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AUGUST 23, 2003 at 12:54 AM
Posted by GRAE
Source: The American Prospect via Godric's Hollow
You may recall Prisoner of Azkaban director Alfonso Cuarón's remarks
in the August 4 issue of Newsweek comparing Voldemort to President Bush and Cornelius Fudge to Prime Minister Blair. Echoing these sentiments is Ashley Glacel's analysis of the similarities between politics in the Harry Potter universe and ours.
Although some reviewers have inexplicably branded the books "monoculturalistic" and even "sexist," Rowling has admitted to being "left wing" personally and hoped that "every reader will bring his own agenda to the book." Rowling has an enormous audience -- and probably more U.S. supporters than any one of the current Democratic presidential hopefuls. With 9.3 million copies of the book making their way into Americans' hands, it's worth asking: Does Harry Potter have liberal leanings?
Hogwarts is not only a haven for the curious but a bastion of diversity, too. Unlike the novel's more narrow-minded wizards, Dumbledore believes "it matters not what someone is born but what they grow to be." He teaches that one should not be judged based on his or her family, breeding or race. Whether born of Muggles (humans with no magical powers), related to Giants (a large breed feared to be violent) or bitten by Werewolves (rendering a wizard vicious and dangerous under the full moon), each is allowed to enroll and prove him or herself at Hogwarts, free from prejudice.
While the good guys lead by example, one may also see a connection between the actions of the other team and those of our current administration. Could the president and his colleagues have been an inspiration to Rowling as she wrote her fifth book? Descriptions of the corrupted politicians at the Ministry of Magic and the Death Eaters (who are loyal to the Dark Lord Voldemort) clearly resemble some of our current American leaders.
Fudge resembles right-wing politicians again as he legislates to benefit those who hold the purse strings. Lucius Malfoy is a dangerous member of the magic community with bad principles and a lot of money. When he moves, the gold coins clink in his robes, reminding those around him of his power to buy and sell at will. Those who make the rules often compensate Malfoy for his generosity to the Ministry of Magic -- much like Bush's move to cut taxes and roll back environmental protections.
Yet another similarity between the Harry Potter series and the current administration is the encouragement of citizens to spy on their neighbors. As the Ministry of Magic controls more and more of the goings-on at Hogwarts, students' actions are increasingly scrutinized. The curriculum is controlled, as is any sort of gathering or meeting involving more than three students. Professor Umbridge, the evil enforcer of these restrictions, sounds eerily like John Ashcroft as she encourages the students to turn one another in for spreading non-Ministry-sanctioned information.
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Witch
Points: 917
Slytherin_Punk says:
Okay i think i got this rite. This lady is also putting down people just like Cuaron cause i am confused.
Posted Aug 23, 2003 at 7:10 AM EST
Points: 564
oriole1115 says:
I may be a biased Democrat, but this lady is just about right.
Posted Aug 23, 2003 at 7:51 AM EST
Transfiguration Professor
Points: 2990
Choralee says:
Why mix politics and HP? Why drag a good series of novels through the political quagmire we call government? Is JKR making a political statement in her books? Sure. Should it be discussed at length and published in other people's politically minded squabbles? No.
Bad form for the author who tries to capitolize on JKR's success!
Posted Aug 23, 2003 at 8:04 AM EST
Metamorphmagus
Points: 37946
tonks black says:
I don't see the books as sexist and whoever said that needs to re-read i think..but when you do think about it;certain people do represent people in our government..
Posted Aug 23, 2003 at 9:39 AM EST
Healer for all Occasions
Points: 3570
Madam Malkin says:
It is an interesting article. But it also makes me very mad. Why must people keep mixing politics and Harry Potter? The first time was interesting, the second was a bit silly and now it is downright annoying. Anyone could take quotes and little detailt from these books and say theya re liberal books and any one could do the same thing and say they are conservative. It's the same when HP is mixed wih religion. People can say HP is of the Devil, and people can say that it teaches good religious (really, Christian, because I've not seen anyone else bashing HP on that degre) morals. I have so much to say on this that I don't know what to say. Funny how that works...
Even if the books do have political undertones, which I'm sure they do, what does it really matter? The books are not about politics, they are about Harry and his adventures. Sure, there is more to the books than the basic plotlines, but I don't think politics is one of those things.
I'm not really liberal or conservative. It depends on the issue if I'm liberal or conservative. So, it makes me mad when anyone on either side says HP is political. There is always the backlash and the controversy, and that is not what Harry Potter is about at all. I can just see some conservatives now, and the backlash they might have. Either stop reading HP (the same way some decided to boycott the movie)or write their own article about how Harry Potter is very liberal and biased, or write their own article about how HP is not liberal, but conservative.
