“You’re a Jedi, Harry” – Comparing And Contrasting The Force In 'Star Wars' And Magic In 'Harry Potter'

Two Huge Franchises

By Culture SlatePublished 3 years ago • 4 min read

For some, Star Wars and Harry Potter will always be tied together because they are two of the most popular franchises to come out. Both are based on Joseph Campbell's “hero's journey” and have many similarities, despite their genre differences. Before delving straight into the comparison between Luke and Harry, let’s look at the similarities and differences between the Force in Star Wars and magic in Harry Potter.

Natural (Or Supernatural Ability)

In both universes, not all people can be wizards, and not all can be Jedi. Both universes only identify people (primarily youths), who are especially suited for the Force/Magic. In Star Wars, Force-sensitive people can be sensed by others and can also have their midi-chlorian counts tested. In Harry Potter, wizardkind can be identified through random bursts of magic, but also primarily through an inherited traits from ancestors.

What Is The “Magic?”

Harry Potter represents its magic as a combination of ability, knowledge, and talent gathered through education and inherited through family. This power is first visible when the young wizards/witches receive their invitation to Hogwarts, and it’s enhanced through their schooling there. Similarly, the Force in Star Wars as a manifestation of energy that through ability, knowledge, and talent, is able to be manipulated. If you swap universes with some of the major characters, odds are that they would be powerful in either universe, i.e. Harry and Voldemort’s midi-chlorian counts would probably be pretty high.

Children Taken Away From Parents

Both universes take the Force/magic-sensitive children away from their parents; though one side significantly earlier than the other. Hogwarts takes students from ages 11 to 18 (roughly middle school through high school in the US). This is akin to a boarding school in the US or UK. The students are allowed to return home during breaks in schooling and often do. In the Star Wars universe, the education system is very different. Force-sensitive children are recruited away from their homes at an early age for Jedi training. They are discouraged and not allowed contact or attachment with their families during their Jedi training. Hogwarts tends to praise love and friendship more than the Jedi Order in Star Wars, which cautions against attachment among Force users.

Darkness Allowed At School

The Jedi try and only focus on the light side of the force while training their padawans. Both teachings and behaviors that lead to the dark side are strongly discouraged. Responsibility is taught in a more extreme manner to Jedi; no family, no love, no attachments. At Hogwarts, things are not as black and white, and they seemingly accept more evil. While including a class in Defense Against the Dark Arts, Hogwarts has allowed many evil doers to be educated in its ranks with little admonishment. Tom Riddle, and his followers, are provided with an education to expand their magical power. And while not altogether evil, the Slytherin house has a background that suggests as much and attracts certain wizards and their progeny.

Jedi training also starts in childhood and, in a way, continues throughout their lives. Even after graduating from the academy, the Jedi still received orders and training from masters. A wizard’s education largely stopped after Hogwarts, when they are encouraged to obtain jobs in the wizarding world after graduation.

Micro vs. Macro

In Star Wars, the Force is more polarized. It is good versus evil. And one Jedi can have a huge impact over a conflict. A few gray Jedi like Revan/Kreia of the Exile are prominent in Legends.

Magic is more micro, but also broader in scale. Yes, the elder wand exists and powerful wizards like Dumbledore, Voldemort, and Grindelwald have held sway. But magic has many more tiny, applicable uses. Wizards use magic for transport, simple healing, and it’s even more directly easier to kill people.

The Harry Potter books and movies also make young wizards more visible, which makes micro magic more accessible to viewers. We can see them grow and learn and deal with the struggles of youth. While it would be interesting to see a teen Jedi academy television show, I imagine the show would be less romantic and fun; even more Spartan-esque.

Visibility

One other major difference is the visibility difference between wizards and the Jedi. During the High Republic peak of the Jedi, they are seen all over the galaxy in great number as peacekeepers.

Wizards/witches on the other hand do not make themselves viewable, for the most part, to the muggle public. They hide and rule on their own plane and do not try to get involved in the matters of the non-wizarding community.

Who Would Win In Battle?

It’s hard to tell, as we don’t know enough. Could Force users deflect spells with lightsabers? Could magic users dodge lightsaber melee attacks? Could either side mentally influence the other, through the Force or magic? We will never be able to know, and hopefully there isn’t a crossover down the line.

Both sagas and sets of mystical powers are wonderful stories in their own right. And while they are similar, it’s great to enjoy them for their differences.

Written By Dave Sacca

Source(s): Harry Potter Wiki, Odyssey, TRIBE

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