Discussion Class Five: Creature Prejudices

Discussion Class Five: Creature Prejudices

It is well documented in the Harry Potter books that some witches and wizards hold prejudices against certain magical creatures. Rita Skeeter exposes Hagrid for being half-giant, and Umbridge’s dislike of ‘half-breeds’ is made clear.

Are these prejudices justified in modern wizarding society?

Discuss this topic, remember, the more detailed and thought out your argument is, the more points you will earn. Try and look at both sides of the argument.

Available points: 90 + 10 for SPAG/QWC

Good Luck!

I defeintly think that there are prejudices in the wizarding (and muggle) words. And while in general, I don't agreee with them, like blood status, I do think some are justified. If the creature is really dangerous I think that they have a reason to be afraid of.

Going back to Rita Skeeter, I would like to say that she has absolutely no reason for having a prejudice against Hagrid or Lupin. Because they are humans and are obviously well - respected in Dumbledore's mind I think she should let it go. Granted, If I first heard someone was a werewolf, I would proabably be prejudice too, however, I think you should get to know someone before you make those kinds of decisions about there charector.

Its not right, just because someone is a werewolf or half-giant or even a giant people think that they are dangerous, though most giants are but some (like Grawp) are nice. Werewolves are only dangerous during the full moon but if they are rejected so much then they will becaome bad and attack people on purpose. These creatures have feelins but purebloods and other wizards and witches don't think they do because they are half breeds.

As Stephy said above, everyone has prejudices. It's a natural part of being human. In a simplest explanation, that's what a first impression is. Humans learn from experience, so generalizations are common. For example, if a person knows ten blondes and all ten of them lack common sense, they grow to expect all blondes to lack that trait. We also have a tendency to seek out people who are like us. It's natural to want to relate to the people we associate with us. However, when those three natural human traits combine with stubborness and/or anger, they grow into things much darker: racism and other "isms", discrimination, and segregation. That's when it becomes dangerous.

In the wizarding world, lack of knowlege and understanding combined with anger, grew from those natural traits to something far more cruel. While it can be understood why witches and wizards have a fear of certain creatures, that doesn't mean they should hate that creature. To say that all werewolves are as dangerous as, say, Frenrir Greyback is as ridiculous as the people who assume that all young black people are in a gang. On the same side, to say that all goblins are greeding and willing to cheat humans, is no different from believing that all homosexuals are pedophiles.

Despite these statements, I do not think it's wise to let go of all caution at the time of the full moon or to go wondering into a forest in which a herd of centaurs resides. It's one thing to be accepting of all races and sorts of people, but being reckless is an entirely different ballgame. You don't go walking through a neighborhood known for gang activity in the middle of the night, and a witch or wizard should not go climbing in a mountain range full of giants, just because they want to let go of pre-conceived notions.

To conclude, I think that there needs to be a middle range. The wizarding world, as a whole, should educate themselves on different creatures, races, etc. However, they should by no means throw all caution to the wind and walk through an underground werewolf habitat during the full moon to show that they are accepting of other beings. There's a difference between open-mindedness and sheer stupidity.

I think each creature should be treated as they behave individually. If a certain giant misbehaves that giant gets looked down on. Like humans, wizard or muggle, all creatures should be treated based on their actions.

In my point of view its like racism. They are only treated badly because of fear and difference.

Yeah, they should be treated by how they act, I totaly agree.

I think that you made a great point in saying there is prejudice. I for one, think that Umbridge and Skeeter don't have a reason for being predjedent. Hagrid is just tall for a human. Have you ever thought of that.

Hagrid and Lupin deserve respect even though they are 'different'. Well maybe they are, but that still doesn't give people they authority to boss them around and treat them like dirt. I hate how people do that to them.

