Millions of children (and many adults, too) are just now finishing their 870-page adventure through Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, and they may have learned more than just magic. Released in late June, the fifth book in British author J. K. Rowling's series had an initial print run of 8.5 million in the United States alone -- and many stores still sold out of the book. True to Harry's prior successes, the U.S. publisher, Scholastic Inc, had to order additional books. Good thing, as Harry Potter might just be the kind of brain food needed to grow a new generation of little liberals.
In epic tales, good and evil divide the characters and their motives. In the political world, the opposing forces can be described as those who work for the good of all and those who work for the good of those like themselves. At the end of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Dumbledore, the headmaster at Harry's school, implores the students to choose "what is right" rather than "what is easy." In many ways, the principles of liberal America fall in line not only with this teaching but also with other lessons found in the Harry Potter series.
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?
To begin, until the Ministry of Magic -- the magic folks' administration -- takes over Harry's school, Hogwarts, Harry and his friends are never scolded by the headmaster for their insatiable curiosity. Questioning authority and pursuing the truth are seen as positive, even patriotic. Dumbledore trusts his students to grapple with the truth. Rowling has said that this attitude is a reflection of her similar conviction, adding, "Telling the truth has repercussions. People aren't used to the truth, particularly from fixtures of authority."
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.
The values of international cooperation and understanding, liberation of the oppressed, gender equality and interracial relationships are also evident in the series. Harry's book-smart friend Hermione puts forth much effort to free Hogwarts' House Elves, an overworked and unpaid species. Hogwarts' most popular sport, Quidditch, features coed teams, rendering Title IX unnecessary in the wizarding world. And, with the various combinations of Hogwarts' Muggle and magic parents, many students, like Harry, are the product of mixed marriages. Dumbledore navigates the challenges of this multicultural terrain with an accepting attitude conveyed in a speech to his students in which he states, "Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open."
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.
Dumbledore tells Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge that the latter is "blinded by the love of the office [he] hold[s]!" The power-hungry and image-conscious Fudge is jealous of those who are better fit to lead and uses his power to undermine their reputations. Attempting to maintain an illusion of control, he ignores problems and denies that they exist. As soldiers continue to die in Iraq four months after the war's official end, one similar authority flickers to mind.
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.
Politicians are known for doublespeak, but rarely are they so blatant as to try to collaborate with countries or cultures they have previously denounced. For instance, Draco Malfoy, enemy of Harry and son of a Death Eater (the aforementioned Lucius), shows open hostility toward Hagrid, a teacher at Hogwarts who is half-Giant, working every angle possible to get Hagrid fired. In one of his attempts, Draco feeds damaging comments about Hagrid's Giantism to a newspaper reporter. Later, when Harry attends a meeting of the Death Eaters (against his will), he hears their plans to ally with the Giants, using their brute force to evil ends. This two-faced attitude is reminiscent of the one the Bush administration has taken toward much of the Middle East. In May 2002, Bush sent an extremely conservative delegation to a United Nations special session. The delegation formed an alliance with Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya and Sudan in an effort to deny access to sex education, contraception, STD-prevention and abortion all over the world. This alliance was more than a little ironic considering that, according to The Nation, it was "in the midst of Bush's 'with us or without us' declaration of war on Islamic fundamentalists."
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.
Harry Potter fans, much like liberal America, will likely have to wait years to discover the answers to their lingering questions: Will Voldemort prove victorious? Will Bush pay a price for his manipulation of our government and military? Will Harry be as popular in the summer of 2004, when a third movie is released? Will Bush be popular then, too? Stay tuned. Meanwhile, if you haven't yet, cozy up with Harry Potter's latest for a little paranormal progressivism.
Ashley Glacel is a Prospect intern and is studying for her Master's degree in Feminism, Journalism & Policy at New School University.
