Comparing the Harry Potter Series to Jane Austen Novels
Because why not?
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling is a gothic novel. It deals with madness, female victims, whispers in the walls, and diaries. Two characters are trying to ‘read’ the events that happened 50 years ago and uncover the mystery behind the Chamber of Secrets. These two characters are, of course, Harry and Hermione. Harry does this by interacting with Tom Riddle’s diary, freaking out about his ability to understand and speak parseltongue, and chasing Snape to hell and back because it’s got to be Snape (it’s always got to be Snape, according to Harry).
Hermione does this by reading Hogwarts, A History and learning that she cannot always depend upon books. In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Hermione trusts books implicitly. This is where all her knowledge and power comes from. But, for the first time, a book is failing her. She cannot solve the mystery of the Chamber of Secrets with books alone.
Most of this is a summation of what Marcel Kosman and Hannah McGregor, from the incredible podcast Witch, Please talk about in Episode 3, ‘The Chamber of Spoilers.’ In their podcast, these magnificent reading mavens put the Harry Potter world to the test and provide insightful feminist readings. Witch, Please is honestly the thing getting me through Covid-19 lockdown, and I highly recommend you listen to it.
When I heard Marcel and Hannah explain how The Chamber of Secrets is a gothic novel, I immediately thought about how Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen is a gothic novel. Catherine Morland loves reading novels and her ability to read is put to the test, in a similar way that Hermione Granger undergoes a reading trial, when Catherine is whisked away to the mysterious Northanger Abbey.
And then I thought, why don’t I make loose comparisons between all of the Harry Potter books with all of Jane Austen’s novels? (I’m skipping Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone because a) I started comparing them on book two, and b) there aren’t enough Austen novels.)
This is not based on research or even that much textual evidence, but instead is supported by just my thoughts, based on what I’ve read and some stuff I know from taking a Jane Austen seminar in college.
Right, so The Prisoner of Azkaban is comparable to Sense and Sensibility. Again, we have two people trying to read a situation, but in very different ways. Harry is all sensibility, based on his hatred of Sirius Black who has allegedly betrayed his parents; Hermione is sense, reading texts and putting pieces together. Instead of a marriage plot, in which it is shown that having a bit of sense and a bit of sensibility is probably the best way to find and lock down a husband, The Prisoner of Azkaban is a quest for the truth behind who Sirius Black, the Azkaban prisoner, really is.
Next we have The Goblet of Fire, which is — you guessed it — just like Mansfield Park. Fanny Price has to endure ‘task’ after ‘task’ in the Triwizard tournament of putting up with all the morally corrupt people in her life. She is the hero for remaining pure of heart despite how many friends and family disappoint her. More appropriately, Mansfield Park deals with social insincerity. The Crawfords appear one way on the outside, but their appearance often conflicts with their interior motives. Sound familiar? Oh, wait — that’s exactly like Barty Crouch Jr., who pretends to be Mad Eye Moody — who he is not!
The Order of the Phoenix is similar to Persuasion. First of all, it is in the name — phoenix. Rebirth, or a second life, is a motif in Anne Elliot’s story. She is persuaded to say no to a bloke she fancies because he doesn’t have great means, but then he comes back into her life when she’s basically a spinster and he’s bagged a bit of a fortune. Spoiler alert, they end up together. Also, Voldemort manipulates Harry’s mind and tricks him into believing NONSENSE. Anne doesn’t necessarily need to take up occlumency lessons, but the way her aunt manipulates her decision-making process is a (very loose) muggle equivalent to Voldemort’s mind control.
Now, I’ve only read The Half-Blood Prince once in my life, the summer it was published, but from listening to Hannah and Marcel talk about it, there seems to be this theme of re-creation through education. Harry is being influenced by the marginalia in his potions textbook — he is turning into a talented potions master. Similarly, Emma, in the titular novel, tries to shape Harriet Smith into a lady, by telling her she deserves a better match than Mr. Robert Martin. There is a scent of Frankenstein in both these texts — legacy, hubris, and giving birth (or transmutation).
Finally, The Deathly Hallows, is, of course, thematically attuned to Pride and Prejudice. This, again, is in the name. The Death Eaters have prejudice against muggle-born witches. Voldemort’s pride blinds him from understanding the most essential magic — that of love. Harry is prejudiced against Snape, but, spoilers, Snape has been trying to protect Harry all along. Harry must also swallow his pride in order to sacrifice himself for the greater good. Instead of ending in an equitable marriage, however, the hero and foe ‘equalize’ one another — both dying (at least once).
And there you have it — Harry Potter books compared to the novels of Jane Austen. The first comparison, that of The Chamber of Secrets with Northanger Abbey is completely indebted to the Witch, Please podcast. Do give them a listen! They are wonderful medicine for the brain and spirits during this period of weird, a.k.a. Covid-19 lockdown.
