Dystopian, Fantasy, or Both?

[Izzy]

What do you guys think? I don't really think that it's much dystopian but there is a little pinch of it. Fantasy is definitely one way to describe it. So maybe a mixture? Give me your thoughts.

[Maja]

Um... Well, technically, it's hard to call the Harry Potter series dystopian. Firstly, a dystopian book is often set in the future where our society have become corrupt; mostly the result of a bad government. Secondly, Harry Potter is set in modern day where the Muggle world is very much the same as our normal world. I don't know if maybe the Wizarding world could be seen (in a political way) as a version of our future where society is heavily ruled by those with 'pure blood' and much money. But I still wouldn't say that the Harry Potter series in itself is dystopian. It's just fantastic fantasy to me.

[Izzy]

Yeah. I was thinking the same thing. The only thing that showed me a hint of dystopian was the whole Voldemort and the Dark Mark and the Death Eaters. That's the only thing.

[Alice]

It would only be dystopian if Voldemort successfully took over and set up his pure-blood rule and jailed or made servants of all the muggles/mudbloods. As it is the wizarding world and its government oppose him and despite the threat of war/takeover its fairly free society momentarily and still runs fairly smoothly.

[Izzy]

Alice wrote: "It would only be dystopian if Voldemort successfully took over and set up his pure-blood rule and jailed or made servants of all the muggles/mudbloods. As it is the wizarding world and its governm..."

Now I get it. Thanks!!

[Dramapuppy]

Yes, Harry Potter is fantasy.

But it's interesting to think about: The wizarding world is shed in a very positive light. You WANT to live there. I WANT to live there. Who wouldn't? MAGIC.

But...

You've got the House Elf slavery issue. You've got the abuse prison conditions in Azkaban. And the technology is lesser because while they have cool magic, they sacrificed technological advances. These all mirror problems in our real world.

So although the series is clearly fantasy, if Rowling had changed the tone, the plot would only need slight tweaking to become dystopian.

[Alice]

Actually that's a good point, Squibs(no magical persons) would be another subset considered lowly and with little opportunity to coexist well there.
To be dystopian I think there'd need be a more general sense of people being mistreated/controlled. There is still due process, democracy and room for change and discussion of new ideas including those fairer and more equitable to all magical beings.

[Dramapuppy]

Alice wrote: "Actually that's a good point, Squibs(no magical persons) would be another subset considered lowly and with little opportunity to coexist well there.
To be dystopian I think there'd need be a more ..."

Yes! I agree completely.

[Lynda (Suzie)]

In the later books, when the Ministry of Magic took more control, maligning Harry in the press and Umbridge teaching at Hogwarts as two examples. the society became more dystopian. Still, from our perspective we remained optimistic as long as their were good guys like Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix in charge. After the Ministry fell to Voldemort, things were dark indeed.

Indeed, mostly these books are fantasy, but dystopian elements added in later books drove the plot.