A Writer Like Rowling

mother and child

J.K. Rowling has faced increasing scrutiny for her personal views on gender in a society increasingly obsessed with inclusion. Her public comments on gender issues, which many interpret as exclusionary or dismissive has needlessly complicated the legacy of her work, leading some to reconsider the values underpinning the Harry Potter series.

While the series highlights traditionally feminine qualities as sources of strength, Rowling’s personal views have been accused of reinforcing biological essentialism, the idea that a person’s gender identity is tied exclusively to their biological sex. This tension creates a disconnect between the inclusive themes many readers find in the series and the real-world controversies surrounding its creator. 

In the opinion of this blogger, J.K. Rowling wrote a story about motherhood that emphasized the most important aspect of motherhood which can’t be faked, the part  which being a mother is all about. The part that is kryptonite to a narcissist. That the life of another is more important than their own. Critics often paint Rowling as out of touch or exclusionary, yet her story celebrates qualities that defy such accusations: empathy, compassion, and the ability to prioritize others over oneself. These values, central to the narrative, challenge the very narratives some use to critique her.

In a world increasingly divided by petty debates, Rowling’s depiction of love as an unyielding, universal force serves as a reminder of what truly matters: the connections we form, the sacrifices made, and the humanity we share. The story stands as a testament to love’s power, even as real-world controversies complicate its creator’s legacy. Whether intentional or not, the themes of Harry Potter itself offer a counterargument to the criticisms aimed at Rowling, demonstrating that the values within her work speak louder than any headline.

Perhaps the critique and outrage at Rowling may stem not from her fiction but the truth she put into it, a truth some find inconvenient. A truth lacking in their reality, devoid of the very essence which in Rowling’s tale gave rise to a Dark Lord. A magic many people are missing in their own lives.

Harry Potter

Of the many themes in the Harry Potter series is an exploration of love, motherhood, and the emotional forces that shape us. It’s a story about the clash between unconditional love and selfishness, between the nurturing power of motherhood and the void created by narcissism of another.

Rowling may not have set out to write an ode to motherhood, but the theme is unmistakable. In a world often driven by conditional love and self-interest, the story of Harry Potter reminds us that true strength lies in vulnerability, empathy, and connection. Strengths, characteristics, and necessities that are noticeably lacking in her critics. Rowling’s work and personal views encapsulate the magic of what it means to be woman and mother. Her views shouldn’t be taken as someone gatekeeping an aspiration but protecting something special. 

The story is not the typical battle between good and evil. It delves deeper, exploring the nature of evil itself, what makes or causes it. These forces are embodied within the two main characters, Harry and Voldemort. Their conflict stems from the internal-external forces that shaped and defined their lives. Timeless forces as real in our world as they are in Rowling’s wizarding one. Their conflict destined before either was conceived or a prophecy revealed. 

At its core, Harry Potter is a story about love, particularly unconditional, selfless love and its ability to confront even the darkest evil. Narcissism in simple terms is “love” or rather, expressions of love that come with conditions, expectations or strings attached. Such a thing is the opposite of love, it’s the lack of love, an inability to genuinely connect. The evil in the story is exactly that, an intense lacking.

A mother to be

Magic: An Emotion-Driven Force

Magic in the Harry Potter universe is not a simple mechanical or technical skill; it is deeply rooted in emotion and intent. The power of magic often depends on the depth of the feelings behind it.

• Love as Protection: Lily Potter’s sacrificial love creates a protective magic so enduring that Voldemort, the most powerful dark wizard, cannot overcome it. 

• Emotion as Power: Harry’s ability to produce a Patronus is directly linked to his capacity to summon pure, happy memories. On the flip side, the Unforgivable Curses require feelings of hatred or cruelty, highlighting the emotional foundations of magic.

This emotionality connects magic to what is often considered the “feminine” side: vulnerability, empathy, and emotion. Wizards and witches who succeed or become prodigies are those who channel their emotions constructively. Harry’s growth as a wizard mirrors his emotional maturity, as he learns to balance and control is emotions. 

