Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Bloodline and species discrimination is rife in the wizarding world. Non-wizards are often overlooked or treated with cruelty and disdain, deemed inferior to those with magical capabilities. Many wizards believe that those who come from pure bloodlines—with no muggle-born parentage—are superior, and with the return of Voldemort, those with such views now have greater currency in the wizarding world. Rowling condemns these discriminatory views by often attributing them to villainous characters. Voldemort’s followers, like the Malfoys, espouse pure-blood supremacy; Draco—as part of Umbridge’s politically corrupt Inquisitorial Squad—maliciously takes points from Gryffindor because Hermione has muggle parents: “You’re a Mudblood, Granger, so ten off for that” (578). Draco is an empowered school bully demonstrating views learned from his parents. He is young enough to outgrow his views someday, but Umbridge has no redeeming qualities.

Empowered by the Ministry to evaluate and report on teachers, Umbridge does not hide her views of what she deems lesser species. She dismisses the half-giant Hagrid and the half-horse centaurs as “filthy half breeds” of only “near human intelligence” (694). She humiliates Hagrid during his Care of Magical Creatures lessons by implying that he doesn’t understand:

She finished writing her last note, then looked up at Hagrid and said, again very loudly and slowly, “Please continue teaching as usual.