So, all this makes me mad because Harry Potter is not about this kind of thing. It was written for people's enjoyment. Sure there are real-life parallels in the books, but what good book doesn't do that, even to a small extent? And yes, the article make some very interesting comparisons. (But interesting isn't always good) I myself take the smae occurrances from teh books, like the whold Umbridge situation, and just make the comparison of good vs. bad, not liberal vs. conservative. I think thatis what is really in the books, good vs. evil. I don't think that they really have liberal or conservative undertones, it is good vs. evil, but that's my personal opinion. Anyone can make any comparison they want, I suppose, but I disagree.
Posted Aug 23, 2003 at 10:10 AM EST
Healer for all Occasions
Points: 3570
Madam Malkin says:
As I re-read my last post, I saw that I said I had not seen anyone but Christians baching Harry Potter on that degree. I see how bad that sounds, how anti-Christain it must sound. All I mean by that is that I have not seen other religions lashing out in the same way, so I can't say "religion" in general, because that implies every religion. I have to specify and say Christianity, because that is all I've seen. It is not to say thet no one else bashes Harry for religious reasons, but I cannot say that they do if I haven't seen it for myself, I can't use evidence that I've not seen. So, that's all I mean by that statement, I don't mean to sound like I bash Christianity at all. I am a Christian, myself.
Also, when I talk about conservative backlash that I see coming, I don't mean to say that all conservative will do that or that all conservatives boycotted the third movie or anything like that. I did use the word "some" in my last post, so as to make sure I didn't sound stereotypical, but I just want to stress this point. I'm only talking about those who did do those things, like boycott.
I hope all of this made sense...
Posted Aug 23, 2003 at 10:21 AM EST
Wizard
Points: 993
Muggle Wizard says:
OK -- I don't have time to read the entire article this morning, but I feel I ought to comment on the excerpt.
This author is asking whether the HP books have liberal leanings. None of the examples cited in the passage really back up that claim. (Sure, they do at the present time, but if we go back in U.S. government about a decade, then these arguments would rather seem to indicate a support to conservative leanings.) Now I'm not going to provide specific examples (this isn't a political forum), but simply put, politicians in general are corrupt. There are definitely some good ones, but in general, most are out there to simply remain popular, and they do that by doing whatever might benefit their constituents, even at the expense of the overall good. And this is, in my opinion, the political point JKR makes.
As far as diversity goes, there are plenty of liberals who do not favor diversity and plenty of conservatives who do. It may be a general rule that liberals are more diverse than conservatives, but there are always exceptions to the rule.
Anyway, enough. Just had to throw in my two knuts. In effect, I agree with Leslie2004, who has really taken this topic and run with it.
Posted Aug 23, 2003 at 10:52 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1856
Rupert Baby says:
As i read this article i couldn't help but partially agree with what is being said, think about it, eben though i myself do not like to think of Harry Potter as being political or not i just like reading the books because there great. But you can't deny it, this lady has somewhat of a point.
Posted Aug 23, 2003 at 1:41 PM EST
Witch
Points: 712
harryroxmysocks says:
The politics are just part of the situation in the story...Its part of the environment, not a way to swing readers to be against their government.
Posted Aug 23, 2003 at 3:01 PM EST
Witch
Points: 750
siriusgurl says:
The politics are a part of the book and I think it mirrors all politics not just the american systeme but I didn't find much use for this article since I'm canadian. But since when has the book been sexist? what ever...
Posted Aug 23, 2003 at 5:12 PM EST
Witch
Points: 979
Butterbeer says:
There are some things that i agree too but others i dont, I do agree with the drector of the new HP film...Bush is like Voldemort. And of course, i agree with Dumbledore.
Posted Aug 23, 2003 at 11:25 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 547
ivanlo says:
Hey it is only right with all the right wing neo-cons blaming JKR's Harry Potter book of being "evil". They seems they like that calling everyone that is different "evil-doers".
Posted Aug 24, 2003 at 12:46 AM EST
Prefect
Points: 397
Tarotx says:
"-'it matters not what someone is born but what they grow to be.'-"
That is the idea behind conservatism. We believe diversity is each individual not race sex or creed. I have doubts how diverse liberals truly want the world. As they do about conservatives.
"Descriptions of the corrupted politicians at the Ministry of Magic and the Death Eaters (who are loyal to the Dark Lord Voldemort) clearly resemble some of our current American leaders.
"Clearly" is such prejudice world.
