Warning: This post may contain spoilers about the Harry Potter series, if you have not yet seen it.
In the series Harry Potter, there are many instances of injustice, power dynamics at play, and identity. As a baby, Harry Potter’s parents were killed and he goes to live with his relatives. These relatives force him to live in a cupboard under the stairs, where he is essentially a subaltern. Harry has no ability to speak up for himself and is constantly treated like he doesn’t belong and blamed for issues he hasn’t created. Harry has no access to power at this point in his life, although being one of the most powerful wizards alive, without his realization. Harry is essentially treated as a servant to his family. When Harry goes to Hogwarts school for witchcraft and wizardry in his teenage years, his life entirely changes. At this point in his life, he has been raised entirely by muggles (people who aren’t wizards), and encounters an entirely new culture of wizards and witches, at his new school. Harry doesn’t have much of a difficult time adjusting to this new school, as it is a much better life for him than he previously has. However, one of his friends, Hermione, is constantly belittled for her identity, being called the slur of mudblood (someone who has a muggle parent), by the other students. This is an example in the text, where Hermione is being cast out as a, “Other”. Mudbloods are assumed to be less powerful wizards and witches, which in later books becomes quite a “Single Story” rhetoric to Hermione’s identity. Hermione is quite focused on her education and is able to become quite well-versed in many spells, charms, and potions. This is a contradiction to the “Single Story” narrative that is portrayed of her identity. Their friend Ron is also casted out as an “Other” many times in the books for his low level of skill in magic and for his fathers profession, as his father is interested in learning about muggles. These are some examples of Ron being discriminated based on his identity. Despite these things, Ron and Hermione are essential to Harry becoming the powerful wizard he is and saving the wizard world in the final book.