An Analysis: Harry Potter & The Sorcerer's Stone

After making some rather distasteful and transphobic comments; the support for JK Rowling has quickly dissipated. But the love for the series that made her famous still is strong. Of Course, I spoke up about these issues publicly on Tik Tok (BMiki13 if you want to watch them, and I will also be the first to admit that yea, the wording is kind of aggressive but the point behind them still stands).

I have begun rereading the series for some fresher opinions and views of them; since like many people I haven’t read them in years. This will be my literary analysis (and general commentary) on the first book of the series Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s (Philosopher’s) Stone. And I will be going in chronological order of my findings and/or comments.

Generally speaking; the themes of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's (Philosopher’s) Stone are: Friendships, Loyalty, Good vs Evil, Difference, Belonging, and Family. I would like to add on to this list with: Normalized Neglect & Abuse, A General Lack of Empathy, as well as Ignorance (or Stereotypes of some kind). The citations of book evidence will look like “Chapter. Page.” External sources will be in MLA format.

We start with the first page falling under Difference and Ignorance - “He was a big, beefy man with hardly any neck.” Which could fall under these categories as an example of fatphobia which is generally defined as “irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against obesity or people with obesity.” (1) I think simply calling Vernon a big, beefy man would’ve been sufficient but this is nitpicking, I’ll admit.

1.2 “- they didn’t want Dudley mixing with a child like that.” Since many have likened the Harry Potter series as an allegory for race relations and can be interpreted as the pure muggles not wanting to be around the dirty magical folk.

1.13 Dumbledore is the one that insists on Harry living with the Dursley’s even though McGonagall has expressed valid concern with the idea that a LETTER would explain everything or that the Dursley’s would even bother to explain it. Which in my opinion is willfully letting a child live in a neglectful household, considering that McGonagall had been watching them all day and had concluded they were not great people.

1.15 Is reason number 1 that Harry really should’ve named his son after Hagrid (I know that Harry is a baby in this instance). Hagrid really did kiss a child he no other prominent ties to.

1.16 Yet another example of neglect perpetrated by Albus Dumbledore… he really did straight up leave a baby outside on the front step without even knocking or ringing the bell. McGonagall and Hagrid are also not cleared from this since they kind of just let him do this.

2.19 This is the first mention of Harry living in the cupboard (closet) under the stairs. Again, not only is this an example of difference but one of neglect. The Dursley’s put the “other” child away from them and in neglectful living conditions.

2.21 “- he had a large, pink ace, not much neck, small, watery blue eyes, and thick blond hair that lay smoothly on his thick, fat head.” Again, the body shaming of an actual child character. Yes, it is from Harry, another child character but reading this I’ve realized that Harry is a rather judgmental kid.

2.22 “The Dursley’s often spoke about Harry like this, as though he wasn’t there - or rather, as though he was something very nasty that couldn’t understand them, like a slug.” Another example of difference and ignorance. This instance could be seen as the “superior & perfect” Dursley’s talking down to Harry or rather that he’s too dumb to understand - much like how racists talk to or around people of color. Whether that be in the past or in the present day.

2.26 Harry receives what’s left of Dudley’s sundae (knickerbocker glory) because it “didn’t have enough ice cream” and Dudley was bought a new one.

Earlier in the day Harry was bought a cheap lemon popsicle since the vendor asked before he could be shooed away - Harry again, not being on equal ground and only being good enough for scraps, cheap things, and hand-me-downs even though the Dursley’s can afford to buy him nicer things.

2.27 THE SNAKE

For this approach - one would have to know about the historical symbolism of snakes. Snakes have been used as symbols of evil and paganism which is often connected with magic. The fact that Harry’s first big magic mishap is releasing a snake is not a coincidence, in my opinion.

2.29 “Go - cupboard - stay - no meals.” A punishment which indicates neglect (no meal as well as rather inhabitable living space) for something Harry cannot control; a parallel to the treatment of marginalized groups

3.32 “They also carried knobbly sticks, used for hitting each other while the teachers weren’t looking. This was supposed to be good training for later in life.” I am so glad that Jo really just decided to put a school whose entire premise (or interpreted premise) is just educating a bunch of future abusers…got it

4.48 A big change from the film - Hagrid actually wrote “Happy Birthday Harry” properly on the cake AND “I’d not say no ter summat stronger if yeh’ve got it, mind” I don’t know if this is supposed to perpetuate that because Hagrid is an outcast in wizard society (being a half giant and not fully educated) correlates with favoring alcohol. According to the Wiki, Hagrid is from west England; I would argue this is closer to the Scottish or Irish way of speaking since it is more colloquial and “less astute” compared to the English characters that have been established.

4.56 “I accept there’s something strange about you, probably nothing a good beating wouldn’t have cured.” By now, we all know the Dursley’s not only neglect but abuse Harry on a regular basis. Treating him as less than and are indifferent to him. Beating the “difference/oddness” out of children is a tactic that “old school” parents agree with and act upon mostly with their neurodivergent children. Some could argue that Harry could take the place of a neurodivergent child since being a wizard is something he can’t change and is born with. Much like neurodivergent and/or spectrum individuals.

