6 Problematic Tropes in Harry Potter, Ranked from Gross to Grosser
Harry Potter may be a magical children’s story, but it is full of real-life adult problems.
Here are six instances J.K. Rowling mirrored the real world in Harry Potter, but did it badly.
6. Fat Means Evil
Some Harry Potter villains are plus-size people, but the way the writer describes them leaves much to be desired. The Dursleys’ physique is played for laughs in later books – for instance, Harry makes fun of Dudley’s weight problem. Umbridge, Crabbe, and Goyle are some of the other evil characters who are notably on the heavier side and whose book descriptions are hugely problematic.
5. Seamus Finnigan
Readers find out early on that Harry’s Gryffindor classmate is not just Irish, but stereotypically Irish. Seamus’ spells often go wrong and result in explosions, and he tries to turn water into rum – these behavioral traits promote the harmful notion that the Irish are uncivilized drinkers.
4. Cho Chang
Rowling is famous for giving extra thought to her characters’ names, but apparently, that courtesy is not extended to Asian characters. Cho Chang is supposedly Chinese, but her name is of Korean descent. What’s more, both her name and her last name are actually common Korean last names. The writer has really dropped the ball with this one.
3. Goblins
In the Harry Potter world, goblins are meant to be intelligent creatures who are at odds with wizards. They are the ones who run the banking system and are described as greedy and ruthless in addition to having big, hooked noses and beady little eyes. All of these are stereotypical traits commonly (and mistakenly) attributed to Jewish people. You won’t be able to unsee that now.
2. House-Elves
The house-elves’ place in the wizarding world is basically a metaphor for slavery. It is believed that house-elves are happy to serve their masters, and otherwise, their existence is meaningless. It’s not until Dobby’s appearance that anyone even dares to think anything else. Even Dobby, the free house-elf, is essentially overjoyed to lay down his life for Harry in the end.
1. Abuse Is Normalized
Dumbledore and Snape are two people who have been abusive toward Harry for years, and yet they are also the people he chooses to honor by naming his children after them. The Hogwarts headmaster has lied and manipulated the Boy Who Lived since practically his birth, and Snape is the anti-example of a teacher and a human being. These characters don’t deserve redemption!