38 The Statute of Racial Superiority: A Postcolonial Examination of Muggle-Wizard Relations in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets – Vicky Gavin
Vicky Gavin is a senior in the Professional and Technical Writing major who lives in Omaha, NE. This paper was written as a final project for Professor Alisa Clapp-Itnyre in English L371 (online) in Fall of 2021. Professor Alisa Clapp-Itnyre, admired her work and said, “Vicky wrote an exceptional paper applying postcolonial theory to Harry Potter, so good that I nominated it to a national undergraduate writing award with Children’s Literature Association!”
The Statute of Racial Superiority: A postcolonial examination of
Muggle-Wizard Relations in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
The Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling grapples with growing up in a magical world where issues of marginalization are highlighted in such a way to help readers understand both the effects of this and the different types of it. Hogwarts being located in the heart of England is especially poignant given the colonial background of the British Empire, which is the starting point for much of the discrimination within the Western world today. However, this association raises questions about the effects of the colonial past on the topics and themes in the series. In her article, “The Fallen Empire: Exploring Ethnic Otherness in the World of Harry Potter,” Giselle Liza Anatol makes the postcolonial argument that J. K. Rowling’s inherent British background makes it difficult to remove imperialist influences from the Harry Potter series (Anatol 165). Anatol argues that Rowling writes the series with a well-intentioned “colorblind” mentality, but it ultimately leads to erasure of race throughout the novels (Anatol 173). This paper takes Anatol’s comparison between the wizarding world and the British Empire and extends it to analyze the issues of discrimination that emerge when Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is examined under the postcolonial lens, coming to the conclusion that Muggles play the role of the colonized Other.
One of the key ideas of postcolonialism is the “Other”— any person defined as “different from” (Bressler 204). In the colonial context, the Other is typically seen as “exotic and inferior” (Abrams 306). In The Chamber of Secrets, Muggles appear in both of these ways. Muggles are the object of subtle and overt racial slurs and epithets while those who are allowed entry into the insider society—wizards’ society—must strive harder to be accepted as equal. They are also the object of benevolent, yet dehumanizing, curiosity. The attitudes of wizards, both outwardly demeaning and benevolent, lead to discrimination and even violence against Muggles, and these attitudes are systemic. The result is Rowling’s Britain takes shape as a two-tiered society: an insider society of wizards—or wizard lineage, and an outsider and thus disadvantaged society of Muggles. This is in part due to Rowling’s own interest in critiquing various forms of marginalization through the many adventures of Harry Potter. By establishing the Muggles as Other, she deliberately places the reader in the position of being the marginalized party. Throughout the novel, there are various forms of discrimination handled – both blatant and subtle – which seem to suggest the influence of British colonialism.
Rowling supplies the most overt example of casual discrimination by creating the epithet, “Mudblood,” which is first used in The Chamber of Secrets. The wizarding world, as constructed by Rowling, puts a high emphasis on the quality or pedigree of a wizard’s blood, and there are three categories that any wizard falls into: pure-blood, half-blood, and Muggle-born. This emphasis on genetics through language surrounding blood indicates a form of racial discrimination that isn’t based on looks or ability but lineage. After a mocking comment from Hermione Granger, Draco Malfoy spits at her, “No one asked your opinion, you filthy little Mudblood” (112). “Mudblood” refers to anyone who is Muggle-born and is considered among one of the worst insults that can be thrown at someone. Ron also implies that it can refer to half-bloods, one magical and one non-magical parent, as well (116). Rowling’s creation of this insult shows an understanding of racial barriers and some of the pain that comes with that. Breaking the word down, it refers to dirty blood, and reinforces a feeling of outsider status to anyone who is referred to in this way. The implications would be that a non-magical human being has dirty blood, and therefore they, as a wizard who does not possess pure-blood, do not belong.
