Harry Potter vs. Nazi Germany: A Comparison on How Reality Shapes Fantasy.

The point of this blog is to show a comparison between the events of World War II, and the influence it had on the Harry Potter series by English author, JK.Rowling.

The much loved Harry Potter series written by British author, J. K. Rowling was first published in 1997 with the first of seven books Harry Potter and the Philosopher Stone. Although the books are set in a fantasy world created from the author’s imagination, the characters can be related to on an emotional level, while some settings and plotlines draw comparisons with real life events and people. The most prominent resemblance is those of the Dark Lord Voldemort and Adolf Hitler.

It is revealed in the sixth book Harry Potter and the Halfblood Prince that Voldemort’s, once known as Tom Riddle Jnr prejudice started from an early age. Through a memory we learn that eleven year old Tom Riddle holds resentment against his mother for dying after giving birth, and leaving him to be raised in a Muggle orphanage. Tom is thoroughly convinced that his mother could not: 

‘have been magical, or she wouldn’t have died” (Harry Potter and the Halfblood Prince, pg. 257), 

so it had to have been his father that was the wizard. When he eventually learns that his father was in fact non-magical, Riddle’s hatred grew but this time was aimed at Tom Riddle Snr. It is because of this that he changes his name from Tom, the only link he has to his father, and a name he despised for being too common, to Lord Voldemort.

While Voldemort’s regime was against Muggles, Muggleborns and Halfbloods; believing them to be of dirty blood and inferior to the much more supreme Pureblood race, he himself is not a pureblood wizard. Due to his father’s Muggle status, Voldemort is one of the very things he despises: a Halfblood. This insecurity parallels him to that of Adolf Hitler who was born to a Jewish family in 1889, but did not have the features of which he worshipped.

Born 20 April, 1889, Adolf Hitler was the illegitimate child of Maria Schicklgruher and Alois Hitler. He was born in Austria, and later moved to Germany at the age of three. After a failed attempt at seizing power, Hitler was imprisoned during which time he started writing the book Mein Kampf (My Struggle) within which he described, in detail his beliefs and values.

In 1934, Hitler became the Führer and Chancellor of Germany, and passed policies like the Nuremburg law that revoked the civil rights of the Jews, as he deemed them a substandard race compared to that of the blonde-haired, blue-eyed Aryan Race who Hitler promoted as being the ‘master race,’ the Aryan race were said to be physically stronger and of most importance because of their racial purity, whereas Jewish people were said to have contaminated blood just as the Muggleborns of the Harry Potter universe; the term ‘Mudblood’ is a racial insult used by Purebloods when talking about Muggleborn witches and wizards, as proven by Draco Malfoy on more than one occasion when he has been talking about Muggleborn witch, Hermione Granger: 

“It’s about the most insulting thing he could think of,” gasped Ron, “Mudblood is a really foul name for someone who was Muggleborn – you know, non-magic parents” (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, pg. 89). The actual word, as Ron Weasley explains in the Chamber of Secrets is a: “disgusting thing to call someone…Dirty blood, see. Common blood” (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, 89). 

It is no accident that the Malfoy family are described as having platinum blonde hair, and being of pureblood status, while Hermione Granger is a smart Muggleborn with brown hair.  Voldemort views those that do not meet the respective pureblood criteria as a disease, has he says in the first few chapters of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows:

 “… we should cut away the canker that infects us until only those of true blood remain…” (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, pg17).#

Throughout much of the final book, Muggleborns are reduced to nothing but blood status, regardless of their skill as witch or wizard. But yet the prejudice of Voldemort does not stop at just Muggles, Muggleborns and Halfbloods, it also stems into ‘dark creatures’ such as Werewolves. He mocks Bellatrix Lestrange with the news of her niece’s marriage to known werewolf, Remus Lupin, and does not extend the same liberties to Fenrir Greyback, a werewolf in league with Voldemort as he does many of his other followers. Voldemort’s disapproval for werewolves aligned with that of Muggles is obvious as he says 

“she would have us mate with Muggles… or, no doubt, Werewolves” (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, pg. 18), 

while speaking about Muggle Studies professor, Charity Burbage. The striking comparisons between Voldemort and Hitler’s beliefs are clear in blood purity, just as is their prejudice towards those who do not meet their required standards.