"Fudge resembles right-wing politicians again as he legislates to benefit those who hold the purse strings. Lucius Malfoy is a dangerous member of the magic community with bad principles and a lot of money. When he moves, the gold coins clink in his robes, reminding those around him of his power to buy and sell at will. Those who make the rules often compensate Malfoy for his generosity to the Ministry of Magic -- much like Bush's move to cut taxes and roll back environmental protection"
OMFG!! Where ever. If I didn't think the article was a prejudice vehicle to cause Harry readers to follow the path of liberalism and turn against conservatism this whole little paragraph would have clued me in. 99.9999999999% of politicians are bought by special interest groups. And Bush happens to believe in a economic system where people who make the money deserve to keep their money instead of government spending more and more and also those who create jobs need the money to pay their employees who spend the money they make causing revenue for the local, state and National treasury. I don't care if all of you personally don't because that isn't my point. Bush has a philosophy that he believes. He’s pretty much a Reaganite. His only care in life isn’t power the way of Fudge and Voldemort. He wants to make American the best she can be. He wants Americans to live in a world where education is equal and so that we can support ourselves and don’t need the government in our face. He believes that if the children are educated well then the future is bright and we will have a large tax base so we can help those who can’t help themselves but only a small percent of the US treasury will come from each individual person. You might think he failed and needs to be voted out of official but that doesn’t make him evil the way some quotes imply. As for the precious environment there has to be a balance between jobs, energy sources and environmental rules. Conservatives have a different philosophy then liberals but that doesn’t make us evil just different.
“et another similarity between the Harry Potter series and the current administration is the encouragement of citizens to spy on their neighbors. As the Ministry of Magic controls more and more of the goings-on at Hogwarts, students' actions are increasingly scrutinized. The curriculum is controlled, as is any sort of gathering or meeting involving more than three students. Professor Umbridge, the evil enforcer of these restrictions, sounds eerily like John Ashcroft as she encourages the students to turn one another in for spreading non-Ministry-sanctioned information.”
Attorney General John Ashcroft is extreme and some of his askings are questionable. It’s actually against most conservative believes to have the government meddle as much as Ashcroft calls for. But.....
Professor Umbridge was a commentary on the basic wrongness of teaching the test. She was about people older and disconnected (and more then likely not a member of the culture of the children taking the test) deciding what’s best for students and then mandating that they learn only what they creed because passing the test is a high priority. Of course this testing is important to Bush you could say it was anti Bush. But it’s really a difference in philosophy. I personally think children should have testing but teaching the test doesn’t educate. It makes learning boring and impersonal. Right now teachers have no choice but teach the test because of the pressure place on them by the rules. This of course is a matter that doesn’t need to be discus right now.
Posted Aug 24, 2003 at 4:40 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1990
HarrysGran says:
First of all I think HP shouldn't be mixed up with politics to that extent.
And second corrupt politicans isn't a question of liberals/conservative Americans but of politicans all over the world. I think Voldi & the Deatheaters are roaming every country of this world. But luckily there are a few "white sheeps" too.
I think JKR didn't intend a comparison with any special government, but she described a certain type of men as we have in reality. And it's not only the corruptness of politicans she shows us with the ministry of magic, she also shows us unimaginative persons as the Dursleys, and Dursleys we have also enough in our real world. This comparisons go on and on, so why always harp on the political one?
Posted Aug 24, 2003 at 8:58 AM EST
Wizard
Points: 771
Dragan Glas says:
Greetings,
The article, though interesting, is well off the mark.
Despite the writer's belief, HP has NOTHING to do with US politics.
It is firmly set in the UK and the politics in it relates to political interference by British governments in the teaching profession.
Posted Aug 24, 2003 at 11:41 AM EST
Healer for all Occasions
Points: 3570
Madam Malkin says:
I have to agree with Dragan Glas. Besides, JK started writing book 5 before all the big events that took place that made America big in the news, like 9/11 and the wars and all that. I'm an American, and a proud one at that, but I do get a little annoyed when people here are so arrogant and ignorant and think that everything revolves around America. Yes, we are a world power and influence, but would someone like JK Rowling, a British woman, really want to put undertones of American politics in her fantasy books about a boy wizard? Who is to say that it doesn't have British political untertones, if there are any political parallels at all... I do think there are real-life issues in the books, but they are not necessarily today's political issues.
Tarotx said things about Bush believing that people should get to keep their money instead of the government spending it, and about Bush believing in an equal education program and about a world where we don't need the gov in our face and about testing.
As far as the people keeping their money goes, I think it is a good idea in theory. But what money we get back in tax cuts is not very much, and I think it does tend to favor the rich. But this does bother me because the amount of money you have does not always reflect how hard you work. teachers, for example, work very very hard and get little appreciation and credit on the whole and get paid very little. The benefits are goot, but the slaary is not. Also, the government is spending money we don't have. We have a national debt that is huge and getting bigger due to the latest wars. A few years ago, we heard all the time about the budget surplus and all that. My question is, how do you have a "surplus" when it is smaller than the national debt? Now, today, people seem to have learned that there is no surplus, but yet we still spend spend spend.
