The “Care” of Magical Creatures? A Moral Critique of the Animal Lover Trope in Harry Potter

Abstract

Abstract In Harry Potter, Hagrid is written as the “animal lover” who appreciates all creatures. Analyzing Hagrid’s interactions with animals is a unique approach to theorizing animal ethics at Hogwarts. This article problematizes Hagrid’s characterization within the “animal lover” trope. Many of Hagrid’s actions are imperialist toward animals as collectible, exploitable, and only valuable insofar as they provide something for humans, which contradicts the definition of moral status. The potential for “animal lovers” to relate to Hagrid suggests a need to more closely examine this trope in other works of fiction to avoid perpetuating unethical standards of animal care.