Social Issues In Harry Potter

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Perhaps one of the most illustrious authors of modern day, JK Rowling has woven a land of awe inspiring magic and complex storytelling in her Harry Potter series. Rowling uses this highly influential series to subtly educate her readers on problems faced in modern society and their far reaching consequences. Some particular political, social, and economical subtext exhibited in the Harry Potter series deals with racism, discrimination, and abuse of power by the government and various authority figures. One facet of social issues tackled throughout the series is the description of underlying prejudice, bigotry, and discrimination that exists in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Rowling creates a direct parallel between the discrimination …show more content…

Anyone who has read Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix loathe and detests the one character that may be worse than He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, Dolores Umbridge. Umbridge was a cruel, power hungry woman disguised in sharp, pink suits and personal items covered in kitten memorabilia. She has an unwavering belief in the Ministry and its policies, but ,in her twisted mind, her atrocious acts, such as torturing Harry Potter for information, was justified by the feelings of the Ministry. It would be one thing if she was another follower of Lord Voldemort, someone who can be quickly written off as just another bad guy, but she never swore allegiance to him, which makes her that much more despicable because she was evil on her own volition. (Debling). Dolores Umbridge blatantly abuses her power in the legislative government to pass discriminatory measures, such as anti-werewolf legislation that made it next to impossible for were wolves to find work, and pathways for her to make a power grab, when during her short-lived term as High Inquisitor of Hogwarts she tried to usurp the position of Headmaster from Albus Dumbledore.

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