Components of Fantasy and Nightmare in the Harry Potter Series

Abstract

Harry Potter is every child’s must-read when in the young adult stage. Its popularity is passed down from one generation to the next. J.K. Rowling is said to have agreed that fantasy is not her genre of writing. Readers tend to find that Harry Potter failed to live up to the expectations of the fantasy genre. Rowling provides an account of how fantasy highlights everyday experience and an individual’s standing in society. This paper examines the elements of fantasy in the Harry Potter series and how the genre is blended within the books and widely accepted by audiences across cultures. Rowling draws parallels between the Muggle and wizarding worlds and discusses capitalist society. Rowling uses bildungsroman and the school’s story to make her books adore the element of fantasy. This restricts the scope of discussion about society, and the focus is clearly on Harry Potter as a character. Rowling wrote this book for herself; the author herself agreed. Thus, the target audience wouldn’t be children alone. Rowling keeps focusing on the plot, which shows how the series stands out in children’s literature.