4.59 “Meant ter turn him into a pig, but I suppose he was so much like a pig anyway there wasn’t much left ter do.” This is in reference to Dudley growing a pigs’ tail. Being a brat aside, JKR has established that Dudley is of bigger stature and pigs are stereotyped/known to be gluttonous. If not fatphobia, then Jo… your internalized misogyny and non-feminism is showing.

5.63 “Just the one. Gringotts. Run by goblins - yeah - so yeh’d be mad ter try an’ rob it, I’ll tell yeh that. Never mess with goblins, Harry.” Firstly… you’re gonna tell me there is only one wizarding bank at this point in time? How… why… what?

Secondly, we all know the Jewish stereotype of them being good with money and the conspiracy that they secretly control the world’s banks. Historically, goblins and goblin-like creatures have been used as negative caricatures for Jews

In English Lit: In the Elizabethan era, Shylock from The Merchant of Venice is described as a money-lender with a hooked nose and bright red wigs. In 19th century American Lit: characterized as overly ambitious, aggressively smart & threateningly successful. Many older caricature depictions of Jews, hyperbolize the “hooked” nose, financial power, etc (2). I obviously cannot speak to intention, just an interpretation.

5.65 “Why? Blimey, Harry, everyone’d be wanton’ magic solutions to their problems. Nah, we’re best left alone.” This is Hagrid’s response to Harry when Harry asks why they don’t just let muggles know about magic. I view this is a general lack of empathy on the wizarding world’s part; though understandable given that since the Fantastic Beasts franchise has established that witch hunts and witch trials exist in universe…I still think it’s kind of cruel to not help the greater population of humanity by keeping magic a secret considering there have been strong healing magic, and defense magic for eons.

5.66 Okay, so this supplies list doesn’t say ink & quill - arguably muggleborn students could use pens. Sure, the aesthetic is nice but it’s the 80’s (in universe)... it’s just not practical.

5.68 “A little man in a top hat was talking to the old bartender, who was quite bald and looked like a toothless walnut.” Not only does this establish that the story is written in third person - omniscient since the narrator knows about things that Harry himself does not see or know. But it also establishes what I pointed out earlier… Harry is kind of just a judgmental little shit.

5.80 “There’s not a single witch or wizard who went bad who wasn’t in Slytherin.” First of all, that paints Slytherin in a bad light to a 12 year old who doesn’t know any better and impressionable. Secondly, there’s other wizarding schools… you cannot expect people to actually believe that EVERY bad witch and wizard was a Slytherin. Thirdly, I know that first book characters do not know about the events of Prisoner of Azkaban where it reveals Peter Pettigrew is an evil Gryffindor. But they DO KNOW that Sirius is a presumed accessory to murder and that he’s a Gryffindor ( he does come from a family of Slytherins but his family is not him)

6.106 I feel like it’s statistically improbable that EVERY Weasley could be Gryffindor - given the way Percy is he’d be Ravenclaw or Slytherin and the twins would definitely be Slytherin; they’re very cunning and resourceful.

6.108 “My father told me all the Weasley’s have red hair, freckles, and more children than they can afford” The way that the Weasley’s are written could be indicative of Irish and/or Irish Catholic stereotypes (especially in the eyes of the English). Common Irish stereotypes are: red hair (check), they’re drunks (X), they’re violent (X), they’re extremely religious (X, at least in the case of the Weasley’s though one could argue they are a caricature of Irish Catholics). The Irish are known to have a lot of children (though the Weasley’s don’t have “Irish Twins” in their family) probably because of the Catholic belief that contraception should not be used. Because the Irish are “drunks and violent” they could be viewed as destitute as well. I see this as a slight xenophobic and/or religious prejudice.

6.110 “All right - I only came in here because people outside are behaving very childishly, racing up and down the corridors.” JKR has gone on record saying “she sees herself in Hermione” and borderline admitting that she is a self insert. It’s very telling that she is introduced as a “holier-than-thou,” somewhat snooty know-it-all. Given recent events.

7.118 “Or perhaps a Slytherin. You’ll make your real friends, those cunning folk use any means necessary to achieve their ends.” The only house in the sorting hat’s song that mentions friendship but also insults it by round-about calling them ruthless.

7.119 “Harry could see Ron’s twin brothers cat-calling.” I’m sorry, the twins were doing what? Lavender Brown (an 11/12 year old girl) just got sorted into Gryffindor and they did what now? They are 13 but we are not gonna sit here and be okay with the sexualization of 11 year old children… are we? I thought you were a feminist Jo! Headcanon Fred & George would never.

