I wouldn’t call myself an expert in the field of the Wizarding World, but I’m at least familiar with the basics – in contrast to my colleague Chris Dörre. In other words: I’ve read some of the Harry Potter books, seen all the films and am able to read a wiki. So I’m not exactly a fan, but at least I was curious if all the hype about Hogwarts Legacy was justified. So I went with our editorial account and jerked through the game world on the PC with a strongly fluctuating frame rate. Unfortunately, not much of the experience stuck in the end, but the title didn’t meet my taste enough for that. But I have an urgent need to talk about at least one element of the game: Why is the story actually staged as if the goblins and their leader Ranrok were the bad guys, even if that’s quite obviously not the case?
The Injustice of Hogwarts Legacy
Set in the 1890s, the story of Hogwarts Legacy (buy now €59.99 / €53.99 ) deals with the Goblin Rebellions, a series of (in Harry Potter lore) historical events pitting said goblins against the defied Ministry of Magic rules and bloodshed ensued. The central face of the rebellion is a goblin named Ranrok, a misanthrope who collaborates with dark mages to enslave the wizarding world. So, at first glance, a classic villain.
If you look at the social background of the time and the social status of the goblins within the Wizarding World, his crusade against the ruling order suddenly doesn’t seem so irrational anymore.
Hogwarts Legacy: The villain is right and we are the problem (1) Source: buffed
Leprechauns are victims of systemic discrimination in the world of Harry Potter. While they are a part of magical society, they are not considered equal by humans. Although many vital jobs are performed by goblins, including managing the Gringotts magic bank and creating much of the Wizarding World’s magical artifacts, there is a general distrust of their species.
The kobolds’ understanding of property seems to play a large part in this. So the little creatures believe that property cannot be transferred – not even by money. Thus, once the bearer of a kobold-crafted artifact dies, tradition has it that the item must be returned to the maker. Because the beings only lend their powerful works at their own discretion and also control the banking system, they are considered greedy in the eyes of humans. A view that is based on mutuality due to the different financial philosophies.
Hogwarts Legacy: The villain is right and we are the problem (3) Source: buffed
Additionally, goblins are not permitted to acquire or use wands, although they are capable of casting magic. The Harry Potter Wiki also mentions that attempts have been made to strip the species of all rights and keep them as slaves like the house elves.
So the accusation that humans fear the goblins and use their undivided power to oppress them is entirely justified.
Our schedule: Potions, Racial Studies, Defense Against the Dark Arts
The in-game rebellion isn’t the first time the goblins have resisted being treated like second-class citizens. According to the wiki, there were unsuccessful uprisings aimed at equal rights as early as the 17th and 18th centuries. Even in the late 1990s, in the Harry Potter era, the goblins still hadn’t achieved that goal. The only way to gain rights is through human DNA. For example, Professor Flitwick was allowed the use of a wand, an education and ultimately a chair at Hogwarts, despite having goblins among his ancestors – solely because he came from a human family. Strictly speaking, the Great Britain of the Wizarding World is an ethnic state.
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