Did anyone else think that Harry Potter 7 is a 1984 rip-off?

Question

I think it is. At least the part about the Ministy of Magic. I mean "Magic is Might?" Thats obviously taken from "Ignorence is Strength, War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery." And that eye? I can only see Big Brother and his telescreens. And the ruthless inquisition- Miniluv and Room 101? I think it's just a rip-off. in that part. What do you think? And isn't 1984 extremly better then Harry Potter?

No, I know that all books borrow from other books, and I understand that JK Rowling may have used themes similar to 1984 as she hates totalitarinism, but I think there were a number of distinctive ideas taken from 1984. There are other dystopian totalitarianst works she could have taken ideas from to dilute the 1984 connections, such as The Iron Heel or Brave New World.
And for all you who think Harry is the greatest thing on Earth- I will admit that I was once among your ranks, but I'm telling you, they aren't that great once you start reading the classics.
I apologize to those who find this question uncalled for.

Oh, and for all of you who think I "abviously" didn't understand 1984, I think you are missing the connections. There are these kind of connections in most books. For example, the late, great, Kurt Vonnegut once said something to the effect that his Player Piano was a rip off of Brave New World, which he said was a rip off of We. Harry Potter simply took ideas from 1984, and those who can't see it need to redo their homework. They are both totalitarianist goverments, they both use espinoge and torture on the members who work for them- in their ministies. Can't you see it now? Perhaps rip off was a wrong phrase, I should have used "borrowed excessivly without diluting from other similar books."

And whatever you do, don't think I'm a literary moron. I'm a huge bookworm who loves to dig through books to find connections, themes, motiffs, sybolism and foreshadowing.

I'm not a lazy freak. I thought this as I read it. I simply like to compare and anylize literature, which I do as I read it.

Answer 1

This question amuses me, but the answers it has received are just too much.

JK Rowling did (and I agree, rather obviously) borrow from 1984. I don't have a huge problem with this, as it somewhat educated the general populace with watered-down ideas of dystopia, but the response this "general populace" has to this revelation is quite amusing.

1984 is an incredible classic of literature that has concepts that are just as relevant, and will continue to be as relevant, as the day it was written.

Harry Potter is just good, honest fun.

I don't see the comparison.

I am not a Harry Potter "hater", but I resent the irrational dislike of 1984 that is being displayed here.

Haha.. And the arguement that 1984 did not reflect the real world at that time and Harry Potter does? I'm sorry. Haha that's just too funny =D

Answer 2

Sirius Black is a Animagus and he turns into a dog not a wolf. Lupin is a werewolf and the term werewolf is more or less universal. Harry Potter was published long before Twilight, by the way. Twilight was published in 2005 and Harry Potter was published before 1999. J.K Rowling doesn't need to steal anything from anyone. As you can tell, I am a hardcore Harry Potter fan. I have read the series over 7 times. Yes I counted! I'm also a Twilight fan. So I've read both series often enough to know there is nothing copied from either. I really don't mean to be rude, and I am sorry if I seem a little harsh. But this is what I think and I am sticking to it. The name "Black" is universal too by the way.

Answer 3

I HAVE READ NEITHER BOOK. Nor have i read ANY Harry Potter book. However i am in to science fiction i just don't have the ambition to read seven books of 500-1000 pages. 1984 sounds interesting enough for me to read while Potter might hold my attention for half of a book. I am NOT a Potter hater i just find it hard to be that much into fictional things. The events in Harry Potter are all made up, There's no reason to kill Bobby because he likes one book over another. This is America we have that choice.

Answer 4

Are you serious? This is the very last book of the Harry Potter seriess, the ending of Harry's mystery of himself, thick but is filled with answers you may ask, and you think it's a rip-off? Well I disagree, but it could be cheaper. And 1984 and Harry Potter aren't really that similar. there's nothing wrong with to books on the same topic.

Answer 5

I think you're seeing similar themes between the two works. The political situation that JKR writes about in the HP series has a number of parallels with our political situation today, just as 1984 has. Both Orwell and JKR are disgusted and disheartened by misuse of political power and want to mediate on the reasons and consequences of these acts. That they are both angered by the same attitudes is no surprise; totalitarian government and santioned torture are terrifying things that most rational people are repulsed by.

As for better or worse than... I think that's a matter of personal taste. It's possible to enjoy and respect both works but for different reasons.

Answer 6

No. Do you know how many books/movies have used that theme? I can name 10 off the top of my head. So it's not taken from anywhere. It's just a popular theme.
And no, 1984 was not as good as Harry Potter. Not by a long shot. It wasn't a bad book, but definitely not as good as Harry Potter.

Answer 7

No I don't think it's a rip-off of "1984". She may have used similar ideas and images, that's all, in her quest to describe a totalitarian nightmare.

Answer 8

1984 is the worst book ever.
Plus. You are a nerd.
A book nerd.
You read horrible books, like 1984
1984 was so bad, it had no similarity to the real year 1984.
That shows how dumb That author was.
Look at Harry Potter, it bears resemblance to the years 1990-1997 in every way.

Answer 9

dude, seriously, harry potter is amazing..that series might be a lot of things, but a rip off it is not....JK Rowling is an amazing writer and i cant believe you could even consider the thought of any of the harry potter books to be a rip off....oddly enough, you seem to be the only one who thinks this about harry potter.

Answer 10

A few small things in a 7 book three thousand page opus seem familiar to you from some other work of fiction, and you think it's a rip-off of that work? Geesh.