Harry Potter: 7 Real-Life Parallels To The Wizarding World

Highlights

• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter incorporates real-life stories and parallels, making it relatable and timeless.
• The series tackles important issues including child abuse, depression, ambition, illness discrimination, and redemption.
• The story also addresses themes of dictatorship, propaganda, and racial segregation, shedding light on the dangers of extremism and prejudice.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has been around since the 90s, yet its popularity is quite stable, as can be seen from its revival that is currently in the works. It is all due to the timeless and everlasting legacy it possesses, as the series manages to incorporate real-life stories and make them their own, in their style.

As J.K. Rowling herself explained in many of her interviews, book tours, and so on, she made sure to clarify and include the references she used, so the readers could see the connection even more. Even without this, many Potterheads have successfully pointed out the parallels between the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and the real-life, before J.K. Rowling confirmed that these theories are canon.

7 Child Abuse

Especially Among Foster Children

The Harry Potter series started as a children’s book, and the characters are also one. In Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Harry Potter was 11 years old, living in an abusive household with his aunt, uncle, and spoiled cousin. He had to endure a lot of mistreatment, such as living in a small closet, being deprived of food and privacy, as well as verbal abuse.

These mistreatments, unfortunately, are also very apparent among foster children. Many endure abuse, and other kinds of torture, in the foster care system, even within immediate family members. It was fortunate for Harry that he could briefly escape the abuse once he moved to the dormitory, yet the same thing can’t be said for a lot of unlucky children all over the world.

6 Dementors And Depression

It Can Happen To Anyone

Dementors are dark creatures that will suck the happiness out of someone to their demise. These vile creatures are a symbol of the depression that J.K. Rowling went through during her life. It was one of the most difficult times in her life, to the point she channeled it into her writings.

This symbolism also acts as an introduction for children who are growing up and have to learn about the harsh reality of adulting, one way or another. Even the way to defeat a Dementor is strongly related to a probable way to survive through depression; thinking about happy memories. This also means that even witches and wizards go through hard times, and not only to regular humans.

5 Ambitions And Its Critique

What’s Wrong With Being Ambitious?

Hermione Granger is now known as being the brightest witch of her age by many. However, she was shunned for being ambitious and studious. Even her teacher, Severus Snape, called her a Know-It-All for showing her enthusiasm in class. This is very much parallel to real life where someone ambitious is often criticized for this quality.

Another example is the Slytherin House, where their most well-known quality is their ambitiousness. Unfortunately, most notable characters that are highlighted in the book and movies are awful. However, let’s not forget that Merlin, who was a Slytherin, created an organization that supports and advocates Muggles Rights. Being ambitious is not a crime, and it is often criminalized, not only in the Wizarding World, but also in real life.

4 Illnesses Discrimination

Lycanthropy And Its Allusion To The AIDS Epidemic

In real life, many people who are struggling with a chronic disease and disability are discriminated against in society. Whether it is to find a job or just in their daily lives, more often than not, discrimination is rampant and apparent.

This is also happening in The Wizarding World, as J.K. Rowling herself confirmed that lycanthropy or “the werewolves disease” is a symbol for AIDS. In today’s world, AIDS is pretty much not a death sentence anymore, as modern medicine is able to suppress the symptoms and even cure it to some extent. Let’s hope that the same thing can happen to wizards who are suffering from lycanthropy.

3 Redeemable Characters

Second Chance Does Exist

Humans are bound to make mistakes, but it is up to the person whether they want to change their lives for the better or not. In a lot of literature since ancient times, stories about humans who repent of their sins are very prominent, taking biblical references like Adam and Eve.

This also goes well for Severus Snape. He was depicted as an antagonistic character at first, being the scapegoat of many accusations from the Golden Trio. However, he was proven to be different, as he appeared as a horrible character, but deep down he possesses a redeeming quality in him. His crimes in the past were horrible. It is undeniable and should not be forgotten. However, his character development is what makes him a very important character that shows growth and depth.

2 Dictatorship And Propaganda

Controlling The Narrative

The World War 1 and 2 connection to the war that happened in the Wizarding World is practically a bridge that links casualties and losses that happened in both events. Both deals with dictatorship and propaganda, resulting in many lives lost, especially among those who are deemed “different”.

These dictators also recruited the media such as newspapers and the like to further impose their propaganda against the minority, who are the Muggles inside the Wizarding World in the case of Harry Potter. Moreover, these bad leaders accuse those who do not comply as “traitors” or “conspiracists”, as they’re threatened by opposing thoughts and ideology. It goes with saying that extremism and supremacy are highly dangerous, both in real life and in the Wizarding World.

1 Racial Segregation

The Great Divider Between Muggles And Wizards

In the Wizarding World, the notion of blood purity has been around, as old as the magical community itself. Magic is not something that is seen positively by the muggles, and vice versa. A theory suggests that this conflict is further dividing the two worlds, as the magical community would think highly of themselves as a defense mechanism.

As in the muggles world, wizards and witches are punished at the stake. Furthermore, the segregation between “pure-blood”, half-blood, muggle-borns, and muggles is also a reflection of what is happening in real life. In the 21st century, humans are still dealing with racism, much like what happened in the Wizarding World.