Abstract

Multispecies communities are fairly prevalent in JK Rowling's “Potterworld," where both the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts storylines are set. Similar to mythic stories from antiquity, Potterworld heavily features species ranging from wild beasts and pets to subhuman creatures like Dementors, often vital to both plot and character development. The roles of such species, their relations to wizards, and their purpose in important ecosystems within Potterworld, such as Hogwarts and Diagon Alley, have yet to be systematically and holistically analyzed. In this chapter, I provide a commentary on this theme, with a strong focus on three important issues that tend to arise in fantasy fiction: emotional bonds (whether positive or negative) of varying intensity and symmetry between humans and non-humans, the humanizing of non-human species through the act of anthropomorphizing these species, and the discussion of complex social and moral themes (with obvious parallels to our own nonwizarding" Muggle" world) through multispecies communities and interactions.
Despite the rich multispecies diversity in Potterworld, I argue that it is not always an accurate or inclusive portrayal of othering. For example, suggestions of non-heterosexuality are largely absent from the series, beyond a minor allusion to the stigma that Hagrid faces for being “outed" as a half-giant. To my knowledge, a deep and socially invested appraisal of multispecies communities, and the moral themes that their representation in the Potterworld seeks to illustrate, has been lacking thus far. Given the popularity of Harry Potter, and its place in young adult fantasy fiction and pop culture even …

Date

August 19, 2025

Authors

Mayank Kejriwal

Journal

Entangled and Empowered: Agency in Multispecies Communities

Pages

137

Publisher

Vernon Press