Prejudices against magical creatures, mostly half-breeds is quite meaningless. The creatures in the magical family exist to make balance in the world. Not everyone of them are dangerous. And even if a creature is dangerous, there have to be away to make it tame. For example, Remus Lupin is a werewolf but when he take the potion of Prof. Snape, he become to have control over himself. The same thing could be done on other creatures as well.
Still, because of the humans attitude on the creatures made hate in their hearts. It's like Werewolves attack humans, to make them feel the same pain as they do rather them attacking for food. Giants hate humans as they humiliate giants by using their wands. For Goblins, in this case, both races have been rivaling their magical powers for centuries.
So, it will take many years to change the relation between humans and other creatures.

I think i some cases people can be prejudice, If a full moon is near then people have a write to be afraid of a werewolf, if a halfgaint is very fierce then yes its okay to be concerned about you'r and other people around you'se safety.
But if people are being completely outragous about a small problem like a very kind natured halfgiant then it shouldn't be allowed in modern day wizarding life.

The prejudice against the creatures are totally unjustified. One shouldn't make an opinion of other without knowing that person. One cannot help being half breed, or magical creature. He or she was either born like that or changed later on.
Let's talk about werewolves first. The first thing that would come to your mind would be that, " Oh my! werewolves are dangerous monsters." Thinking like that you are forgetting the fact the werewolf in human form could be nice too. Not everyone are evil. Fenrir Greyback is evil and delights in killing people. But there are werewolves like Remus Lupin who are brave, intelligent and caring too. He may lose his mind when he changes form but if he drinks Wolfsbane potion, he has the same mind as a human. One cannot hold the whole population of werewolves or creatures responsible for one person's action. Just think, if you get bitten and changed into a werewolf. Wouldn't you feel that people should give you a chance too, to make a place for yourself in the world.
Next giants. Ronald Weasley said that giants are vicious by nature and love killing each other. But not all of them are like that, few of the giants help Hagrid and Madame Maxine in their quest. It's true that they didn't come out and help Dumbledore. You can't blame them either. They had been driven out of their homes to live a secluded isolated life with other giants with whom they don't get along with. Judgment and laws had been passed over them. Look at Hagrid and Madame Maxine. Madame Maxine is headmistress of a school, doesn't that show her level of intelligence. Hagrid is the most caring and sensitive half giant. He cries when they leave baby Harry at doorstep, practically adopts Norbert and Buckbeak. Even though he likes to raise creatures which tend to be dangerous but he is caring and loving towards all.
Centaurs. Umbridge had a problem with them. They are very intelligent and proud creatures. Firenze taught different and new methods in Divination that Professor Trelawney had not taught. He was more good in teaching that subject being a creature than the witch. The only problems that centaurs have are that they are very proud beings and belief that their methods and secret should remain within them. That is the reason they beat up Firenze when he takes up the job and threaten Hagrid. But look at their other side, even then when they were so angered due to Firenze and Hagrid, they said they wouldn't harm any innocent.
Every person let that be a wizard, witch, muggle or any creature have a good and a bad side. Get to know a person with complete open mind and then pass judgement only about him and not the whole race.

Knowing nothing else doesn't make prejudiced any less horrible. Whether or not you're brought up to hate half-breeds, you should be able to realize that they have feelings.

Prejudice is wrong in both worlds, in the wizarding world you can not judge someone by their parents or what someone has said or see without clarification. And the same goes for the muggle world. Many people in both automatically assume thing about a person or a creature. Rita skeeter only used Hadgrid for her personal gain in her career, she delighted in humiliating other people, with what she called the "truth". She was spiteful for no reason. She delighted in it. Now umbridge was just a biddy, who thought she could control the world through her job and she some insane manic reason she began to till she meet a fate that was far from what she deserved.

Prejudice is never right, but most people are like this because of experience or it what they seen there parents do.

This class is now closed. Your points are below.

Gryffindor
KatieBellaTrix: 30
magicguy93: 36
hppamela: 60
veronicawatson: 30

Hufflepuff
Just_Ginny: 60
pickles: 30
PadfootProwls: 15

Ravenclaw
stephy: 30
jamierox11: 45
du_aiedail: 45
polly: 30

Slytherin
drkangelcat: 15
x_cookie-monster_x: 30
S.Master: 30