Propaganda of the magical world that was distributed by the corrupted Ministry of Magic is comparable with that circulated by the Nazis to cut down and spread lies about the Jewish people. Muggleborns were shown as being a 

“green weed with fangs” and was said to be holding back the growth of the “red rose, with a simpering face in the middle of its petals” (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, pg. 205).

 The message is hard to miss; Muggleborns pose a threat to the peaceful pureblood society, and were the weeds that needed to be destroyed, just like the Jews were the mice that needed to be exterminated.

Once more the propaganda of the Harry Potter universe and that of Germany while under Hitler’s regime run similar. The Nazis kept a register of people who were believed to be Jewish, while the introduction of the Muggle Registration Commission was created by the corrupt Ministry of Magic in 1997 forced people to prove they had ‘at least one close Wizarding relative’ (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, pg. 175). The Hog’s Head user, Lily Luna explains that the use of the word ‘Muggleborn’ in place of “Mudblood” is a ruse to lure Muggleborn witches and wizards into complying with the new laws: 

“This enhances people’s uncertainty about what has happened and lures Muggleborns into complying with the orders to register and show up in hope of appeasing the Ministry and showing compliance to the new laws. Similarly, the Jews during the Holocaust were lured into complying with directives to show up for ‘relocation East’ and similar blandishments that resulted in their deaths” (The Hog’s Head.org). 

The Muggleborn Registration Commission is headed by Dolores Umbridge who finds joy in the humiliation of Muggleborn witches and wizards, and has proven herself prejudiced towards creatures such as Centaurs and Werewolves.

On the 4^th November, 1921, exactly three years after the end of World War I, a Nazi rally was held. Large members of demonstrators against Hitler and the Nazi party were prevented from disrupting the meeting by the SA soldiers, who were on later slaughtered on the 30^th June, 1934, a night History later renamed ‘The Night of the Long Knives’ by Hitler’s personal bodyguards the SS. Initially the SS had been a section of the SA, and had been created in April 1925. They were considered to be the elite force, and membership was restricted to only pure Aryan Germans.

Just as Hitler had the support of the Nazis, Voldemort is supported by the Death Eaters, a group of witches and wizards who were 

“radical pureblood supremacists and who practised the Dark Arts with reckless abandon and without regard, or fear for Wizarding law. Lord Voldemort used this select group during the first and second Wizarding Wars, employing them as his elite force” (harrypotter.wikia.com), 

the Death Eaters worshipped Purebloods, which is ironic considering their master was a Halfblood, yet not all Death Eaters could claim to be purebloods: 

“The Death Eaters can’t all be purebloods, there aren’t enough pureblooded wizards left,” said Hermione stubbornly. “I expect most of them are halfbloods pretending to be pure. It’s only Muggleborns they hate” (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, pg. 227),

 it is possible that many of them were halfbloods just clinging onto their pureblood ancestors. One such example is Severus Snape, the son of a Muggle man and a pureblood witch.

Although some Death Eaters appeared to have been devotedly loyal to Voldemort, such as Bellatrix Lestrange and Barty Crouch Jnr, most seemed to have served him mainly out of fear. Immediately after his defeat in 1981, several Death Eaters revoked their loyalty and did not attempt to find their master in the upcoming years.

In addition Voldemort is, as Hitler was, a feared yet respected dictator as seen by the character of Wormtail, a Death Eater who both worshipped and feared Voldemort. Wormtail’s feared loyalty to his master is shown at the end of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire where Wormtail sacrificed his own arm in order to help Voldemort regain his fully body:

 “You returned to me, not out of loyalty, but fear of your old friends. You deserve this pain, Wormtail, you know that, don’t you?” “Yet you helped return me to my body,” said Voldemort coolly, watching Wormtail sob on the ground. “Worthless and traitorous as you are, you helped me… and Lord Voldemort rewards his helpers...” (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, pg. 563).

