Comparing Harry Potter to World War II

Introduction

It can be challenging to detect the difference between fiction and nonfiction for writers and readers. In general, fiction refers to plots, settings, and characters based on the authors imagination, whereas nonfiction refers to true accounts of real people and events. However, because these two genres frequently overlap, their distinction can be obscured (Hendersen and Clark, 353). Whether intentionally or by coincidence, authors borrow their plot lines and characters from real-life scenarios. This paper compares a real-life scenario, World War II (WWII), and a work of fiction, Harry Potter, by J.K. Rowling.

Comparison

Adolf Hitler began his climb to political power in Germany in June 1919 when he joined the German Workers Party and gained admirers as he rose through the ranks. In 1933, Hitler was elected as the German Chancellor, and he used his position to deceive the populace, launching a genocide against undesirables that resulted in the deaths of 11 million people. Lord Voldemort, the fictional character, resurfaced in June 1995, quickly regaining his adherents and gaining power via bloodshed and agony. Voldemort utilized fear to keep people in line once he gained control of the wizarding world, sending those he deemed undesirables to prison or even death. While these events took place in two separate periods, one of them is fictional. The parallels are striking: Hitler and Voldemort had an unreasonable hatred of a race/blood group. They made it their lifes mission to clear the world of these groups.

Whatever erroneous notions both of these leaders held, we must accept that they were outstanding leaders. Simply instilling terror in the minds of a large number of people (the Nazis in WWII and Death Eaters in Harry Potter) will not succeed in the long run (Sperger). At the very least, there ought to be some level of admiration, if not love. It establishes a bond, even if it is false love. The followers share their leaders viewpoints. In both the Third Reich and the Wizarding World, religious, political, and general ideals compel them to bond, believing in the pureblood agenda.

Voldemort was ruthless to those who followed his orders because he understood the power and necessity of devotion. The Death Eaters had a shared understanding that treason or disobedience would result in death. Adolf Hitler, like many others, recognized the power of being both liked and feared at the same time. As a result, circumstances arose when Nazis acted without Hitlers consent. After the fall of the Nazi government and Voldemort, many people stated that they acted simply out of fear instead of a sense of kinship, affection, or devotion (Sperger). They placed responsibility on others rather than themselves to avoid being executed or imprisoned for their crimes.

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…unlimited control. Instead of starting his career in the Ministry of Magic as a nobleman, Tom Riddle delved deeper into the Dark Arts as a young man, eventually giving up his human name and becoming Lord Voldemort. Like Lord Voldemort, he sought out adherents outside of the government, luring them in with promises of power, wealth, and the demolition of muggle-borns. Voldemort and his supporters took control of the Ministry of Magic during the Second Wizarding War and killed the minister. Voldemort created a new team of puppets, including Pius Thicknesse, the new Minister of Magic, who were all subject to the Imperius Curse (Rowling, 208). By being involved in his government when still a child, Hitler chose a more direct and personal approach. Voldemort grew in prominence outside the government until he and his minions could topple the Ministry of Magic and rebuild the government using puppets.

Conclusion

Overall, Hitler and Voldemort have a lot in common regarding their irrational hatred for undesirables, the processes involved in committing genocide, and how they took control of their respective nations. Voldemorts and Hitlers pure, well-known hatred for their enemies is strikingly similar: the hatred is unjust yet profound and all-encompassing. The Holocausts tragedies and horrors are comparable to the Second Wizarding Wars tragedies, and horrors are coincidences. Rowling has kept history alive by invoking such a great crime as the Holocaust in a successful book…