This blog is part of the thinking activity on Harry Potter, which is given by our professor of our department. To visit the main blog click here
1. Feminist reading of Harmione’s character in Harry Potter
Hermione Granger, a good, loyal friend of Harry Potter. She is a manifestation of the author herself within the text. “Hermione is me,” Rowling has said in several interviews, “A caricature of me when I was younger”. She is not only as a strong female character, an essential part of Harry's life, but also as a feminist protagonist in her own right. Hermione represents the bookish knowledge, she knows the spells very well and also knows how to apply it. In the first and second part she represents the good virtues like, friendship, loyalty. In any kind of situation she stands for Harry.
Hermione is the perfect example when examining the feminist principles in the novels. Throughout the series she has many strengths and weaknesses, but she is mostly criticized about her weaknesses as a character. At some time she becomes concious about her look, which becomes very problematic from feminine perspective.
Other female characters like Mrs. Weasley, who represents motherhood, caring nature. Ginny, Luna, ProMcGonagall, all has significant role, though they remains shallow under the patriarchal power.
2. Discourse on the purity of Blood and Harry Potter
In Harry Potter, J. K. Rowling includes several issues like racism discourse of blood like wizard blood, muggle blood.
1) Muggles (non-magical persons)
2) Muggle-borns (witches/wizards with magical abilities but non- magical parents)
3) half-bloods (witches/wizards who are not pure-blooded, but also not Muggle-born)
4) purebloods (those with complete magical ancestry)
5) Squibs (a non-magical child with magical parents
In the world of wizards Hermione portrayed as marginalized, she doesn't have pure-blood, her parents are muggles. She insulted many times by Draco Malfoy on the name of muggle blood.
Harry described as half-blood, because only his father belongs to wizard world, and her mother is not. Through the aspects of blood author satires on the American society, and the raises the question of racism. Ron Weasley, a pure blood and good friend of Hermione and Harry. So, here author makes possibilities that the intellectual and ability does not dependent on the race or cast.
3. Confronting reality by reading fantasy
Fantasy story could be the reality of our own world. In this series we can find author tells many problems of racism, class conflict, in the form of fantasy. But the characters are very much realistic which represents the universal emotions, moral values and so on. Through the fantasy author shows the reality of contemporary time. May be it speaks of, the racial issues, class discrimination. As the issue of blood described in the series. Harry Potter is a fantasy story, but it is not stereotype. Harry who is protagonist, he is presented as a orphan, wearing glasses, which breaks the stereotype of great hero. Writer presented 21st century’s mind, modern ideas, Rationality well though it is fantasy.
4. Self-Help culture and Harry Potter
A self-help book is one that is written with the intention to instruct its readers on solving personal problems. It can also called 'self improvement'. In the novel Harry himself find his own way. In the whole novel he and his friends do self learning in Philosopher's Stone, chamber of secrets, and in order of phoenix they chooses practical education and practice with great effort. Hermione, leaps and bounds ahead of her classmates in wizard knowledge, potions and spells. This great intellect was both gifted to her, but also the result of hard work and intense studying. At times her skills (and confidence) was off-putting to others, but she never felt she needed to hide just how capable she was. So, characters finds their own way.
5. The discourse of Power and Politics in Harry Potter
Harry Potter very deeply making statement on the power and politics. Foucault's power and knowledge. knowledge is always an exercise of power and power always a function of knowledge and knowledge is created by those who are in power position. In Harry Potter the ministry of Magic which has power and rules over the Hogwarts school. Prof. Dolores Umbridge declares theoretical education rather than practical. Voldemort and his death eaters has ultimate power and practices on the mudbloods and Muggles. Role of ministry of magic, considered as the power, ministers like Dolores Umbridge who seeks the power make their own rules. Author very well observed the discourse of power and apply in the novel.
6. Children’s Literature and Harry Potter
Harry potter was written as children literature because it deals with fantasy world, mystery story, school story, adventure novel, humorous story, and epic. after four books it doesn’t remain as a children’s literature. Along with children’s literature It contain some aspect of adolescent literature as well. It took children to the reality that if you know magic then also you can’t bring the death ones back. After fifth and sixth part it doesn't remain as much of it. Harry deals with power and politics, the dark lord. The different perspective of this novel like racism, ministry, politics, which is more than children's literature.
