Themes of Giftedness in Harry Potter

Two Different Worlds

The world of the Harry Potter series is divided into two different worlds: wizards and non-wizards (Muggles). Wizards have special powers; they can do magic. Many Muggles, like the Dursleys, dislike the wizards. They resent the wizards' ability to do magic and don't trust them. They may also, like Harry's Aunt Petunia consider wizards to be freaks. Wizards, on the other hand, either dislike the Muggles or, like Mr. Weasely, find them quaint. Wizards have hidden their world from Muggles because of friction between the two groups and because the wizards believe that the Muggles would want the wizards to do everything for them once they learned they how easily things could be done with magic.

Wizards, when in the Muggle world, usually try to hide who they really are, but they are not always successful. In other words, they are still clearly different. For example, in Harry Potter and Goblet of Fire, the wizards must dress like Muggles when they arrive for the Quidditch World Cup, but they don't all know how. One wizard wore a housedress since it was most like his wizard robes. He felt the dress was acceptable because he found it in a Muggle shop.

These two worlds closely resemble the "worlds" of the gifted and the non-gifted. The gifted are in many ways different from the non-gifted. They have abilities that the non-gifted don't have, and some non-gifted people resent the gifted, particularly the intellectually gifted. Like the wizards, the gifted will sometimes try to hide who they are in an attempt to fit in. Gifted children in school, for example, will "dumb down," purposely not doing as well as they could, but like the wizards, not all are successful at hiding who they are.

Prejudice and Acceptance

In Harry Potter's world, not all wizards agree on who belongs in the wizard world. Some wizards believe that Muggles have no place in the wizard world, regardless of how much innate magic ability they may have. These wizards believe that only the "pure blood" wizards belong, that is, those without any Muggle blood. Others believe that it is the ability that matters and that those with innate ability deserve to be trained so that they can reach their magical potential. Pure Muggles are probably the most resented for their ability. Hermione is a pure Muggle who is the smartest witch in her class. She is the first to learn spells and achieves the highest marks, sometimes earning over 100%. However, Hermione is not envied by her classmates, particularly the "pure bloods" like Draco Malfoy. Wizards like Malfoy have a deep dislike and contempt for Hermione.

Harry, on the other hand, is also a bright wizard. His marks may not be as high as Hermione's, but he does well. In his third year, he is able to master the Petronus Charm, a spell that is considered much too difficult for underage wizards. He is also so skilled at defense against the dark arts that he is able to teach other students. Why is he not resented as much as Hermione? Unlike Hermione Harry is good at sports: he can play Quidditch. His ability to play the game well and win gives him a status that Hermione will never achieve by her book smarts alone.

A similar situation exists with the gifted, especially in school settings. No one, not even the experts agree on the meaning of gifted. Who should be considered gifted? Someone who has a special talent, like a gifted pianist? Someone who has the talent and the motivation to achieve great things in life. Or someone with the potential to achieve? Which children are identified for gifted programs in school often depends on how giftedness is defined. Quite often those with innate ability are missed because they are not high achievers. Conversely, some with a great amount of potential are not chosen because they don't fit the definition, a definition which usually includes high motivation.

Gifted children from minorities have an even harder time being accepted as gifted and placed into gifted programs. Some people even seem to resent gifted children from minorities. They are like the bright Muggles at Hogwarts like Hermione. They are not always accepted by their classmates or worse by those responsible for identifying gifted children and providing them with an appropriate education. However, just like at Hogwarts, if a gifted student also excels at a sport, they are much more likely to be accepted. In other words, the intellectual ability is simply overlooked, while the athletic ability is admired.

Making Choices

Another link between Harry Potter and the gifted is the theme of choice. At one point, Dumbledore says to Harry, "It's not our abilities that make us who we are, Harry — it's our choices." Harry makes his first choice in the wizard world when he first arrives at Hogwarts and is waiting with the other students to go into the hall for the sorting ceremony. Draco Malfoy hopes to make friends with the famous Harry Potter by offering to help him stay away from "the wrong sort." He offers his hand to Harry, but Harry refuses to take it and tells Draco he can figure out the wrong sort for himself. It is clear that Draco thinks Ron is one of the wrong sort while Harry doesn't.

Harry is forced to make changes throughout the series and always chooses the right choice over the easy one. For example, in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire he chooses to save Cedric Diggory rather than grab the Triwizard Cup for himself. Harry makes these choices in spite of the hardships and persecution he has experienced throughout his life. His parents died leaving him in the care of his aunt and uncle who are emotionally abusive. Lord Voldemort, we learn, has also endured some abuse as a child, but he chose to use his special abilities for selfish and evil purposes.

The same is true of gifted children. It is not their abilities that make them who they are. It's their choices. It is their choices that determine their character, not their abilities. We should help our gifted children understand that distinction and we can do that by praising the ways they use their abilities and not simply the abilities themselves.

Quick Summary of The Harry Potter Story
Giftedness Reflected in the Characters