In less than a decade, J.K. Rowling created a fictional world along with a real-life culture orbiting around her work and redefined an entire genre of books. In addition to transforming the names Harry, Hermione, and Ron into household names, she also brought to life one of the twenty-first century 's most iconic and memorable antagonists: Lord Voldemort, or He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Striking fear into children 's hearts, he represents the polar opposite to Harry 's goodness. While Harry 's motivations are founded in love and friendships, Voldemort 's are founded in hatred and pure evil. Such reflections are as simplistic and generic as they come, and yet even adults, whose historical and emotional experience are arguably more complex, get
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One of the most commonly rumored fact about Adolf may be his supposed Jewish ancestry, a rumor that could have originated from a CIA report. The report claims that Hitler came from "illiterate peasant stock derived from a mixture of races. His father was illegitimate...Hitler 's mother was a domestic servant. It is said that his father 's father was a Jew and it is certain that his godfather was a Jew" (Murray). Whether or not this was political propaganda created by the CIA 's Office of Strategic Services, modern science reveals Murray 's claims may hold water. While scientific but inconclusive, modern DNA analysis shows genetic code present in Hitler 's DNA commonly found in Jewish and African populations (Blake). If the research 's claim is true, Hitler would share this brand of self-hatred with Lord Voldemort. As revealed in the Half-Blood Prince, Voldemort’s mother was a pure-blooded witch from an unstable and inbred wizarding family; Tom Riddle, Sr. was a rich Muggle with not a hint of wizarding blood ("The House of Gaunt"). This would have similar implications of racial hypocrisy, just as in Hitler 's …show more content…
The two shared an obsession with blood purity and the supremacy of one, genetic group of individuals despite there being evidence that they were both of “impure descent.” Both employed methods of dehumanization to target their enemies and facilitated their plans of mass genocide. Lastly, both showed traits akin to modern definitions of mental illnesses that give their actions and beliefs scientific contexts. It is unclear if J.K. Rowling wrote Voldemort with intentions to mirror Adolf Hitler. Arguably, it would make sense as a western European to hold issues of anti-Semitism and Nazism closer to her heart, but there have been no such reports or writings done by the author to conclusively confirm these comparisons. Nonetheless, it showcases her groundbreaking ability to allude to adult themes previously believed by mainstream media in such a delicate manner that makes them appropriate for even young children to consume at an early
One of the most commonly rumored fact about Adolf may be his supposed Jewish ancestry, a rumor that could have originated from a CIA report. The report claims that Hitler came from "illiterate peasant stock derived from a mixture of races. His father was illegitimate...Hitler 's mother was a domestic servant. It is said that his father 's father was a Jew and it is certain that his godfather was a Jew" (Murray). Whether or not this was political propaganda created by the CIA 's Office of Strategic Services, modern science reveals Murray 's claims may hold water. While scientific but inconclusive, modern DNA analysis shows genetic code present in Hitler 's DNA commonly found in Jewish and African populations (Blake). If the research 's claim is true, Hitler would share this brand of self-hatred with Lord Voldemort. As revealed in the Half-Blood Prince, Voldemort’s mother was a pure-blooded witch from an unstable and inbred wizarding family; Tom Riddle, Sr. was a rich Muggle with not a hint of wizarding blood ("The House of Gaunt"). This would have similar implications of racial hypocrisy, just as in Hitler 's …show more content…
The two shared an obsession with blood purity and the supremacy of one, genetic group of individuals despite there being evidence that they were both of “impure descent.” Both employed methods of dehumanization to target their enemies and facilitated their plans of mass genocide. Lastly, both showed traits akin to modern definitions of mental illnesses that give their actions and beliefs scientific contexts. It is unclear if J.K. Rowling wrote Voldemort with intentions to mirror Adolf Hitler. Arguably, it would make sense as a western European to hold issues of anti-Semitism and Nazism closer to her heart, but there have been no such reports or writings done by the author to conclusively confirm these comparisons. Nonetheless, it showcases her groundbreaking ability to allude to adult themes previously believed by mainstream media in such a delicate manner that makes them appropriate for even young children to consume at an early