While many wizards are against this kind of overt discrimination, as shown in this scene, there is nevertheless a presumption in favor of wizards with an established lineage that they do belong, while Muggle-borns have something to prove. Harry Potter was raised by Muggles and is completely unprepared for the nuances of wizarding society. He lacks much of the fundamental knowledge that wizard children grow up with to prepare him for Hogwarts, and he regularly struggles with the social mores of the world he now finds himself in. He is usually clueless as to the subtleties of social situations, such as the incident with Draco calling Hermione a “Mudblood” (112). However, due to his lineage and status, he is afforded many privileges that Hermione, who by all accounts is a superior witch, does not have access to. He is awarded a fortune from his parents in wizards’ currency that he never had to earn. His parents also left him with a fame that he never seems to know what to do with as evidenced by his inability to protest as Gilderoy Lockhart uses him to earn a place on the front page of a newspaper (66). By comparison, Hermione shows a great deal of dedication to being as knowledgeable as she can about the wizarding world. This goes well beyond academic interests, as evidenced by her recognizing and being immediately offended at Draco’s slur. Hermione has done this work in an effort to prove herself against the assumptions of her inferiority since she is Muggle-born. The comparison between Harry and Hermione is inevitable since both are Muggle-raised and come into the wizarding world without having the cultural knowledge that comes with being raised in the wizarding world despite lineage. Hermione is portrayed as a reliable, caring, and thoughtful friend to Harry and Ron without bemoaning her social status, which reinforces what a robust character she is. She is in her own right a member of the friend group and not carried along by the boys. However, the amount of effort she clearly puts into creating and maintaining a place for herself in the wizarding world shows that she struggles against being Othered in this way. Conversely, Harry does not do the same cultural homework, as it were, and is accepted wholeheartedly by wizards.
Much of the everyday Othering of Muggles and Muggle-borns stems from the condescending attitudes coming from wizards. Anatol makes the point that, “the antagonism against Muggle-borns stems, in part, from a distrust of their motives after years of persecution at the hands of the nonmagical” (170). However, this distrust of Muggles by wizards seems to come with no evidence to reinforce it, so the attitudes come from a purely prejudiced perspective on the wizards’ part. Instead, the wizarding world has created for itself an isolationist state, which creates the basis for Anatol’s argument that Hogwarts reflects the imperial center that invaders will attempt to take over and destroy (171). Due to this fear of outsiders, wizards have developed two main methods of dealing with “Others:” in ways that are demeaning and ways that are benevolent.
The very core of the word “Muggle” reflects the demeaning attitudes that are pervasive in wizards’ society. Rowling created the word “Muggle” using the British slang term “mug”, meaning a fool, blockhead, or a person easily deceived (Definition of MUG). This intentional underscoring of disdain for Muggles highlights how unfit for proper society wizards perceive Muggles as being. The word reinforces discrimination subtly and is used pejoratively as a form of name-calling and dehumanizing. Hagrid does this to the Dursleys, “’Lousy Muggles,’ growled Hagrid. ‘If I’d’ve known—” (55). Hagrid’s use of “Muggles” feels almost as though he might have expected poor behavior from them simply by virtue of their race rather than it being something specific that the Dursleys might do. Using the language this way subtly inserts Muggles into an Other category that is lesser-than, even though Muggles as a whole have not been afforded the opportunity to prove themselves otherwise. Since the disdain for Muggles stems from racial lines rather than ability or merit, Muggles are hard-pressed to be seen as positive members of society. Hermione’s parents are used as a method of condescension by Lucius Malfoy simply by virtue of the Weasleys doing their pre-semester shopping with the Grangers: “The company you keep, Weasley… and I thought your family could sink no lower—” (62). Lucius does not need to utilize any direct language with this insult, since everyone who can hear him knows what he’s referring to. His assertion that the Grangers bring the Weasleys further down the social ladder is a direct result of the fact that the Grangers are Muggles. This attitude is ironic given the fear of Muggles referenced by Anatol above and evidenced by the existence of the Statute of Secrecy which is wielded heavy-handedly against young wizards like Harry (21). Muggles are dirty and lowly, but fearsome and will persecute or destroy wizards if allowed to enter the wizarding world. These conflicting ideas allow for reflection on some of the hypocrisies that come with discrimination of this sort.
