Applying Marxist theory to “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”

 “If the economic base indeed determines the cultural superstructure then writers will not
have that much freedom in their creative efforts”: The world of Harry potter can mirror JK
Rowling’s world. At the time of writing the first Harry Potter book, Rowling was in her words “as
broke as you could possibly be without being homeless. We were living entirely off benefits.... ”
As a result of her experience JK Rowling set up a charitable trust which focuses on the alleviation
of deprivation in society. Rowling says “she becomes very angry when it comes to issues
concerning social deprivation and social exclusion. And I become most irritated and angry by
people who have really no idea how it feels to exist in poverty and how disadvantage casts a
sometimes irreparable blight over people’s lives.” This could be an explanation as to why
Rowling chose to put the Muggleborns in her novels as the oppressed because they are
representative of people who lived like she did struggling for opportunities in the capitalist
society. The Weasley family conform to this idea as a family who is very poor and struggle to get
by on their fathers wages, however Hermione Granger manages to rise above this. Hermione
Granger is Muggleborn but nevertheless is presented with a lot of opportunities that the
generation above her was not granted and thus succeeds in bettering herself.

 “Capitalism thrives on exploiting its labourers”: Focusing on Chapter 12 “Magic is might”. The
slogan denotes that the bourgeoisies, in this case ‘purebloods’ want the proletariats which are
the Muggleborns, to be intimidated by them. The statue in the atrium at the Ministry of Magic
shows ‘the rightful place of Muggles’ below that of the bourgeoisies. However it is ironic that
the Muggleborns are supporting the weight of the wizards which can suggest that the presence
of Muggleborns is crucial to the wizarding society, without them the wizarding world would fall.

 “...how capitalism alienates them from themselves as seeing them in terms of production....”:
Focusing on Chapter 13 “ The Muggle-born Registration commission”. Here Muggleborns are
alienated from the rest of the wizarding world. The wand becomes a status symbol representing
power. The term “Mudblood” is a highly offensive word in the wizarding world, in the novel
Muggleborns are labelled with this term. When Harry breaks into Delores Umbridge’s office in
the ministry of magic he is shocked to see a pamphlet with the words “Mudbloods and the
dangers they pose to a peaceful pure-blood society”. This shows that the bourgeoisies do not
want to integrate these two opposing classes. The anti-muggle ‘propaganda’ can be said to be
indoctrinating the minds of other witches and wizards. Therefore each witch or wizard is merely
a link in a long chain helping those who have power gain more control over society through the
use of intimidation and suspicion.
 “Wrong says Marxism, minds aren’t free at all they only think they are.”: Harry, Ron and
Hermione’s quest to bring down Voldemort displays the idea that choice is an illusion, “...It’s got
to be me...” Harry doesn’t choose to save the wizarding world from Voldemort, Harry is forced
to save the wizarding world from Voldemort in order to avenge his parents and the other
countless witches and wizards who have been affected by Voldemort and his “racist” views
about society. Before Harry’s birth his future has been paved for him due to Voldemort acting
on a prophecy between Harry and himself. Harry believes that they are free from Voldemort’s
influence because Harry, Ron and Hermione are going against the rules set down for the
wizarding population by Voldemort and his death eaters however they are not really free.
Harry’s destiny has been written from him and so choice is ultimately an illusion.