Becoming a Death Eater means a lifetime of servitude to Voldemort with no opportunity to hand in a resignation, if a situation looked grim, then deserters would be marked for death as seen with Igor Karkaroff and Regulus Black, the younger brother to Sirius Black. Those of the inner circle of Death Eaters have a Dark Mark burned into their left forearms, a mark that was visually used to distinguish themselves to Voldemort and each other. The Dark Mark is a recognizable symbol of fear to everyone in the Magical world: 

“It’s the Dark Mark, Harry.” “You-Know-Who’s sign?” (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, 116),

 this is comparable to the Nazi insignia: the Swastika. The history of the Swastika dates back as far as the Bronze Age, and holds religious significance to Buddhism and Hinduism.

In addition to the Dark Mark, there are similarities between the Swastika and the symbol of the Deathly Hallows; a sign that was adopted by the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald to promote himself and his belief of dominance over Muggles was 

“for the Greater Good” (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallow, pg. 294).

“They say, still, that no Wizarding duel ever matched that between Dumbledore and Grindelwald in 1945” (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, pg. 24). 

While Voldemort may be the more noticeable parallel between the events of Harry Potter and the Second World War; Gellert Grindelwald is a more historical example to Adolf Hitler. There are many striking resemblances between the specific details of WWII and the great battle between Dumbledore and Grindelwald.

For example, in the Wizarding world, Grindelwald is known for being 

“one of the greatest Dark Wizards of all time” (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, pg.290), 

and Hitler was said to be 

“among one of the most ruthless dictators of the 20^th century” (harryphilosophypotter.wikispaces.com); 

the anti-Semitism displayed by Hitler mirrors that of Grindelwald’s belief that wizards are naturally more superior than Muggles and should dominate them for the good of all.

While many consider Voldemort to be the start of the battle against Muggles and Muggleborns, the actuality is that it started back before Voldemort was even born. The fight for “the Greater Good” started in the summer of 1899 when Gellert Grindelwald met seventeen-year-old Albus Dumbledore while visiting his great aunt at Godric’s Hollow; both boys were said to get on like 

‘a cauldron on fire” (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, pg. 291),

 and shared a similar passion for wizard dominance: 

“Gellert, your point about wizard dominance before for the MUGGLES’ OWN GOOD – this, I think, is the crucial point, yes, we have the power and, yes, that power gives us the right to rule, but it also gives us responsibility over the ruled” (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, pg. 291), 

and secretly planned to overthrow the statue of secrecy, and establish wizard rule over Muggles.

Between the years of 1933 and 1945, concentration camps started to appear throughout Nazi Germany, they were said to be a vital feature of the system, and were initially created to detain Jews and political prisoners, the Nazi slogan “Arbeit Macht Frei” which translates into “Work Makes One Free” was said to hang above the entrances to the camps, and draws parallels with the prison Nurmengard, a place that was set up by Grindelwald to hold his opponents; the words “For the Greater Good” were carved above the entrance. The defeat of Grindelwald in 1945, directly corresponds with the year that World War II ended.

The historical events and people involved proved to be useful in the understanding of certain concerns that still plague the world today. It is through these events that we learn that every person, regardless of blood status, is equally important.

The Function of Rue in the Hunger Games

"But I told Rue I'd be there. For the both of us. And somehow that seems even more important than the vow I gave Prim." Katniss Everdeen, Hunger Games, pg. 242. 

The Hunger Games (2008) trilogy is a series written by bestselling author Suzanne Collins, set in a post-apocalyptic future. The series is one of the most popular Young Adult dystopian books of the decade. An unusual feature of the novel is the fact that the main protagonist, Katniss Everdeen, is not a typical heroine, indeed, on many occasions she more readily fits the mould of an anti-heroine. As a result, Collins uses several literary devices in order to generate reader sympathy for Katniss.

One of the ways that she achieves this is by showing Katniss' interactions with other characters, such as Peeta, Gale, Prim and Cina. However, it is her relationship with minor character Rue that the following blog will examine.

Katniss is not a very sociable character, perhaps due to her being forced to grow up quickly. After her father's death, and her mother's subsequent withdrawal, Katniss became head of the family in order to make sure that they all, and in particular her younger sister Prim, survived. Katniss's raison d'etre is to protect her sister who she loves. Her determination to see Prim survive, coupled with the hurt that she has already experienced in her life, makes Katniss a survivor. It is through Katniss's relationship with her sister that the readers see her softer, more vulnerable side.