Except where noted, in most of the examples above the systemic Othering of Muggles serves Rowling’s purpose of placing the reader in the uncomfortable marginalized Other. The more benevolent version of condescending attitudes in postcolonial criticism comes in the form of the exotic. As defined above, the colonial Other is both inferior and exotic According to Anatol, the wizarding world creates a kind of “banal multiculturalism” in which Muggles play the role of the exotic where they supply entertainment and foreign objects for wizards (Anatol 168). Arthur Weasley exemplifies this mentality with his attitudes towards Muggles and Muggle artifacts, though presumably Rowling does not intend him to represent the forces of oppression since he is a sympathetic comedic character. During the events of The Chamber of Secrets, Arthur Weasley is working in the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office at the Ministry of Magic. His job is to monitor the use of spells, charms, and other magic on Muggle objects, keeping them out of Muggle hands and awareness. His fascination with Muggle tools, like cars, seems to be a motivating factor for why he took this career path to begin with, and he tinkers with these objects in his free time, walking the line of breaking the law himself. Fred Weasley even says so to Harry upon their arrival at the Weasleys’ Burrow (31). This attitude surrounding Muggle artifacts shows a certain level of hypocrisy in Arthur, and in an argument about the iconic flying car, Molly points out that Arthur created a loophole that would allow him to continue messing with Muggle objects without going to prison for it, further solidifying his paradoxical position (39). Rowling writes this character with a level of comedy involved, making him a sort of loveable oaf.
Arthur imagines himself as a kind of anthropologist in his interest in Muggles, and fights to maintain his ability to study and learn about them. He finds the culture and lifestyle utterly fascinating and exciting. Arthur also has no filter about his delight at the things Muggles would consider mundane, and he sounds almost like a tourist when he exclaims, “What’s that you’ve got there? Oh, you’re changing Muggle money. Molly, look” (57). This exchange is designed to be uncomfortable for the reader, highlighting the way Rowling relates the Muggles to her reader. He jumps at any chance to learn more about how Muggles cope with not having magic, as evidenced by his delighted remarks when Harry taught him how to use a telephone, “Ingenious, really, how many ways Muggles have found of getting along without magic” (43). These comments crop up regularly whenever Arthur is around in the novel, and they show that he has an almost paternalistic viewpoint of the technological advancements of Muggles. “Getting along without magic” would imply that Muggles are disabled, in a manner of speaking. They are crippled by their inability to use magic instead of having to rely on machinery and ingenuity. This is the implication of Arthur’s affectionate interest, and Rowling’s depiction of him makes it unclear if he is meant as a farcical character or an unintended critique on the manifestation of the fear of the Other in exoticism. According to Arthur Weasley’s idea of Muggles, it seems they would not be out of place in a zoo. His intentions are only good, and he wants to learn more about Muggles. However, his way of dealing with the Muggle world comes from a place of security in his superiority over the Muggles, showing Muggles to be exotic. Arthur’s attitudes express and reinforce the idea that Muggles are inherently different from wizards, and the separation between Muggles and wizards is natural. This unwitting contribution to discrimination by way of ignorant privilege allows for the more demeaning or hatred-filled versions to remain socially acceptable.
