Harry Potter is one of the most popular franchises in the world, originally coming to life as a series of children’s novels written by author J.K. Rowling. For years, fans have fantasized about visiting the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the principal setting of the books and their multi-billion dollar grossing film adaptations.
However, one dark fan theory about the franchise proposes the idea that Hogwarts doesn’t really exist, at least not as a safe haven for young wizards. Instead, the fan theory reimagines and recontextualizes the story as an extended metaphor for mental health issues. As a result, the theory forces fans to grapple with the idea that Harry was never really a wizard and Hogwarts is a much darker place than they originally anticipated.
Dark Harry Potter Theory Claims Harry Was Never a Wizard
There is hardly any modern literature or film enthusiast who does not know about the story of Harry Potter written by J.K. Rowling. The tale follows a young boy’s adventures after he discovers his magical powers and is sent to study at a school meant for wizards. However, on Reddit, user @Mr_Boomstick proposed a fan theory that presents a different way to look at the world of Harry Potter.
The user hypothesized that the entire story of Harry Potter is about a boy with severe mental illness, suffering from delusions. The user presents compelling arguments and evidence to support this theory by using instances within the books. According to the user, the Dursleys are Harry’s real parents who are abusive or incompetent when dealing with a mentally ill child.
Following an incident where Harry hurts his brother Dudley, he is sent to a mental institution, where the rest of the story unfolds. The user argues that Harry’s delusions frame this incident as the event when Hagrid magically makes a tail grow on Dudley. As a result, the story of Harry Potter is a double fantasy, as in it is a fantasy for the readers but also a delusional fantasy crafted by a mentally ill boy.
The Disturbing Harry Potter Fan Theory Implies Hogwarts Never Existed
The theory further highlights how Hogwarts is actually a mental institution where Harry is forcefully being treated for his mental illness. However, it is presented as a safe haven for wizards because of Harry’s delusions. The moving stairs, talking paintings, and deadly monsters inside Hogwarts are representations of one’s mental prisons that accept crazy situations as normal.
The user also pointed out overt references to mental illness through characters such as Sirius Black, Bellatrix Lestrange, Luna Lovegood, and the Longbottom family who are implied to have connections to lunacy or depict unconventional behavior. Similarly, the Dementors, who are only visible to wizards, suck the life out of their victims, which can be seen as a metaphor for depression.
However, the user also argues that Harry and his nemesis are the same person given the several parallels between them throughout the story. Despite the theory’s being constructed on the hypothesis that the story is a fantasy created by a mentally ill boy, Harry, and Voldemort being the same person creates an uncanny plot hole from a reader’s perspective, making this theory less likely.
Nonetheless, the theory provides a compelling recontextualization of Hogwarts as an institution for mentally ill children. At its core, Harry Potter is a story of good vs evil, with a sense of escapist adventure that has shaped the childhood of millions. However, the theory is a great example of how well-crafted stories can be interpreted as more than just children’s fantasy.
The Harry Potter movies are streaming on Max and Peacock.
