashful, when complimented on his skills.

Love

The theme of love as a powerful form of magic in itself is a recurring theme throughout the series. Both Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort are put through some of the same torments during their youth, but Harry embraced love in spite of his upbringing, while Voldemort instead embraced his anger. Albus Dumbledore believes that Harry's love for those around him, and Voldemort's lack there of, is the powerful ancient magic that will lead to the Dark Lord's downfall. Albus Dumbledore also says in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince that love is the "power that the Dark Lord knows not" mentioned in the prophecy made about our beloved Harry and Lord Voldemort.

Censorship

Regarding Umbridge in HP5.

Politics and Government

Regarding Ministry conflicts and issues.

Controversy

The books have provoked various kinds of controversy.

Accusations of promoting witchcraft

According to the American Library Association, the Harry Potter novels have been among the most frequently challenged in school libraries since 1998. The complaints allege that the books have occult or Satanic themes, are violent, and are anti-family.

Some Christian groups in the United States have denounced the series for promoting witchcraft or Satanism. "It contains some powerful and valuable lessons about love and courage and the ultimate victory of good over evil," said Paul Hetrick, spokesman for Focus on the Family, a national Christian group based in Colorado Springs. "However, the positive messages are packaged in a medium — witchcraft — that is directly denounced in scripture." [3]. The official exorcist of Rome, Father Gabriele Amorth, believes that the Harry Potter books can be a bad influence on some children by getting them interested in the occult (see Christian views on witchcraft).

It has been argued that when the current Pope, Benedict XVI, was a cardinal, he also condemned the books in a letter expressing gratitude for the receipt of a book on the subject, stating they are "a subtle seduction, which has deeply unnoticed and direct effects in undermining the soul of Christianity before it can really grow properly." [4]. However no evidence is provided that those "they" which are "a subtle seduction" actually refers to the Harry Potter books, nor is this at all clear from the original German text of the Cardinal's letter, which in any case shows signs of being dashed off in rather a hurry. (For example, the ungrammatical use of "dies" rather than "diese".) Monsignor Peter Fleetwood, a Vatican priest, wrote that the these remarks were misinterpreted, and that the letter was likely written by an assistant of the then-cardinal. [5]. Indeed, the letter appears to have been written by an underling, but was issued under the Cardinal's signature. This letter and a second that allowed publication of the first have been posted to the Internet by Gabriele Kuby, who had sent her book, Harry Potter - Good or Evil, attacking J.K. Rowling's best-selling series about the boy wizard, to the Cardinal.

However, other Christian readers have pointed out themes in the Harry Potter books which reflect values exemplified or preached by Jesus. Lily Potter sacrificed her own life to save her child (John 15:13). Harry's Muggle guardians attempt to keep him from knowing of his gifts, yet he is taken away and sent to learn to use his powers responsibly (Math. 5:13-16). Harry has died, or come close to death, in several stories, yet is resurrected and more determined than ever to fight evil. It is also said in the books that love is the strongest magic (1 Cor 13:13). Some Christian bookstores even sell the Harry Potter series. J.K. Rowling is on record as a Christian who admires C.S. Lewis, and says she did not emphasize Christian ideals in the book because her goal was never to preach or dictate a philosophy of life, but to tell a story; besides, if she had, intelligent readers would be able to guess important plot details.

Other members of the Catholic Church gave the series their approval, saying that it is imbued with Christian morals, and that the good versus evil plot is very clear. The late Pope John Paul II praised the books for their message about the evils of racism and genocide. Christian Congregationalist minister John Killinger also argued that rather than corrupting children's minds, the novels encourage young readers to follow the teachings of Jesus. The book The Hidden Key to Harry Potter: Understanding the Meaning, Genius, and Popularity of Joanne Rowling's Harry Potter Novels, written by John Granger, a Reader in the Orthodox Church, claims to uncover Christian themes in its analysis of the story. Granger also cites the fact that Rowling is a professed member of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland.

Much less controversy has occurred in the United Kingdom.

The controversy was spoofed on the television show The Simpsons. In one episode, ultra-Christian Ned Flanders "reads" Harry Potter to his son and says "…and Harry Potter and all his wizard friends…went straight to Hell for practicing witchcraft". His son cheers and Ned throws the book into the fireplace.

The controversy was also parodied in The Onion, when an article titled Harry Potter Books Spark Rise in Satanism Among Children satirically reported the thousands of children attracted to the dark arts and denying religion due to the books. As reported on Urban Legends Reference Pages, some who were unaware that the article was a pastiche employed it as evidence in the demonificiation of the books. The entire action and reaction is recorded on this page.

Accusations of plagiarism

Rowling prevailed in a lawsuit alleging copyright infringement, filed by Nancy Stouffer, writer of The Legend of Rah and the Muggles and allegedly of Larry Potter and His Best Friend Lilly. The first book features creatures called "muggles". U.S. District Judge Allen G. Schwartz rejected Nancy Stouffer's claims that she was plagiarised, and fined Stouffer $50,000 for "submission of fraudulent documents" and "untruthful testimony", but stopped short of having Stouffer criminally charged with perjury. Stouffer was required to pay a portion of the attorney's fees incurred by Rowling, her U.S. publisher Scholastic Press, and Warner Bros. Films.

Other analogous works

Comic book fans have noted that a comic book series first published in 1990 by DC Comics called The Books of Magic, by Neil Gaiman, shares many similarities to Rowling's book. These include a dark haired young boy with glasses, named Tim Hunter, who discovers his own potential as the most powerful wizard of his age after being approached by magic-wielding individuals, the first of whom gifts him with a pet owl. Rowling officially denies being aware of this series, and Gaiman has gone on record stating that he believes similarities to be either coincidence, or drawn from the same fantasy archetypes.

Recent viewers of the 1985 film Young Sherlock Holmes, scripted by Chris Columbus, director of the first two Harry Potter movies, have noticed similarities between its characters, setting, events and tone, and those of the Harry Potter series.

The Ken Akumatsu manga Mahou Sensei Negima is often regarded as a Harry Potter clone, despite the only similarity being a 10-year-old wizard from England.

Readers of classic fantasy fiction have noted a very strong resemblence between the premise of Harry Potter and Ursula K. LeGuin's A Wizard of Earthsea (1968), in which a boy with unusual gifts of magic is recognized and sent to a special school for wizards. A school rival in the book is almost a dead ringer for Draco Malfoy.

LeGuin was not the first to propose a special school for witches and wizards. Eleanor Estes was apparently the first, in her book The Witch Family (1960).

Injunction against purchasers of early copies

A grocery store in Canada accidentally sold several copies of the sixth Harry Potter book before the authorised release date. The Canadian publisher, Raincoast Books, obtained an injunction (PDF copy) from the Supreme Court of British Columbia prohibiting the purchasers from reading the books in their possession. This sparked a number of news articles questioning the injuction's restriction on fundamental rights [6] [7]. Canadian law professor Michael Geist has posted commentary on his weblog [8]. Richard Stallman has posted on his weblog calling for a boycott until the publisher issues an apology [9]. Some versions of this creed have been circulated by email including a spoiler for one of the major plot points in the novel; whether this was actually the original posted version and was modified by Stallman is as yet unclear, though the tone of the sentence is substantially the same as that of the rest of the message.

External links

For further fandom links, including "unofficial" websites, see Harry Potter fandom.

Official websites