Well intentioned or otherwise, the creation of separatist attitudes contributes to the creation of a separatist society. When this separation is threatened, this can lead to a culmination of heighted emotions inspiring violence. The Chamber of Secrets allows Rowling to directly explore and combat the overt nature of violence against the Other. The legend behind the Chamber of Secrets is steeped heavily in the tensions brought on by a desire for wizards to isolate themselves from outsiders, much as the imperial British did. In order to focus on hatred as the motivation for the conflict, Rowling places Tom Riddle’s character at the center of the novel. He is the heir of Slytherin, and he represents the lineage of hatred in this way. He is already responsible for the death of one Muggle-born student. His words inspire or coerce a kind-hearted character, Ginny Weasley, to commit atrocious acts that inspire fear. He controls the basilisk, which is the instrument of violence begat by discriminatory hatred. Finally, he stands as a hypocrite due to his own lineage as a half-blood with a Muggle father. With these aspects all in play, Rowling creates a representative antagonist for Harry Potter to combat the discrimination against Muggle-born wizards. It is particularly symbolic that Harry defeats the blind basilisk—blind hatred—and then uses a weapon of the basilisk to defeat the diary which sustains Tom Riddle—the words filled with discriminatory hatred. The violence brought on by Tom’s hatred later came back to bite him in the end. The conflict between Harry and Tom serves as a metaphor for defeating the racism that exists in the wizarding world, and when Harry emerges triumphant, the Muggle-born students are assumed to be safe and accepted.
Despite this cheery resolution at the end of the novel, Rowling does not explore the ramifications of the systemic discrimination present throughout wizard society in The Chamber of Secrets. Throughout the novel, Rowling emphasizes the negative effects of the overt discrimination happening within Hogwarts, and she allows the reader to sit with their discomfort with these ideas. “Rowling makes a strong move towards encouraging multiculturalism, especially with her messages condemning the bigotry of both normative Muggles like the Dursleys, [and] pure-blood witches and wizards who scorn ‘Mudbloods’” (Anatol 174). Rowling in part entrusts this exploration of bigotry to the characters of Harry and Hermione, crafting a more progressive “next generation” which will “encourage more tolerance and an international outlook” (Anatol 168). The text directly addresses overt bigotry and combats it head-on using the Harry and Tom conflict. However, this conflict does not examine the intricacies of systemic discrimination in an imperialist society.
One of the core aspects of the British imperialist attitude is that of isolation, and Hogwarts is located in the “protective isolation of Britain” (Schafer 117). When considering this idea from a postcolonial perspective, the idea of a protective isolation of one of the most notorious colonizing nations in human history becomes questionable. What does it need protection from? The answer is the conceptual Other where, regardless of individual merit or accomplishments, the internal cohesion of the nation is threatened by default by inclusion of the Other. Anatol makes the point that, “Rowling depicts Hogwarts and its environs as a space of difference, inhabited by the Other, and quite separate from the ‘real’ and flawed British sphere; on the other hand, however, this sphere also serves as an accurate reflection of British reality” (Anatol 167). In looking at Hogwarts as a reflection of British society and understanding that British imperialism leaves a legacy of isolationism, it becomes apparent that Muggles occupy the place of the Othered inhabitants of a colonized nation and are not welcome to take part in the advantages and privileges that are to be found in Hogwarts and the wizarding world. As a response to magic being performed in Harry’s Muggle home, he receives a letter from the Ministry of Magic stating, “any magical activity that risks notice by members of the non-magical community (Muggles) [sic] is a serious offense under section 13 of the International Confederation for Warlocks’ Statute of Secrecy” (21). Magic, regardless of the situation, is banned from being performed in a way that may be noticed by Muggles to keep the wizarding world isolated from them, and it is implied that there are other laws in this vein since the document it is referring to is in “section 13.” This seems to be an unintentional side effect of Rowling’s writing, since Hogwarts is designed to act as a symbol of inclusion where individuals ideally should be brought together by their similarities regardless of their differences. Hogwarts stands as a symbol of inclusion and acceptance for who one is. It’s the place that is an escape from discrimination for Harry, and it generally symbolizes a different, better world. The fact that this inclusive environment is based on the exclusion of Muggles as unworthy of being included seems to undermine this role Hogwarts plays in the narrative.
