In my thesis, I will analyse the two contrasted fictional worlds that Rowling has created in the first four Harry Potter novels: the mundane Muggle world in which Harry first grows up and the fantasy world he enters once he has learned that he is a wizard.
At first, I will establish a theoretical background, dealing with fantasy literature in general. I will give an idea of what constitutes a fantasy world and present several definitions of "fantasy" or "the fantastic". I continue with an attempt to define and locate the two worlds in the Harry Potter novels and to find out how they relate to one another. Inspired by Rosemary Jackson's theory about the fantastic as subversion, I would like to find out whether the wizarding world has any subversive potential. I will analyse why it initially appears subversive and whether or not it lives up to this impression.
This will involve an examination of the educational and political system of the wizarding world. I will have a look at the concept of family that the novels promote, and questions of gender will be raised.
The central question is: what does it mean to be different in the wizarding world? Is the wizarding world more open to otherness than the Muggle world seems to be?
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In meiner Magisterarbeit analysiere ich die beiden gegensätzlichen fiktionalen Welten, die Rowling in ihren Harry-Potter-Romanen geschaffen hat. Dabei bezieht sich die Arbeit auf die bis zum Erscheinungsdatum der Arbeit veröffentlichten Bände 1-4.
Zunächst gebe ich einen sehr kurzen theoretischen Überblick über Fantasy-Literatur im Allgemeinen und und stelle verschiedene Definitionen des Fantastischen vor. Ich beschäftige mich mit der Lokalisierung und Beschaffenheit der beiden kontrastierten Welten in HP und erläutere, in welcher Beziehung sie zueinander stehen.
Anknüpfend an Rosemary Jackson's Theory vom Fantastischen als Subversion, untersuche ich, ob Rowlings Zauberwelt tatsächlich subversives Potential besitzt. Dabei unterziehe ich das Schulsystem und das politische System der Zauberwelt einem kritischen Blick. Ich analysiere außerdem das Familienbild, das die Romane entwerfen und beschäftige mich mit Gender-Fragen. Die zentrale Frage ist, wie mit Anderssein in der Zauberwelt umgegangen wird.
Table of Contents
0 Introduction
1 Worlds Of Fantasy
1.1 Definitions of Fantasy and the Fantastic
1.2 Fantasy as a Response to Reality
1.3 Primary World and Secondary World
2 A Cartographer's Work
2.1 Two Worlds
2.2 Common Ground
2.3 The International Dimension
2.4 Their-story, Our-story ?
2.5 Two Cultures
3 "A Whisper about the Potters" - The Fantastic in the Harry Potter Novels as Subversion
3.1 Magic - The Mysterious "Other"
3.2 Harry Between the Worlds
4 The Wizarding World - Subversion or Restriction?
4.1 Harry Potter as Boarding School Fiction
4.2 Politics, Jurisdiction and the Penal System in the Wizarding World
4.3 Racism, Oppression and Slavery
4.3.1 Death Eaters and "Mud-bloods"
4.3.2 Anti-Muggle Security
4.3.3 Werewolves, Giants and House-elf Liberation
4.4 Otherness and Nonconformity in the Wizarding World
5 "Mrs Weasley alone in the kitchen" - The Concept of Family in the Novels
6 Gender in the Wizarding World
7 Conclusion....or Dis-enchantment?
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This thesis examines the structural and thematic contrasts between the mundane Muggle world and the wizarding world within the first four Harry Potter novels. The central research objective is to analyze whether the fantastic world functions as a truly subversive, liberating force or if it ultimately reinforces conservative, restrictive ideologies.
- The definition of fantasy literature and the distinction between primary and secondary worlds.
- The mapping of geographical and historical connections between Muggle and wizarding realities.
- The analysis of subversion and repression within the political and legal systems of the wizarding world.
- An exploration of social dynamics, including racism, the status of minority creatures, and the concept of family.
- An investigation into gender representation and the extent to which traditional gender roles are maintained or challenged.
Excerpt from the Book
A Cartographer's Work
A lot of authors of secondary world fiction have drawn maps of their invented worlds. Others, into whose primary worlds the fantastic irrupts often give explicit information about the time and place of their settings as if the reader should be invited to look them up and follow in the steps of the protagonists, or at least be convinced of the actuality of the events described. This is why the fictional places frequently correspond to actual places outside the text.
