Socialism does not exclude individual accomplishment. I really feel a lot of people confuse socialism and communism. There's a reason they have different names.

It's not even communism in the books. It's corruption and totalitarianism. Ends up with a head honcho pulling all the shots and off with your head if you disagree. Dictators aren't communism. I'd say Voldemort's a perfect tyrant anyway.

I've read the whole series twice, once when I was younger and once a couple years ago, both times I had not picked up on socialism. However I'm sure that connection could be made. I think op was just extremely surprised at the connection, as it really isn't popular. However I do agree op could have taken his own twist on the assignment that's usually encouraged!

You must be a joy at parties.

The Harry potter books are a big part of this generation. I have read the books many times and I have never picked up on anti socialism. And do tell the "gaping plot points?" You don't have to like Harry potter, but you don't have to be an a** about it.

Are your parents brother and sister, 18?

I gotta say... I thumbed you down SOLELY because you dissed Harry Potter! Those books are, like, my life and childhood all summed up (and not just mine, I am far from the only one) lolz

I must have read a different series about magic and stuff.

Same here, 61. In fact it was The Sorcerer's Stone that got me into writing to begin with. 18 must be a Twitard...

All the hate on a good point because someone didn't share your view of a specific book series. That's sad and is EXACTLY why assignments like this need to be handed out. Otherwise you get people who make decisions on voting and social reforms who form opinions based on "we'll I like it so it must be right."

Next assignment class: Write a ten page essay on edward cullens manlyness

#76. Philosopher's*

86- in the U.S. (and other countries?) it's sorcerer's stone. In the U.K. (other countries?) it was published as philosopher's stone.

#18- "Harry Potter is hardly literature and JK Rowling can't get past gaping plot holes." (I'm summarizing, that may not be exactly correct).... Really? Let's see YOU write something better. xD

Hehehehehehe You totally just made me giggle. XD

I dont think he was reading too far into it. If you think about it for half a second, you can see a lot of anti-socialism ideas and beliefs in Harry Potter. Although I am one of those crazy people who believes that books, especially ones as good as Harry Potter, should be enjoyed rather than analyzed =)

Where are the anti socialist ideals?

Are you also the kind of person that doesn't watch the news and pretends the world is made of rainbows and unicorns? Why are you so afraid of a book? The worst it can do is widen your views about the world and your existence. But maybe that's what you and your mother are afraid of. That the book shakes your naive observance of reality. Not to mention what an horrible attitude towards life that is. You can't always have what you want. Sometimes you'll do stuff you don't want to and you'll have to be prepared for it.

so if something goes against what you believe in its atrocious? ....ok

I'd say the second half of the series, with Umbridge (the government representative) overruling academic freedom and imposing a government mandated set of beliefs upon the curriculum, followed by the rise of a totalitarian leader (Voldemort) replacing teachers with those loyal to him and teaching his beliefs could be viewed as an allegory about socialism, though I'd say it's more a rebuke of authoritarian government in general.

Guys. Seriously. That is NOT socialism. The current French president is a socialist. I see no more corruption there than in, say, Bush's America, let alone an authoritarian regime.

Everything I mentioned happened in France seventy years ago. Once the system is in place people simply continue under it, many of them not caring about the extent to which the government controls their education, media intake and lives in general and even more simply not knowing that there is a different way.

maybe that was the point of the assignment? To force the students to think outside the box and really research both socialism and the books. They would learn something new about politics AND skills in analysing books. You seem to be assuming this was the teachers opinion - maybe they were merely trying to stretch their students minds and open them up to creative thinking. And OP being a pain in the backside by 'expressing disbelief' may well have been disruptive if the teacher was trying to explain the assignment and didn't need the subject opening up for debate - thats what the essay was for.

P