7.126 “Professor Quirrell, in his absurd urban, was talking to a teacher with greasy black hair, a hooked nose, and sallow skin.” * Question for myself: Was Quirrell not wearing a turban earlier at The Leaky Cauldron?” If not, he just let Ol’ Voldy take residence at the back of his head in the span of a month?*

8.136 “Snape didn’t dislike Harry - he hated him” How are you going to hate an 11/12 year old child? Sure, you were obsessed with his mom and hated his dad but what did that have to do with the child? If the child can pick up on this disdain then so can everybody else. (137) Snape KNOWS Harry was raised by muggles, so he obviously knows that Harry does not know the answers to his questions. I still do not know why people stan this man, he’s a dick to children and other staff KNOW ABOUT IT (Dumbledore, Hagrid, etc) Is he tenured? I feel like this would not fly in an actual school…

9.155 Don’t get me wrong, Hermione is right about Harry and Draco’s duel at midnight - she’s just being annoying about it. “Don’t you care about Gryffindor, do you only care about yourselves, I don’t want Slytherin to win the House Cup, and you’ll lose all the points I got from Professor McGonagall. For knowing about Switching Spells.” She’s not wrong, but she also didn’t have to make it about her.

10.172 Though a “nuisance” to their shenanigans… imma say it - Harry and Ron are kinda bullies towards Hermione

10.173 “Prefects - lead your houses back to the dormitories immediately.” Where the hell are the Slytherins supposed to go. The last place the troll was seen was the dungeons and that’s literally where the Slytherin dorms are. Side note - with how big the castle is and how many towers there are, they could’ve easily used a tower for the Slytherin dorms and common room. I guess Salazar wanted them to be close to the dungeon so they were close to the chamber but still. How is that not neglecting and endangering children?

11.186 “Ron and Hermione squeezed together to give Hagrid enough space to join them - “bin watchin’ from me hut.” etc. I’ve said this before, but the series is written in third person omniscient and not strictly Harry’s.

12.194 Another example of how Hogwarts should not be in charge of the care of children, no damn heat? The school is in Great Britain, where it gets very cold. Apparently they also don’t have AC for the most part for when it’s hot either. We are going to play a game called “What would get Hogwarts investigated?”

The obvious knowledge of the neglect & abuse a student is experiencing (that multiple staff members know about) teachers are mandated reporters in the US and the UK

Staff members bullying & borderline abusing students (again, something that other staff members including the headmaster are aware of)

Allowing students to be escorted to their dorms… in the dungeons… the last place a troll was seen (endangerment)

Rewarding rule breaking with more rule breaking/ rule bending

Not thoroughly vetting & background checking their staff

Keeping an object guarded by a 3 headed dog that will basically kill anyone trying to get the object or simply coming into the room. With the way the stairs work in Hogwarts a student could easily walk in there by mistake.

Everyone witnessed a child’s broom spaz out and didn’t call a timeout? To, I don’t know, save the child? Find the perpetrator? Something?

14.229 So, the wizarding world celebrates Easter & Christmas… so, do wizards celebrate Christian holidays in the traditional way? But also, why aren’t Jewish or Islamic holidays observed? Or any other for that matter? Technically the UK follows The Church of England but also aren’t a Christian country…

15.249 Students aren’t allowed in the forest because it’s dangerous BUT the school forces them into it, in the middle of the night for detention? Filch literally makes a joke about he’d come collect the kids - or what’s left of them at dawn.

15.250 While on the detention topic. Why do they split up in a forest filled with things that could kill them? Especially since the only person that knows what they’re doing or going is Hagrid… ENDANGERMENT

15.254 “Are there many of them in here?” asked Hermione” GIRL! She is so anti-prejudice and is gonna put on that infliction on the word “them?”

15.256 “The hooded figure raised its head and looked right at Harry” So… I’ll give it a pass since it was dark and they were hooded but if he could tell that it looked right at him he should be able to tell who it was.

15.257 “The forest is not safe at this time - especially for you. - This is the Potter boy. The quicker he leaves this forest, the better.” So, Firenze and the other centaurs know that it’s Voldemort but don’t say anything. “Remember, Firenze, we are sworn not to set ourselves against the heavens.” So, they say nothing because it’s mercury retrograde.

15.260 “Anyway, who says the centaurs are right? It sounds like fortune telling to me, and Professor McGonagall says that’s a very imprecise branch of magic.” But why? Because it’s not measured or doesn’t use worded spells? Divination seems to be accurate in universe - considering that the characters see a whole department of prophecies in the ministry of magic.

16.262 “In years to come, Harry would never quite remember how he had managed to get through his exams when he half expected Voldemort to come bursting through the door at any moment.” Wait… is the entire series a flashback?

16.282 Also as much as Ron is not that “academically inclined” as his brothers or Hermione - he’s really good at chess which is indicative of good leadership and intelligence

17.305 “I have a few last minute points to dish out.” Look as much as I think these points were earned - why couldn’t he have dealt them out in the 3 days when Harry was in a coma? The competition ended and this is such a dick move towards a bunch of CHILDREN

Hopefully this was easy to understand and sheds some new light; not only on the way you think of the books but the way you read altogether. The next analysis will hopefully be out soon.