Fantasy books are part of many children’s memories. As kids grow up, their liking for fantasy novels continues to grow. The fascination begins with books such as The Three Little Pigs, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Alice in Wonderland, and The Wizard of Oz. Then it grows with series such as The Chronicles of Narnia and one of the biggest franchises of all time, Harry Potter. Ever since JK Rowling started writing the books, they have been controversial. People wondered if the books should be banned or not. People against the series say that public schools and libraries should completely ban the books. Some parents and public school boards have opposed the series because of claims that the books promote witchcraft and have bad role models. Others say that they shouldn’t be banned. This debate has been ongoing for years all over the world.
People say that the Harry Potter books should be allowed in schools and libraries, because they represent important life lessons. The books promote standing up against negativity, bravery, and friendship. Also, the book provides the hero’s journey through the whole series, which promotes imagination and creativity among young readers. Additionally, they foster a lifelong interest in literacy and creative writing.
Yet people oppose the books for many reasons. Some have different opinions about the book because their religious beliefs conflict with the topics in the series. Others question if the main character, Harry Potter, is a suitable hero for their kids to admire and look up to. They argue that Harry isn’t a hero because of the number of rules he broke and how he does mischievous things. Additionally, some parents and schools feel the content is violent and dark.
According to the article “Harry Potter Banned?” written by Shmuel Ross, “Some believe that you can see that heroes aren’t perfect. Harry and his friends may do something wrong, but they are positive role models on the whole, working to stop the fleas for all that’s good and noble.” This makes a lot of sense because you are more aware of Harry’s actions when you read the book. Harry and his two best friends, Ron and Hermione, were always up to no good, but for a good reason. Although they did sneak out to the corridors and violated rules that could lead to expulsion, they saved the wizarding world from danger. At the end of the series, the main characters are known for their bravery because their actions led to the whole world’s safety. This proves that not all heroes are perfect and do not do the right things all the time, but at the end of the day, they are human beings with good intentions.
Harry had always put others before himself. For example, in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry and his friends break several rules, such as opening a secret chamber with a monster inside. However, he did this for the greater good. He was trying to stop the dark wizard, Lord Voldemort, from coming back to life. Also, he was trying to save Ron’s sister, who was presumed dead. Finally, he wanted to save the muggle-born wizards like his friend, Hermione, from becoming petrified. Instead of being expelled, the school rewarded Harry and Ron for protecting the place from grave danger. They saved the school and their friends. The article states, “A bit of rule-bending is necessary to get a story outside of the ordinary, they say, but children can understand that making a good story is different from behavior that’s good in general.” At the end of the first book, readers realize that The Boy Who Lived was not just a mischievous, insecure, and really quiet person. Instead, we see him as a rebel, curious, ambitious, brave, and daring and got in trouble along the way at times but for a good reason. At the end of the franchise, Harry and his friends save the wizarding world from a prophecy that might tear Harry’s world apart and put the world in grave danger. In my opinion, a true hero is someone who has the right intentions to save the day.
However, some people and schools suggest that reading the Harry Potter series must be decided by parents and families instead of school districts and education boards. This debate is ongoing due to different opinions on the books.
Harry Potter Banned? decided, “Each family ought to be able to decide this for itself, rather than having the decision taken out of their hands by others.” Another article, “The Harry Potter Controversy,” agrees that parents should decide. They say, “Whether or not you share the view that it is wrong to censor the Harry Potter books, they have value by giving parents and teachers the opportunity offered by the series to increase their children’s interest in reading and writing and use the books to promote family discussions about issues that might otherwise not be discussed.” The Supreme Court ruled that it’s unconstitutional to ban books in schools. In other words, school boards and teachers don’t have the right to ban the Harry Potter books. However, they can decide what books their students can read.
Finally, it gives children an opportunity to be creative and discover a passion for writing.
Harry Potter Banned? has also stated, “Critics are right in thinking that fantasy writing is powerful and needs to be taken seriously.” The Harry Potter Controversy states, “one side of the Harry Potter controversy are those who say that J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books are wonderful fantasy novels with powerful messages for kids and the ability to make even reluctant readers eager readers.”
JK Rowling once said, “I do believe that something very magical happens when you read a good book.” At the age of ten, classmates of mine started reading the books and watching the movies. After reading the series, they were determined to read more fantasy novels as interest. Several others started writing fantasy stories, a hobby many teens enjoy doing today. It opens up a new world for them.
The Harry Potter books shouldn’t be banned because they represent important life lessons and promote creativity among young children. They facilitated imagination and creativity by opening up an entirely new world of wizards and witches to children. These books promote an interest in fantasy and increase an interest in similar books leading to a passion for creative writing. Schools and families continue to debate banning the Harry Potter books. Will they be banned or not banned in schools? Considering arguments from both sides, banning this book series seems inappropriate. As this argument proves, the Harry Potter books shouldn’t be banned.
Works Cited:
Infoplease. “Harry Potter Banned?” InfoPlease, 26 June 2020, www.infoplease.com/culture-entertainment/journalism-literature/harry-potter-banned#::text=criticsarerightinthinking,isamoralone..
Kennedy, Elizabeth. “What’s So Controversial About the Harry Potter Books?” ThoughtCo, Elizabeth Kennedy, 7 Mar. 2019, www.thoughtco.com/harry-potter-book-ban-controversy-626313.
Peters, Patricia. “Harry Potter and 20 Years of Controversy.” Harry Potter and 20 Years of Controversy, Patricia Peters, 28 Aug. 2017, www.oif.ala.org/oif/harry-potter-20-years-controversy.