Summary

  • The Harry Potter books faced accusations of promoting witchcraft, leading to bans in some places.
  • The series was criticized for being anti-family and containing references to the occult.
  • The Wizarding World continues to face controversies, now mostly due to J.K. Rowling's views.

The Harry Potter book series is one of the most popular and beloved ones, but it has faced various controversies over the years, to the point where the books were banned in some parts of the world. Back in 1997, readers all over the world traveled to the Wizarding World in the novel Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the first entry in what would become a series of seven novels chronicling Harry’s time at Hogwarts and his battle against Lord Voldemort. The Harry Potter books became a worldwide phenomenon, making way for a media franchise.

The world of Harry Potter came to life between 2001 and 2011 with the film adaptations of the books, expanding its already extensive fanbase. Despite the massive success of the books and their film adaptations, the universe of Harry Potter hasn’t been safe from controversies and backlash, some more serious than others. Among the first controversies surrounding the Harry Potter series were the attempts to ban the books for different reasons, though that didn’t stop their increasing popularity and success.

A collage of Hermione, Harry, and Ron with their wands pointed, and Harry holding his wand for the first time in Harry Potter
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The Harry Potter Book Series Was Accused Of Promoting Witchcraft

The Themes In The Harry Potter Books Led To Different Accusations

Different religious groups accused the Harry Potter books of promoting witchcraft and religions such as Wicca, which, to them, made them unsuitable for children.

The main theme in the Harry Potter books is, obviously, magic, an element found in many other fantasy novels, most notably J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings universe. However, mixing magic and fantasy in books aimed at a young audience didn’t sit well with some groups. Different religious groups accused the Harry Potter books of promoting witchcraft and religions such as Wicca, which, to them, made them unsuitable for children. The Harry Potter books are some of the most challenged in the United States, and according to the American Library Association, this has happened in 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2019.

The Harry Potter novels were also accused of being anti-family and anti-authority due to Harry’s relationship with the Dursleys.

The Harry Potter books have also been accused of referencing the occult, Satanism, violence, and containing real spells and curses, with supporters of the books explaining they have little resemblance to occultism and the “witchcraft” in it is merely fictional, though it does seem to have some Christian subtext. The Harry Potter novels were also accused of being anti-family and anti-authority due to Harry’s relationship with the Dursleys, completely ignoring how the latter were abusive to Harry and that the novels have other, healthier representations of family (though not in the traditional way, which can be controversial to some).

All these led to many efforts in different parts of the world to ban the Harry Potter novels, and in the case of the United States, these led to legal challenges, such as allowing the books to be held in public schools violating the separation of church and state. Various schools (mostly religious ones) banned the Harry Potter books at some point, while others tried but ultimately failed.

The World of Harry Potter Has Faced Other Controversies Over The Years

The Harry Potter Universe Continues To Be Controversial For Different Reasons

Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter in front of the Prisoner of Azkaban Hogwarts cast.
Custom image by Debanjana Chowdhury 

In addition to the above-mentioned controversies, the Harry Potter world has also faced other issues. J.K. Rowling has been accused of plagiarism and has also been plagiarized on many occasions, but the Wizarding World currently faces other, different, and more serious controversies. Rowling’s comments on transgender people have sparked a lot of debate from both sides, to the point where many actors from the Harry Potter books have stepped in to show their support for transgender people and the LGBT community, while others have supported Rowling and her opinions.

The legacy of Harry Potter is a complex one, as it’s not just its massive success in literature and film but also the many debates, bans, and controversies it has faced over the years. As the world of Harry Potter keeps expanding, its legacy grows, and, unfortunately, it’s unlikely it will be safe from more controversies.

Source: American Library Association.