7. Speculative literature and Harry Potter
Speculative writing is defined as looking at a photo or reading a short scenario and then writing a fictional story about what could happen next. This novel has aspects of speculative fiction. Speculative means do not exists in real world, often in the context of supernatural, futuristic or other imaginative themes. It includes science fiction, fantasy, superhero, horror and supernatural fiction. 'Harry Potter’ also considered as speculative fiction, it has supernatural powers, magical world, horror, mystery. The novel refers imaginative kind of animals, places, which we never listen. Like, Basilisk, nicknamed the King of Snakes by wizards, fluffy- three headed dog.
8. The theme of Choice and Chance
Choice determines the outcomes not chance. In the life we all have choices and chance, it is upon us what we have to choose. Choices are most important than abilities. Voldemort and Harry both have almost same abilities but it’s choice that makes them different. Harry has a good intentions, he was chosen one, but Harry chooses to make it own self. Sorting hat putting Harry in the Gryffindor house, as Dumbledore says him that if you want then hat put you in Gryffindor house. And he also says that it is not our abilities that make us, it is our abilities who define us. Voldemort both have same abilities but choices makes them different. Person's choices and actions defines the morality. Hermione chooses to destroy the horcruxes. Peter Pettigrew chooses the wrong path. Neville chooses in Deathly Hallows to fight on at Hogwarts even after the Death Eaters take over. In a way it is upon us what we are chooses.
9. The theme of Love and Death
Love is one the central theme of the novel. Harry stands for love, friendship, bravery. Love and death are major concern in the novel. Because of the for each of everyone is ready to sacrifice for Harry and for the sake of good things. In the first part Lily sacrifice for her son. That's why Harry was able to defeated the Quirrell. Harry is loved by his friends while Voldemort is far away from the concept of love and he never knew that, what love is. Harry says to Ron and Hermione that Voldemort has not what we have that is love and friendship. Harry's selfless love for friends and family. Death also played an important role. Many of the characters are died till the end. In fourth part Cedric dies, Sirius Black, the godfather of Harry, also dies. Harry's parents, Dumbledore, one of the twin brother dies. In the end Voldemort also dies. So, love and death are major theme in the novel.
10. Moral and Philosophical reading of Harry Potter
Harry and Voldemort, different moral values. Harry's moral values becomes the weapon to defeat the Voldemort. In his acceptance of his mortality, “the boy who lived” is able more fully and wholly to live. Voldemort in the quest to be immortal he loses his moral values. In the end of many books Dumbuldore give Harry some kind of moral lessons like about love, choices, friendship. Throughout the Harry Potter series there are two distinct types of characters, morally good and bad. On the good side there is characters such as, Harry, Hermione, Ron, Dumbledore. While on the bad side Draco, Umbridge, Voldemort. Those who are in the favour of good moral values they gain the love of readers.
11. Christianity and Harry Potter Series
In the novel, directly not shown Christianity, no church, no prayer. But Harry's self sacrifice, love for humanity can be compared to Jesus. In the series we can not find any kind of religious discussion, no church at all, no prayer. In life threatening situations also Jesus is not remembered While fighting with Voldemort God's grace not shown to save Harry. But if we look the events we can find Christian imagery. In beginning we can assume, as Jesus saved, Harry also saved. Last part connected with resurrection. Directly it doesn't shown the optics of Christianity.
12. What is your opinion on this:-
Harry Potter, the novel conveys the message which is don't like by reader and many who watched the movie. Because protagonist, the half blood wins over the pure blood, which can be not digest. And what can be assume about media and press it can not be truth also.
