11th
Rowling’s Politics
“One of ”Goblet”’s biggest themes is bigotry. It’s always been in your books, with the Hitlerlike Lord Voldemort and his followers prejudiced against Muggles (nonmagical people). In book 4, Hermione tries to liberate the school’s worker elves, who’ve been indentured servants so long they lack desire for anything else. Why did you want to explore these themes?
Because bigotry is probably the thing I detest most. All forms of intolerance, the whole idea of ”that which is different from me is necessary evil.” I really like to explore the idea that difference is equal and good. But there’s another idea that I like to explore, too. Oppressed groups are not, generally speaking, people who stand firmly together — no, sadly, they kind of subdivide among themselves and fight like hell. That’s human nature, so that’s what you see here. This world of wizards and witches, they’re already ostracized, and then within themselves, they’ve formed a loathsome pecking order.”
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0„85523,00.html
Comment: From my perspective (and I think from an older, Inklingnesque one), bigotry is difficult to define in the abstract, as well as necessary to have (in some degree) for survival. A simple awareness of (and possible mistrust based upon) differences is often the real basis for building creative relationships. Take Ron and Hermione, for instance - the “bigotry” between them is necessary to the tension, which is necessary for a good resolution. An abstract “equality” could hardly provide the same result. People relate the same way plot evolves out of drama - the tension is absolutely part of it.