In most of her other relationships we see her being cautious and suspicious. Furthermore, Katniss is very independent and has a self-sufficient attitude that can be daunting but also admirable. If someone makes a mistake, one that endangers Prim or herself, Katniss becomes extremely defensive and does not forgive easily. She refused to forgive her mother for sliding into depression after her father died.

An additional character that Katniss does not trust is fellow tribute, Peeta Mellark. Katniss is instantly suspicious of Peeta, and even when, toward the end of the book, she shows him compassion it is in part of a tactic to increase her chances of winning the Hunger Games.

It is not only people who Katniss seems to take a dislike to, she even hate's Prim's cat.

"He hates me," she says, "or at least dislikes me. Even though it was years ago, I think he still remembers how I tried to drown him in a bucket when Prim brought him home." (Collins, Suzanne, 2008, the Hunger Games, United States, Scholastic Inc, pg. 4).

To most this would seem a shocking thing to do to a defenceless animal, but to Katniss it is only to enhance her family's chance of survival.

Haymitch, Katniss' mentor for the Hunger Games, summarises Katniss in one sentence: 

"When you open your mouth, you come across more as sullen and hostile," (Collins, Suzanne, 2008, pg. 141).

It is when she is around Prim that all of Katniss' defences are lowered. Katniss' fierce protectiveness for Prim is what prompts her to protect her sister from the brutality of the Hunger Games and the only way she can do that is by taking her place as tribute. In this we see Katniss acting entirely selflessly. She has nothing to gain from taking Prim's place, although we suspect that Katniss would lose the will to live if Prim were to die.

However, in placing Katniss away from her sister, Collins loses the key character responsible for creating reader sympathy for her protagonist. Therefore, Collins needed to introduce another character who would continue this role. Collins duplicates the relationship Katniss shares with Prim and introduces it in the form of Rue, who is of similar age to Katniss' little sister.

When Rue and Katniss first properly interact, Katniss immediately treats Rue as she does Prim. Just as with Prim, the first thing Katniss wants to do is feed Rue as, being from District 11 and the oldest of six, Rue doesn't get much food.

"Oh, I've never had a whole leg to myself before," (Collins, 2008, pg. 244).

While she is with Rue, Katniss shows her nurturing side, it is interesting to see laughter between Rue and Katniss give their situation. They have been thrown into an arena and forced to overcome horrific challenges and fight against each other, however, within minutes of interacting they are laughing together. Collins uses this deliberately to demonstrate their instant bond. We see Rue helping Katniss:

"Rue presses a gloppy green wad of chewed leaves and spit on my knee," (Collins, 2008, pg.243).

Through this we see that Katniss is not only vulnerable but is allowing herself to be helped, this is a new experience for the readers who are used to seeing a very proud, independent and self-sufficient Katniss Everdeen.

Katniss similarly heals Rue with ointment that she has received from sponsors in the Capitol.

"I set aside my weapons and anoint her arm with the burn medicine," (Collins, 2008, pg. 243).

Again, we see a very caring and tender side of Katniss' personality with the setting aside of weapons is symbolic of Katniss' lowering her defences.

Collins presents Rue in such a way that readers are bound to like her and feel protective of her. She is small, young and unlikely to survive. Furthermore, she is seen to be 'good' in saving Katniss from the other tributes, and in her descriptions of her home life. She is also brave, uncomplaining and always positive. We as readers are therefore invested in her and her survival, every time Katniss is kind towards Rue, our approval is earned.

In the short amount of time that the girls' are together, Collins reveals a lot about Rue and everything we are told is likeable. We become aware that this girl has singled out Katniss since the very beginning:

"I think we've got a shadow," (Collins, 2008, pg. 120).

The fact that Rue, who is a greatly liked character, sees something in Katniss that is attractive, in turn, makes Katniss more attractive to the readers. What is more, the fact that Katniss seems generally interested in Rue determines her humanity.