Click here, to look at My Webquest Worksheet
Click here to look at Rubric evaluation of my blog
Work cited:-
http://www.fcome.org/portfolio-view/f-is-for-a-feminist-reading-of-harry-potter/
http://chintavan.blogspot.com/2017/03/webquest-harry-potter-think-and-write.html?m=1
https://harrypotter.fandom.com/wiki/Pure-blood
http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/features/essays/issue19/choice/
https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-morals-themes-symbols-motifs-harry-potter-206313
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speculative_fiction
https://www.thoughtco.com/should-christians-be-reading-harry-potter-712316
1. Feminist reading of Harmione’s character in Harry Potter
Hermione Granger, a good, loyal friend of Harry Potter. She is a manifestation of the author herself within the text. “Hermione is me,” Rowling has said in several interviews, “A caricature of me when I was younger”. She is not only as a strong female character, an essential part of Harry's life, but also as a feminist protagonist in her own right. Hermione represents the bookish knowledge, she knows the spells very well and also knows how to apply it. In the first and second part she represents the good virtues like, friendship, loyalty. In any kind of situation she stands for Harry.
Hermione is the perfect example when examining the feminist principles in the novels. Throughout the series she has many strengths and weaknesses, but she is mostly criticized about her weaknesses as a character. At some time she becomes concious about her look, which becomes very problematic from feminine perspective.
Other female characters like Mrs. Weasley, who represents motherhood, caring nature. Ginny, Luna, ProMcGonagall, all has significant role, though they remains shallow under the patriarchal power.
2. Discourse on the purity of Blood and Harry Potter
In Harry Potter, J. K. Rowling includes several issues like racism discourse of blood like wizard blood, muggle blood.
1) Muggles (non-magical persons)
2) Muggle-borns (witches/wizards with magical abilities but non- magical parents)
3) half-bloods (witches/wizards who are not pure-blooded, but also not Muggle-born)
4) purebloods (those with complete magical ancestry)
5) Squibs (a non-magical child with magical parents
In the world of wizards Hermione portrayed as marginalized, she doesn't have pure-blood, her parents are muggles. She insulted many times by Draco Malfoy on the name of muggle blood.
3. Confronting reality by reading fantasy
Fantasy story could be the reality of our own world. In this series we can find author tells many problems of racism, class conflict, in the form of fantasy. But the characters are very much realistic which represents the universal emotions, moral values and so on. Through the fantasy author shows the reality of contemporary time. May be it speaks of, the racial issues, class discrimination. As the issue of blood described in the series. Harry Potter is a fantasy story, but it is not stereotype. Harry who is protagonist, he is presented as a orphan, wearing glasses, which breaks the stereotype of great hero. Writer presented 21st century’s mind, modern ideas, Rationality well though it is fantasy.
4. Self-Help culture and Harry Potter
A self-help book is one that is written with the intention to instruct its readers on solving personal problems. It can also called 'self improvement'. In the novel Harry himself find his own way. In the whole novel he and his friends do self learning in Philosopher's Stone, chamber of secrets, and in order of phoenix they chooses practical education and practice with great effort. Hermione, leaps and bounds ahead of her classmates in wizard knowledge, potions and spells. This great intellect was both gifted to her, but also the result of hard work and intense studying. At times her skills (and confidence) was off-putting to others, but she never felt she needed to hide just how capable she was. So, characters finds their own way.
5. The discourse of Power and Politics in Harry Potter
Harry Potter very deeply making statement on the power and politics. Foucault's power and knowledge. knowledge is always an exercise of power and power always a function of knowledge and knowledge is created by those who are in power position. In Harry Potter the ministry of Magic which has power and rules over the Hogwarts school. Prof. Dolores Umbridge declares theoretical education rather than practical. Voldemort and his death eaters has ultimate power and practices on the mudbloods and Muggles. Role of ministry of magic, considered as the power, ministers like Dolores Umbridge who seeks the power make their own rules. Author very well observed the discourse of power and apply in the novel.
6. Children’s Literature and Harry Potter
Harry potter was written as children literature because it deals with fantasy world, mystery story, school story, adventure novel, humorous story, and epic. after four books it doesn’t remain as a children’s literature. Along with children’s literature It contain some aspect of adolescent literature as well. It took children to the reality that if you know magic then also you can’t bring the death ones back. After fifth and sixth part it doesn't remain as much of it. Harry deals with power and politics, the dark lord. The different perspective of this novel like racism, ministry, politics, which is more than children's literature.