The Feminine Power of Motherhood

The series can be seen as a tribute to the protective, nurturing, and selfless power of motherhood—a theme central to the story.

• Lily Potter’s Sacrifice: Lily’s love for Harry transcends traditional spellwork. Her selfless act of giving everything for her son is the ultimate magic, a force Voldemort cannot understand. It embodies the core qualities of motherhood: unconditional love, sacrifice, and protection. The real magic was in her actions itself in the face of overwhelming adversity. 

• Narcissa Malfoy’s Defiance: In The Deathly Hallows, Narcissa lies to Voldemort to save her son, Draco. This act of maternal love defies even the darkest forces surrounding her, echoing Lily’s sacrifice. An act of love.

• Voldemort’s Void: Voldemort’s inability to understand love stems from the absence of connection, especially a maternal connection. His mother’s manipulation and abandonment leave him emotionally stunted, unable to grasp the power of love. While he can comprehend love he himself cannot express it, act upon it.

Whether intentional or subconscious, Rowling weaves a narrative that celebrates traditionally feminine qualities—love, empathy, and emotional intelligence—as the true sources of strength. 

Love vs. Narcissism: The Story’s Core Conflict

The central conflict in Harry Potter is not just good versus evil; it’s the clash between love and narcissism or the lack of love (evil), as seen in the origins and lives of Harry and Voldemort.

• Harry: Born of Love
  Harry’s conception was rooted in genuine, unconditional love. Lily and James loved each other and so to their child which created a foundation that shaped Harry’s capacity to love, connect, and empathize. Even after enduring neglect from the Dursleys, Harry retains his ability to form real, meaningful relationships because love is the nature of his existence.

• Voldemort: Born without Love
  Voldemort, on the other hand, was conceived through manipulation. Merope Gaunt used a love potion to ensnare Tom Riddle Sr., creating a union devoid of genuine emotion or connection. When the potion wore off, Tom Sr. left because he had no true attachment to Merope or his son, no love. Her selfishness and lack of love left her incapable of raising her son. She abandoned him, cementing his alienation from love.

The philosophical difference of their being and in their origins directly impacts their life trajectories: Harry grows stronger through love, while Voldemort’s inability to experience and thus express it leads to his downfall.

A Mother's Love vs. Narcissism in Action

This conflict materializes throughout their lives:

• Harry’s Strength from Love
  Harry’s relationships—with Ron, Hermione, and others fuel his courage and resilience. His ability to trust, forgive, and sacrifice reflects the transformative power of love.

• Voldemort’s Weakness from Narcissism
  Voldemort’s loveless beginnings and inability to trust others isolate him. His fear of death and need for control drive him to destroy rather than create, making him incapable of forming genuine bonds.

Magic as Maternal Energy

Magic in the series can also be interpreted as maternal energy a force that is deeply personal, intuitive, and transformative. Like a mother’s love, it has the power to heal, protect, and nurture. Characters who wield magic successfully are those who understand and respect its emotional essence.

The story honors mothers in many forms: Lily, Molly Weasley, and even surrogate figures like McGonagall. Ultimately, Voldemort’s downfall is rooted in his rejection of the qualities embodied by motherhood—love, compassion, and connection for having never experienced those things first hand.

The Philosophical Truth of Love

At its heart, Harry Potter reveals an essential truth: Love, to be real, must be unconditional. This concept, often overlooked in discussions of the series, is what sets Harry and Voldemort apart. The philosophical truth of our world is that love is the Devine energy.

• Harry’s Triumph: Born out of love, Harry represents the power of selflessness and genuine connection.

• Voldemort’s Fall: Born out of manipulation and abandonment, Voldemort is the destructive nature of narcissism.

The story suggests that the nature of one’s conception and upbringing has a profound effect on their character. While magic amplifies these traits in the wizarding world, the same dynamics are at play in our own. There is a magic missing within people.