A clear consequence of this would be the disparity in medical advances between the wizarding and Muggle worlds. In The Chamber of Secrets, it is commented that Madam Pomfrey, the resident physician at Hogwarts, has a cure for colds that works instantly, can mend broken bones quickly and painlessly, and can regrow bones overnight (122, 174). These are taken as matters of fact, and Madam Pomfrey brushes off the idea of mending broken bones as an easy task (122). The idea that these conditions, which can be debilitating or lead to more serious complications in the real, or human, world, are a simple matter to fix seems to be a significant injustice. The relative effectiveness of Muggle medicine compared with wizard medicine mirrors the situation of First World colonial nations and Third World colonized nations. There is an ethical question as to whether this is a situation that is justifiable. In a blog post titled “Illness and Disability” on the Wizarding World website, Rowling responds directly to this lingering question, “while wizards have an enviable head start over the rest of us in dealing with the flu, and all manner of serious injuries, they have to deal with problems that the rest of us never face.” In other words, Muggles must struggle with common colds, broken bones, and other, potentially more deadly ailments without aid simply because they do not routinely deal with wizarding ailments as well. Rowling has no explanation to this phenomenon that would justify this attitude from the wizarding world’s perspective. This response is not satisfactory, however, especially from a postcolonial standpoint. The wizarding world is knowingly withholding potentially life-saving technological or magical advances, and the only explanation of it in-world that can be discerned is that wizards do not want Muggles knowing about magic in order to protect themselves from perceived dangers. Outside of interpersonal arguments with the Dursleys, there is little, if any, evidence that speaks to Muggles as a whole being a danger to wizarding society, however. This feeling of security by maintaining this boundary is very reflective of the “British cultural centrism and isolationism” (Anatol 167).
The presence of these attitudes and practices in Chamber of Secrets lead to the conclusion that the wizarding world reflects an isolationist British state that at best reflects benevolent imperialist attitudes toward Muggles and at worst a racist fear and malevolence. This conclusion seems to provide evidence of, as Anatol puts it, “how difficult it is for contemporary British subjects such as Rowling to extricate themselves from the ideological legacies of their ancestors” (Anatol 165). Anatol’s article speaks to the entirety of the Harry Potter series, but the effects can be observed directly within The Chamber of Secrets as Rowling attempts to grapple with the overt bigotry in the wizarding world. As a culture, the wizarding world holds the purity of one’s blood to be of great importance, and Muggles are considered to dirty the blood. The reactions to this can be demeaning attitudes, such as the epithet “Mudblood”, or benevolent attitudes, as in the case of Arthur Weasley. The Chamber of Secrets deals with discrimination head-on, allowing an opportunity for readers to both experience discrimination, through Rowling’s deliberate presentation of Muggles, and overcome it, through the overarching conflicts within the book. While Rowling directly grapples with these ideas by giving her readers a battle between the inclusive Harry Potter and the racist Tom Riddle, some colonialist aspects of the isolationist wizarding world are left unaddressed.
Works Cited
Abrams, M. H., and Geoffrey Galt Harpham. “Postcolonial Studies.” A Glossary of Literary Terms, Cengage Learning, Stamford, CT, 2015, pp. 305–308.
Anatol, Giselle Liza. “The Fallen Empire: Exploring Ethnic Otherness in the World of Harry Potter.” Reading Harry Potter: Critical Essays, Giselle Liza Anatol, Praeger, 2003, pp. 163–78.
Bressler, Charles E. Literary Criticism: An Introduction to Theory and Practice, Longman, Boston, MA, 2011, pp. 197–209.
Definition of MUG. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mug. Accessed 26 Nov. 2021.
Schafer, Elizabeth D. “Exploring Harry Potter.” Beacham’s Sourcebooks for Teaching Young Adult Fiction, Beacham Pub. Corp., Osprey, FL, 2000, p. 117.
Rowling, J. K. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Scholastic Inc, 2018.
Rowling, J.K. Illness and Disability | Wizarding World. https://www.wizardingworld.com/writing-by-jk-rowling/illness-and-disability. Accessed 26 Nov. 2021.