About this episode

Professor Julian Wamble explores survey data on Harry Potter's character and the standards we hold him to.

Is Harry Potter a good person? A good friend? A victim? Extraordinary? We heard from over 600 listeners, and the results were more chaotic than you might expect. In this episode of Critical Magic Theory, Professor Julian Wamble digs into the survey data to explore what our answers to these four questions reveal not just about Harry, but about the standards we hold him to. From the Dursleys' cupboard to the horcrux hunt, we examine what Harry actually learned growing up and why so many of the behaviors we criticize in him trace directly back to Privet Drive. PRE-ORDER: Behind the Cloak: Race, Identity, and Harry Potter Barnes & Noble: Behind the Cloak: Race, Identity and Harry Potter Bookshop: Behind the Cloak: Race, Identity and Harry Potter Amazon: Behind the Cloak: Race, Identity and Harry Potter

More episodes of Critical Magic Theory: An Analytical Harry Potter Podcast

• THE HALFBLOOD SHOWDOWN · July 15, 2026 · 1h 17m
• Prof Reponds: Harry Potter & the Politics of Worthiness · July 8, 2026 · 1h 3m
• Harry Potter is sick with Heroism · July 1, 2026 · 1h 11m
• Prof Responds: Harry Potter & the Unreachable Standard · June 24, 2026 · 52 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Critical Magic Theory: An Analytical Harry Potter Podcast podcast page.