Racism in "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets". Parallels between the real and the magical world (PDF)

Seminar paper from the year 2023 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 1,0, Catholic University Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, course: Literature and Media - On Fantasy Worlds, language: English, abstract: This extract from the last book of the Harry Potter series shows a glimpse into a world which at the beginning seemed inviting and welcoming. J.K. Rowling's series of Harry Potter seems centred on the question about Good vs. Evil. It appears as if the lines between Good and Evil are clearly divided. However, with the story carrying on, a society is created which is plagued by prejudices and the discrimination of certain ethnic groups. In the course of the story, the boundaries of Good and Evil expand and the core of the storyline is revealed: The fight against racism. At a deeper look, it can be seen, that the underlying principles guiding the Good and the Evil are fundamentally rooted in issues of race and heritage.

By addressing the issue of racism within the fantasy world of magic, it can be argued that Rowling creates a parallel to the real world and its historical context. Through the choice of a fictional universe for the Harry Potter series, Rowling was able to explore the complex and sensitive issue of racism in a way that was approachable for everyone.

"Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" is the first book whose story line is based on the racist ideology of blood supremacy. Expressions, such as Mudblood, are introduced and the reader receives a general overview over the importance of blood status in the world of magic. Even though magical and mythical creatures and people coexist, it is possible to draw parallels to real-world issues. The Harry Potter series can serve as a mirror reflecting the problem of racism in society. But how is real-world racism depicted in the book "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"? And is the depiction successful? Due to the scope of the work, only human characters will be focused on and racism towards house elves and other magical creatures will be excluded.