Rue brings out a side of Katniss that we do not usually see; Katniss is not one to give compliments easily, but within the first hour of being in the young tribute's company, Katniss compliments Rue several times:

"That must be how you can fly around the trees like you've got wings," (Collins, 2008, pg. 242-243).

This is a very different Katniss from how she has been seen since being separated from Prim. Her directness, sarcasm and snappiness, which make it so difficult for her to make friends, disappears when she is with Rue, and in this we can see that Collins has used Rue as a foil for Katniss. She is used to shine a light on Katniss's good qualities which are otherwise so often hidden.

Collins writes effectively in the first person, allowing readers to be exposed to Katniss' thoughts. This means that from the very beginning of the books many readers develop a dislike for Katniss because most of her thoughts are sour:

"He's right though. The whole rotten lot of them is despicable," (Collins, 2008, pg. 80).

Writing in the first person means that on the occasions we are presented with Katniss's inner thoughts, and so it is of interest that Katniss herself confirms the similarity between Rue and Prim:

"She's a survivor, and I trust her, and why not admit it? She reminds me of Prim," (Collins, 2008, pg. 244).

Up until this point, Katniss' thoughts have been suspicious and angry. Angry at the Capitol for making them fight each other, angry at Peeta for siding with the career tributes, even though he had only done it to keep her alive; however, in Rue's presence Katniss admits to how lonely she feels:

"I realize, for the first time, how very lonely I've been since entering the arena," (Collins, 2008, pg. 252).

This is an excellent narrative device to generate reader sympathy for Katniss.

And so an alliance forms between Katniss and Rue, and we as readers are able to reflect upon that fact, despite the truth being that Katniss is one of the least to gain and Rue is the one who is more likely to benefit.

As a reader, we are able to generate compassion and likeness for Katniss, as we know she is teaming up with Rue so that she can protect and look after her, just as she does her sister Prim.

Rue draws out the maternal, nurturing instincts inside of Katniss and also the generous side of her personality. Not only does Katniss insist on sharing her food with Rue, she also ensures that they share the same sleeping bag during the nights.

When we are sleeping, we are at our most vulnerable and to share the same sleeping bag with someone else is a physical act of closeness that takes the reader by surprise, as it appears so out of character for Katniss. Rue's presence allows us to review previously formed opinions of Katniss and view her more in a positive light.

However, there is a sense of tragedy to the alliance between the two girls' as it is not something that can last. It has to end with one of their deaths, and the unspeakable that hangs between them is that there is a chance that they will be forced to kill each other in the end.

During the story we see that Rue is used to bring out Katniss' softer and more emotional side. Through Rue, Collin's develops Katniss' character and deepens it.  One thing that Rue does is to remind Katniss of the worth of music - something which Katniss has ranked somewhere between:

"Hair ribbons and rainbows in the terms of usefulness," (Collins, 2008, pg. 255).

In this we see how much Katniss has altered since her father's death and we grieve her loss of girlhood. She had to grow up drastically and close a door on anything that, in her mind, was superfluous. Her entire focus since her father's death has been to survive.

Rue teaches Katniss that there is so much more to life than living just to survive, by helping her to open up to other possibilities outside of her practical and non-sentimental world, Rue is also able to teach Katniss the true meaning behind the Mockingjay pin that she wears; the Mockingjay is the symbol of freedom.

Katniss has not only been trapped by the Capitol, but she is also trapped inside an internal prison and Rue has come along to help set Katniss free, all the whole effectively teaching Katniss that even when she is being deprived she can still have liberty.

Rue has in fact had harder experiences than Katniss. Rue is not allowed to eat the food that she helps harvest from her District:

"Oh, no, we're not allowed to eat the crops," (Collins, 2008, pg. 245).

However, despite the harsh regime of her district, Rue has experienced more freedom than Katniss because she trust more easily and finds it easy to take joy in the smallest of things such as flowers, birds and music.

With the parallel drawn between Rue and Prim, Collins cleverly reminds us of the sacrifices and love that Katniss has made for her sister. We are reminded that Katniss is only in the arena so that Prim would not die. Because Rue is superimposed over Prim, we accept the deep bond between Katniss and Rue, and therefore understand the deep grief Katniss experiences when Rue is murdered.