The fictional events of E.T.A. Hoffmann's Kunstmärchen Der Goldene Topf, for instance, are set in his contemporary Dresden. Just before the Student Anselmus has his first encounter with the fantastic, this is made explicit:
"Am Himmelsfahrtstage, nachmittags um drei Uhr, rannte ein junger Mensch in Dresden durchs schwarze Tor (...)" (Hoffmann 5)
Although the Schwarze Tor had actually been torn down by the time Der Goldene Topf first appeared in 1814, it obviously continued to be a point of reference in Dresden. Other topographical details his contemporary readers would have been familiar with include the Elbbrücke and Conradis Konditorei in the Schlossgasse. The fantastic is thus firmly rooted in the tangible world outside the text.
In the following, I would like to imagine myself as a cartographer, entering J.K. Rowling's fictional worlds in order to answer the first two questions: Where are those worlds located, and what do they look like?
Summary of Chapters
0 Introduction: This chapter outlines the motivation for the study and presents the research questions regarding the contrast between the Muggle and wizarding worlds.
1 Worlds Of Fantasy: Provides a theoretical foundation for fantasy literature, defining key terms such as the fantastic, primary world, and secondary world.
2 A Cartographer's Work: Analyzes the physical and historical overlap between the Muggle and wizarding worlds, characterizing the latter as an alternative culture.
3 "A Whisper about the Potters" - The Fantastic in the Harry Potter Novels as Subversion: Explores the potential of the fantastic to serve as a subversive force against the repressive Dursley household.
4 The Wizarding World - Subversion or Restriction?: Examines whether the wizarding world is truly liberating by analyzing its school system, legal structure, and handling of prejudice.
5 "Mrs Weasley alone in the kitchen" - The Concept of Family in the Novels: Critiques the highly conservative and conventional portrayal of family life within the novels.
6 Gender in the Wizarding World: Investigates the portrayal of gender roles and whether the text transcends or reinscribes patriarchal myths.
7 Conclusion....or Dis-enchantment?: Summarizes findings, concluding that the subversive potential of the fantastic is largely defused by the conservative world-view presented.
Keywords
Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling, Fantasy Literature, Subversion, Muggle World, Wizarding World, Rosemary Jackson, Boarding School Fiction, Gender Roles, Family Concept, Racism, Oppression, Mimesis, Primary World, Secondary World.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this thesis?
The thesis analyzes the contrast between the Muggle and wizarding worlds in the Harry Potter series, specifically investigating whether the fantastic realm serves as a subversive, liberating alternative or reinforces existing conservative power structures.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The study covers fantasy theory, political and legal systems, social hierarchy, racism, minority treatment, family structures, and gender dynamics.
What is the main research question?
The main question is whether the wizarding world’s subversion of the "normal" Muggle world remains a radical, liberating potential or if it is ultimately restricted by conservative ideologies embedded within the narrative.
Which theoretical methods are utilized?
The work incorporates literary criticism, specifically drawing on Rosemary Jackson’s theory of the fantastic as subversion, as well as concepts from fantasy theorists like Tolkien and Kathryn Hume.
What does the main body of the work address?
The main body systematically analyzes how the wizarding world is constructed, its authoritarian nature, the oppressive treatment of house-elves and other creatures, and the traditional gender roles maintained by the characters.
What are the essential keywords?
Essential keywords include Fantasy Literature, Subversion, Muggle, Wizarding World, Racism, Gender Roles, and Family Concept.
How does the author characterize the wizarding world's political system?
The author describes it as an undemocratic, arbitrary, and absolutist regime, which, despite its magical nature, reflects many of the negative traits of mundane political and penal institutions.
Why is the concept of the "damsel in distress" relevant to this analysis?
The author uses this literary convention to critique how female characters like Ginny Weasley are sometimes relegated to helpless roles that require rescue, thus undermining claims of female independence in the series.
- Citar trabajo
- Magistra artium Isabelle Wagner (Autor), 2001, Contrasted worlds in the fiction of J. K. Rowling, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/86858
