Re: How Harry Potter differs from other magical stories - ubiquitous magic

Sea Wasp wrote:
Terry Pratchett wrote:

Ye gods, I hate the word 'Muggles' and all it implies.

You're supposed to, I think. It's a beautiful word -- for its
purpose, which is to give you an idea of the way the Wizarding world
thinks. I'm quite sure Rowling doesn't think you should approve of
this prejudice on the part of the wizards.

And, of course, given the harrowing account of Harry's summers among
his adoptive parents - from which the wizarding world dares not rescue
him for fear of breaking their secrecy (and the Sorting Hat wanted to
put him in Slytherin... the greatest wizard of a generation comes
along, and they *want* him to turn evil, it seems...) - it's
understandable they might *reciprocate* the prejudice that they are
apparently experiencing.

Apparently, the world *does* know there are magical people among them,
despite all the secrecy.

It's meant to be a fantasy for children, not to be taken "seriously",
at least in some aspects; so J. K. Rowling makes fun of the old
British sterling currency by giving the magical community its own
internal currency with prime number ratios between denominations. It's
an alternate world that's anything but plausible in its details.

Actually, though, I think there _is_ an effect taking place where
children who have read these books are encouraged to feel superior to
their classmates who have not. After all, in a world in which, as we
all know, there is *no* magic, they are the ones closest to escaping
from Muggle-hood, are they not? So one *can* be legitimately troubled
by this aspect of the Harry Potter books.

John Savard

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