The Ideology of Pure-Blood Supremacy

• Type: Societal Doctrine, Belief System
• Key Proponents: Lord Voldemort, Death Eaters, the Gaunt family, the Malfoy family, the Black family (traditionally), the Lestrange family
• Core Principle: The belief that a witch's or wizard's ancestry determines their magical ability and social worth, with so-called “pure” magical lineage being superior to all others.

Pure-blood ideology posits a rigid social and magical hierarchy based on ancestry. This hierarchy places pure-blood wizards at the apex, followed by half-bloods, and then Muggle-borns, whom extremists often refer to with the derogatory slur “Mudblood.” Below them are Squibs, who are seen as a disgrace to magical families, and finally Muggles. A central tenet is the idea that intermarriage with Muggles or Muggle-borns “pollutes” or weakens a magical family line. This leads to intense social pressure on pure-blood families to marry within their own small circle, resulting in significant inbreeding and instability, as noted by Sirius Black in reference to his own family. Adherents believe that magic rightfully belongs only to those of established magical descent and that Muggle-borns are unworthy usurpers who have “stolen” magic from “real” wizards.

For centuries, this ideology has been a source of prejudice and discrimination within the wizarding world. It influenced hiring practices at the Ministry of Magic and social standing, with families like the Malfoy family using their wealth and pure-blood status to exert considerable influence. The ideology serves as a justification for violence and persecution. During both the First and Second Wizarding Wars, Death Eaters systematically targeted Muggle-borns, Muggles, and so-called “blood traitors” - pure-bloods like the Weasley family who did not share their prejudice. Under Lord Voldemort's control of the Ministry of Magic during the Second Wizarding War, pure-blood supremacy became official state policy. The Muggle-Born Registration Commission, headed by Dolores Umbridge, was established to persecute Muggle-borns by confiscating their wands and imprisoning them in Azkaban under the false pretense that they had stolen their magic.

The roots of pure-blood supremacy can be traced back at least to the founders of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Salazar Slytherin believed that magical education should be reserved for those of entirely magical ancestry and left the school after a conflict with the other three founders on this issue. He secretly constructed the Chamber of Secrets to house a Basilisk intended to purge the school of Muggle-born students. The ideology persisted through the centuries, deeply ingrained in families like the Black family, who would disown and blast the names of relatives from their family tree tapestry for marrying Muggles, Muggle-borns, or “blood traitors.” In the 1930s, an anonymously published book called the Pure-Blood Directory listed the “Sacred Twenty-Eight” families that were still considered truly pure-blood at the time. (Pottermore) The most powerful modern proponent of this ideology was Tom Marvolo Riddle, who, despite being a half-blood himself, adopted the title of Lord Voldemort and rallied followers under the banner of pure-blood supremacy. He used it to build his army of Death Eaters and launch the First and Second Wizarding Wars.

Pure-blood ideology is the central philosophical conflict of the Harry Potter series. The entire struggle between Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort represents a battle against this form of bigotry and its violent consequences. It defines the primary antagonists, including Draco Malfoy, Lucius Malfoy, and Bellatrix Lestrange, and their motivations for following Voldemort. The ideology directly affects the main characters. Hermione Granger, as a Muggle-born, is a frequent target of prejudice, from Malfoy's taunts to the lethal intentions of Death Eaters. The Weasley family is derided as “blood traitors” for their acceptance of all people, regardless of blood status. Harry Potter himself, a half-blood, becomes the ultimate symbol of opposition to Voldemort's regime, proving through his actions that courage, love, and choice are more powerful than any perceived purity of blood.

• J.K. Rowling has explicitly stated that the Death Eaters' ideology, particularly their obsession with blood purity, was directly inspired by Nazism. She described it as a “racist ideology” and noted that Voldemort's terminology of “pure-blood,” “half-blood,” and “Muggle-born” is a deliberate echo of the Nazis' methods of creating a hierarchical and discriminatory society. (J.K. Rowling interview)
• The term “Mudblood” is presented in the novels as a highly offensive, racist-style slur, with Ron Weasley reacting to its use against Hermione with visceral disgust and a desire to physically defend her honor.