In Rue's death we see Katniss act out of character for she sings to Rue which is something she has not done since her father died.

"I haven't sung much since he died. Except for when Prim is very sick. Then I sing her the same songs that she liked as a baby," (Collins, 2008, pg. 283).

For only the second time in the whole book, Katniss deserts her practical and unemotional role, the very role that has been so vital to her survival, and shows us her humanity, something that Rue has shone a light on. Katniss collects blossoms from the wood and uses them as an act of mourning:

"I decorate her body in flowers, covering the ugly wound, wreathing her face and weaving her hair with bright colours," (Collins, 2008, pg. 286-287).

This is also to show the Capitol that they cannot take Rue's purity even if she has been forced to fight for her survival. In her death as in her life, Rue has been used by Collins to create compassion and sympathy for Katniss.

As can be seen, Katniss Everdeen is not a typical heroine, lacking as she does many attractive qualities. Whilst Katniss is stubborn, brave, strong, hardworking and determined, this only makes us as readers understand that she has had a hard life, however, it does not help us bond with her. The role of Rue is to help lower the walls that Katniss uses to keep other people out so that we as readers are able to see the hidden depths of her inner personality.

In the short episode that takes place between Katniss and Rue, readers see Katniss develop as a character and are more willing to view her in a sympathetic light. Rue inspires forgiveness towards Katniss which endures throughout the remainder of the book. In this, Collins has taken a minor character and used her to leave a lasting legacy.

Don't Take Creativity for Granted

"Working hard is important. But there is something that matters even more: believing in yourself."

I believe that everyone has a creative spark, but some people just don't know how to harness it. Many people out there are so driven by their need to write that go about it the wrong way, stealing from other author's that have poured their heart and soul into their stories, and are devastated when they realise someone has taken their work in order to receive a quick boost in popularity.

Plagiarism is a massive part of anyone's writing, and I've seen a number of fanfiction author's going as far as to copyright their original work, and even date and time the chapters as they post them.

This is something that I have adopted, having been on the receiving end of theft many times.

My fanfiction stories are my babies, I work well into the night making them as good as they are, and the ideas don't come cheap. A good author knows when to work for a good idea, they know how to nurture it from a seedling and hatch it into a fully-grown story.

Creative and professional writing, whether it be fanfiction or original works, takes precious time, and an author can't afford to be looking over their shoulder every two seconds, fearing that someone will come along and steal what they have worked so hard to achieve.

Coming back to my quote at the start of this blog. Joanne Katherine Rowling hit the nail on the head when she had her main character, Harry Potter say: "Working hard is important, but there is something that matters even more: believing in yourself."

If you can manage to do that, then you will go far, but... if you need to resort to stealing in order to receive fame, that isn't your's to benefit from, then writing is clearly not the profession for you.

Writing is more than just a hobby, it is a way of life for many authors.

Do the right thing. If you are adamant that you want to write, but fear you will be ridiculed, remember that we all start off badly. No one has a perfect story from the get-go, all you see posted on sites like Fanfiction.net and Archive of our own, is the finished product. Projects that have been worked on for months in advance, ideas that have been nurtured and cared for until they have bloomed into something that the author deems acceptable.

And, when in doubt, just ask.

We writers stick together. We help each other out when needed, and we have each other's backs. I learned that a few weeks ago.

Don't steal from us. Think about it... how would you feel, if your story was stolen? You'd feel hurt, right? That's how we feel when you steal from us.

To quote a text I found on Tumblr:

"Art takes hours to produce and seconds to consume, so don't act surprised when artist get upset when their post only get likes and no reblogs. Similarly, a piece of writing that takes a few minutes to read could have weeks of work behind it. Don't take creativity for granted when you're getting it for free."

Writing a chapter could take days, weeks even months, and then someone comes along and, in five seconds flat, have stolen it and posted it as their own. It's upsetting and downgrading to the original author that has spent their time perfecting it.

Don't do it. Stealing gets you nowhere, and it doesn't make you any better a writer. Working for your achievements makes everything worthwhile.

Happy writing.

:)

Kara