Harry Potter and Its Great Influence On Fantasy and How It’s Perceived Today

Payton Lewis
Nov 6 · 5 min read

written by: Payton Lewis

The fantasy genre has been around for ages, but just like almost everything else, it has evolved. It can be hard to determine what work is to be credited for having the most impact in shaping modern-day fantasy and our interpretation of it. However, it is evident that one of the works with great influence is the Harry Potter series. When I was a young girl, I read Harry Potter for the first time and instantly fell in love. This opened me up to a whole new world (literally!) of the fantasy genre. After reading all of the Harry Potter books and moping because it was over, I decided to venture out and read Chronicles of Narnia. I knew that this series was older than Harry Potter and was a fantasy classic, so I was intrigued and ready to indulge in yet another great series. After reading that set, I moved onto things like Ender’s Game, The Lord of the Rings, Percy Jackson, etc. Upon reading these books, I realized that Harry Potter was a big turning point in the way fantasy was written and understood. Yet, I can see how it could be difficult to recognize the impact that Harry Potter had on fantasy for those who have never read the novels before.

J.K. Rowling created a brilliant series that appeals to a wide span of ages and backgrounds. For example, many adolescents and young adults who were introduced to Harry Potter shortly after its release found that they loved it. At the same time, older audiences would read Harry Potter and find that they really enjoyed it, as well. For me, reading Harry Potter at such a young age sparked my love for literature and even helped me further develop a sense of creativity and imagination. I feel that if I would have first read any other fantasy written prior to Harry Potter I would not have found as much of an interest in the genre. According to “Harry Potter’s World Wide Influence” by Diana Patterson,

“The battle between good and evil in these novels is portrayed vividly…thus no matter at what stage in life we are located, the lessons present in this series of children’s books can be essentially insightful and applicable to the Muggle world.” (Patterson, 48).

This helps to prove my point that Harry Potter serves as an exemplary work of fantasy, that intrigues audiences of all ages and backgrounds. J.K. Rowling found ways to include all types of audiences and relate her content to our everyday struggles and emotions.

Not only did Rowling create a work of fantasy that entertained almost all types of audiences and not just children, but she also managed to change the way fantasy was critiqued. Before Harry Potter, fantasy was not taken very seriously and was given the reputation of “childish” and “immature”. After the release, many people changed this opinion to an opinion more in favor of fantasy. They saw a side of fantasy in Harry Potter that they had never seen before and realized how much potential was in the genre. There was room in fantasy to discretely hint at underlying meanings through symbolism. For example, Harry Potter’s lightning scar on his forehead can be inferred to resemble the famous scar of Odysseus in Homer’s epic poem the Odyssey. Harry’s scar symbolizes his survival and further perseverance and connects Harry Potter to his parents who died to protect him. The scar is also a symbol of Harry’s emotional sensitivity because it hurts him whenever hatred is directed at him.

In “Cultural Politics in Harry Potter: Life, Death and the Politics of Fear”, Rubén Jarazo Álvarez and Pilar Alderete-Diez wrote:

The survey, conducted with a group of more than 1,000 college students, examined these connections and their impact on millennial politics. It indicated that Harry Potter fans are more receptive when it comes to diversity and are more politically tolerant than non-fans. It found that fans tend to be less authoritarian and are opposed to the use of physical force in general, and the same seems to be true in the collection of chapters that you are about to read. (Álvarez and Alderete-Diez, 1).

Álvarez and Alderete-Diez are writing about the study done showing the difference in morals and political beliefs between Harry Potter readers and non-Harry Potter readers. This analyzation further exemplifies yet another impact Harry Potter may have had on those who grew up in a time in which Harry Potter took the world by storm and introduced this new world of fantasy. Not only did Harry Potter affect our understanding of fantasy, but it also affected the way we looked at the real world around us. It helped shape the Millenials’ perspectives, morals, and thoughts in everyday life.

Due to the maturity, modernization, and depth of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter, fantasy was forever changed. Not only were fantasy works written and published after Harry Potter’s release affected, but the whole view of the fantasy genre has been changed. After being exposed to Harry Potter, I, along with many others, recognized the unlocked potential of fantasy and all the ways in which it could be made relevant to today’s society. Rowling expanded on the classic fantasies that came before Harry Potter and made something original. She included aspects of other genres, such as action and romance and comedy, while continuously focusing on the fantastical elements of the story. All in all, Harry Potter revolutionized fantasy and the way it is viewed by society.

Bibliography:

Jarazo Álvarez, Rubén, and Pilar Alderete-Diez. Cultural Politics in Harry Potter: Life, Death and the Politics of Fear. Routledge, 2020.

Patterson, Diana. “Harry Potter’s World Wide Influence”. Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2009.

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade