HARRY POTTER AND THE ROLE OF THE LAW: POLITICS, JUSTICE AND MORAL CHOICES

In this thesis, I will discuss the role of the law in the Harry Potter saga written by J.K. Rowling. In particular, I will take into account politics, justice, and moral choices. After a brief introduction to the wizarding world, I will talk about the Ministry of Magic (the magic government in the Harry Potter world) how it is structured and how it works, its bureaucracy and its representation compared to a democratic “Muggle” government. Then, I will analyse the role that the law plays in magical society, the crimes, the methods of punishment, and the relation between magic society and the law that creates social inequity. Finally, I will discuss the behaviour and the moral choices of four characters in power (Cornelius Fudge, Dolores Umbridge, Rufus Scrimgeour and Kingsley Shacklebolt) and their differences with the hero of the story, Harry Potter.