Whether it be lycanthropy representing the AIDS hysteria of the 1980s, blood status representing race relations, or the entire series being a quasi-Jesus parable, Harry Potter is rife with symbolism that holds a mirror up to our world. Of particular note is the parallels the series has to World War II Germany, bringing up notions of responsibility when it comes to the banality of evil. One major metaphor is Voldemort as Hitler, as their rises to power follow similar trajectories. Hitler was a popular speaker who was elected into office by appealing to the pathos of those who have been hit hardest by the economic depression in Germany. After being harshly punished by the Treaty of Versailles, Germans across the nation felt disenchantment and shame for their country, and Hitler promised a return to greatness. Similarly, Purebloods in the Harry Potter series felt similar pangs of bitterness in their community as blood status became less and less important through the years. Voldemort was a very popular and well-spoken wizard who appealed to the ethos of those Purebloods to bring blood status back, and to punish those who felt otherwise. Further, the two orchestrated unspeakable acts against the Other that was well supported by their governing bodies. Purebloods reigned supreme in the Ministry: if officials weren’t all out Death Eaters they were at least sympathizers. The same can be said for Germany and the Nazi Party. Jewish people were dehumanized in popular culture, noting their physical features as odd and not as worthy as the “Aryan” race. Purebloods dehumanized Muggleborns with the use of the term “Mudblood”, as well as exclusion of those with creature blood from schooling. Finally, the theme of responsibility emerges when considering Arendt’s Eichmann in Jerusalem. For Arendt, Nazi generals such as Adolf Eichmann that claim to have just been following orders had succumbed to the banality of evil. The harsh persecution of Jewish people had become so common that Nazis and sympathizers alike had no introspection on the ethical implications of their actions. For the Harry Potter series, our Eichmann is Lucius Malfoy, a politician who felt nostalgia for the old times and supported anything with that sentiment in mind. The responsible Germans who saw through the banality of evil to help the Jewish people escape death camps can be likened to Sirius Black, a Pureblood who seriously considered the Other and chose the Light Side.