Then there is the no child left behind thing. Bush wants education to be equal, and people to be of equal intelligence. Well, wouldn't that be nice? Bush's intentions in this are good, I know. But think about this realistically. Are people equal when it comes to that? No. People learn differntly, they think differently, they have very different wills to learn, some learn faster than others, some are just smarter ingeneral than others, no matter how bad it sounds to say it... How can we make people equal suddenly when that is the point of being human? We are all different and our minds all work differently. It is completely unrealistic to think that we can make education equal. We can try, we can do our best to bring people up to the high standars we set, and not just give up, but Bush's plan, the way it is written and understood, is not a realistic way to do that. If a school goes on "probation" it is not the entire school, it is sometimes only one program. If one program at a school is on probation, the whole school is on probation. So, for example, at my mom's school that she teaches at, the special ed program is on probation. Well, if you think about it, and Bush's plan, of course any special ed program would be on probation! It is absolutely rediculous. Even my very conservative, Bush supporting friend thinks "no child left behind" is silly. So, after that rant you can imagine my views on standardized testing, that compares you to students nationwide (which isn't the bad part) and then basically tells you where you are and where you should be in relation to other students your age. That's how people judge a school: off of test scores that tell where the school should be and if it isn't there, it is on "probation". Then you blame teachers for it all. Yes, I'm sure that it is always the teacher's fault if the student doesn't perform the way Bush wants them to. (sarcasm. But yes, I know, there are bad teachers out there. I've had some, we all have, I'm sure. But it most definitely isn't always the teacher.) And what can really be done with schools on probation? Fire the teachers and find new ones? Sure, do that. Because we don't already have an education shortage of teachers, I'm sure we could find enough teachers to re-staff entire schools nationwide. Ok, that was very sarcastic. But really sometimes, when you think about it, the whole thing is a bunch of empty threats. I have a lot more to say on this, but I think I better stop here... I've ranted a lot.
Posted Aug 24, 2003 at 2:49 PM EST
Student
Points: 204
Bryak says:
Politics always does this on public posting sites. I personally disagree and feel that the author is fitting the items to an agenda to a certain extent. Of course there are some similarities, that is the nature of government. If it were a more left regime with the same book, people on the right side of the line would be drawing the same inferences. Admittedly, JK does put a light left leaning in her books, but I have no problem with that because there is a word for this type of literature; fiction. One has to keep in mind that while JK is writing her books, she is omniscient. She knows how they begin, how they end, which characters are good, and which are evil. Most of the things she endorses or protests are simply universal truths. If you want to talk about Lucious Malfoy, that comes down to a protest against government corruption. Even if you disagree with it, there is still a difference between a bribe and an "economic incentive package". I am not making a claim as to whether or not either works or that I agree with them, I am just saying there is a difference. As for Umbridge, I see her as someone who painfully follows the rules for the rules' sake, and forgets entirly why the rules were created in the first place. Once again, it boils down to the fact that from the get go, JK knows exactly where her characters are going to end up. This is not how the real world works. I feel that this is another example of how just about anyone can apply their agenda to the books. My advice would be; read them and enjoy, come to your own conclusions about them, never use fiction in a debate political (except for a quote), and if you do infer something to a fictional novel, realize that other people will probably disagree with you.
Posted Aug 25, 2003 at 11:22 AM EST
Healer for all Occasions
Points: 3570
Madam Malkin says:
Sure, there are undertones in the books that could be related to politics. Real life issues are in those books. And I suppose I'd have to agree that some could be political issues. But really, does it really have to do with American politics? I think if there are political undertones in these books, they are not necessarily specifically about American politics.
Posted Sep 18, 2003 at 2:42 PM EST
Witch
Points: 684
Malakite says:
I think that Rowling is reflecting several political "archetypes" - I mean, you see people like this all throughout history!!
And I thought of Umbridge as the head of Hitler's Youth. I am sorry, but it was a complete replay of Nazi Germany. It was also a replay of the current political climate, though it's not as obviously fanatical as it was back then.
I just kept seeing it all in my head, just like a history lesson, and a current events column all wrapped into one!
Posted Sep 18, 2003 at 3:31 PM EST
Mediwitch
Points: 2608
nickyole1 says:
Weel, that certainly was an interesting article. Why would anyone want to compare Harry Potter and politics? Why drag Harry Potter into all of these compare and contrast things?
Posted Jul 17, 2004 at 5:36 PM EST