7. Speculative literature and Harry Potter
Speculative writing is defined as looking at a photo or reading a short scenario and then writing a fictional story about what could happen next. This novel has aspects of speculative fiction. Speculative means do not exists in real world, often in the context of supernatural, futuristic or other imaginative themes. It includes science fiction, fantasy, superhero, horror and supernatural fiction. 'Harry Potter’ also considered as speculative fiction, it has supernatural powers, magical world, horror, mystery. The novel refers imaginative kind of animals, places, which we never listen. Like, Basilisk, nicknamed the King of Snakes by wizards, fluffy- three headed dog.
8. The theme of Choice and Chance
Choice determines the outcomes not chance. In the life we all have choices and chance, it is upon us what we have to choose. Choices are most important than abilities. Voldemort and Harry both have almost same abilities but it’s choice that makes them different. Harry has a good intentions, he was chosen one, but Harry chooses to make it own self. Sorting hat putting Harry in the Gryffindor house, as Dumbledore says him that if you want then hat put you in Gryffindor house. And he also says that it is not our abilities that make us, it is our abilities who define us. Voldemort both have same abilities but choices makes them different. Person's choices and actions defines the morality. Hermione chooses to destroy the horcruxes. Peter Pettigrew chooses the wrong path. Neville chooses in Deathly Hallows to fight on at Hogwarts even after the Death Eaters take over. In a way it is upon us what we are chooses.
9. The theme of Love and Death
Love is one the central theme of the novel. Harry stands for love, friendship, bravery. Love and death are major concern in the novel. Because of the for each of everyone is ready to sacrifice for Harry and for the sake of good things. In the first part Lily sacrifice for her son. That's why Harry was able to defeated the Quirrell. Harry is loved by his friends while Voldemort is far away from the concept of love and he never knew that, what love is. Harry says to Ron and Hermione that Voldemort has not what we have that is love and friendship. Harry's selfless love for friends and family. Death also played an important role. Many of the characters are died till the end. In fourth part Cedric dies, Sirius Black, the godfather of Harry, also dies. Harry's parents, Dumbledore, one of the twin brother dies. In the end Voldemort also dies. So, love and death are major theme in the novel.
10. Moral and Philosophical reading of Harry Potter
Harry and Voldemort, different moral values. Harry's moral values becomes the weapon to defeat the Voldemort. In his acceptance of his mortality, “the boy who lived” is able more fully and wholly to live. Voldemort in the quest to be immortal he loses his moral values. In the end of many books Dumbuldore give Harry some kind of moral lessons like about love, choices, friendship. Throughout the Harry Potter series there are two distinct types of characters, morally good and bad. On the good side there is characters such as, Harry, Hermione, Ron, Dumbledore. While on the bad side Draco, Umbridge, Voldemort. Those who are in the favour of good moral values they gain the love of readers.
11. Christianity and Harry Potter Series
In the novel, directly not shown Christianity, no church, no prayer. But Harry's self sacrifice, love for humanity can be compared to Jesus. In the series we can not find any kind of religious discussion, no church at all, no prayer. In life threatening situations also Jesus is not remembered While fighting with Voldemort God's grace not shown to save Harry. But if we look the events we can find Christian imagery. In beginning we can assume, as Jesus saved, Harry also saved. Last part connected with resurrection. Directly it doesn't shown the optics of Christianity.
12. What is your opinion on this:-
Harry Potter, the novel conveys the message which is don't like by reader and many who watched the movie. Because protagonist, the half blood wins over the pure blood, which can be not digest. And what can be assume about media and press it can not be truth also.
Click here, to look at My Webquest Worksheet
Click here to look at Rubric evaluation of my blog
Work cited:-
http://www.fcome.org/portfolio-view/f-is-for-a-feminist-reading-of-harry-potter/
http://chintavan.blogspot.com/2017/03/webquest-harry-potter-think-and-write.html?m=1
https://harrypotter.fandom.com/wiki/Pure-blood
http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/features/essays/issue19/choice/
https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-morals-themes-symbols-motifs-harry-potter-206313
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speculative_fiction
https://www.thoughtco.com/should-christians-be-reading-harry-potter-712316
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