It is arguable that Harry Potter's experiences of Hogwarts and the magical world can be interpreted as the result of mental illness. Some have proposed the theory that Harry is schizophrenic, and it is possible to view the characters and events of the novels as manifestations of Harry's own internal struggles. It is also possible that Harry has invented this world inside his mind in order to escape his situation as a victim of abuse and neglect on the part of his aunt and uncle. As the hero of the story, he is given power, whereas in the real world with Vernon and Petunia he has none. In his new, magical world, good triumphs over evil, which is comforting to a person suffering at the hands of others.
Many of the patterns and themes in the novels can be interpreted from this point of view. For example, Harry is an orphan, living in a home where he is not loved and has no real parental figures. Many of his eventual parental figures, such as Sirius, Lupin, and Dumbledore, eventually die, leaving him again alone to fend for himself. This might represent Harry's fear that he will always be alone. Voldemort, who shares so much with Harry (both are orphaned, both are half-bloods, both possess unique power), could represent Harry's fears about who he may become if his life continues without love. In order to counter these fears and foster his hopes, his mind generates several representations of deep and lasting love through friendships, romance, and family. His mother's love continues to protect him after death, his friends stick by him through all, and he is able to fall in love himself, proving he is not at all like the empty, cruel Voldemort that acts as his foil.
However, this interpretation is likely far off base, especially if one takes into account any of J.K. Rowling's own words on the subject, and the fact that there are several spinoffs of this world that do not involve Harry. A more accurate and meaningful approach would be to view the series, and much of fantasy literature, as an escape and even a poultice for the mental anguish of a reader. Fantasy worlds allow readers to step away from a reality in which they struggle and enter into an enchanting, and often comforting, world. It also allows readers the opportunity to wrestle with deep questions in a safe environment that does not directly affect their own lives. For example, a reader mourning the death of a loved one may feel a certain kinship with Harry when his own loved ones die, and take away lessons on how to deal with death. A lonely reader may find a substitute for friendship in Ron and Hermione and hope that they may eventually find their own true friends. Readers have the opportunity to approach difficult emotions and frightening experiences through the eyes of a fictional character while they are not yet ready to confront them in reality. Wether this is helpful is debatable. For some, fantasy literature may be a bridge to dealing with one's reality. For others, it may be a form of escapism that they never give up.
This series of questions contains a number of topics that are all interconnected, and an understanding of the subconscious is fundamental to a psychoanalytic reading of the Harry Potter novels. The subconscious is the part of the mind that a person is not fully aware of but somehow still has the ability to impact that person's decisions and behaviors. If someone has a subconscious fear of death, that person might avoid doing anything at all that could lead to his or her death, without fully understanding why this avoidance is taking place.
Psychoanalysis is the therapy developed by Sigmund Freud; a psychoanalytic reading applies Freud's therapeutic ideas to the understanding of a literary work. Some Freudian scholars say that fantasy literature is a genre in which a writer can explore unacknowledged fears and unspoken desires as well as other products of the subconscious. The Mirror of Erised at Hogwarts—"desire" spelled backward—is a great example of this kind of exploration. This object shows the person standing in front of the mirror his or her deepest yearning, a yearning of which the person is not likely aware. Somehow, the Mirror of Erised has access to the person's subconscious and is able to reveal a part of the subconscious that was previously unknown.
The question of whether Harry Potter is schizophrenic or not depends whether or not the reader is willing to suspend his or her disbelief in order to "go along" with the fantasy elements of the series. Reading the Harry Potter novels as if they are realist literature may lead a reader to believe that Harry Potter is mentally ill, as he talks to animals and objects, imagines himself riding flying broomsticks, and mixes magical potions. A realistic reading of the events in the book may very well lead to an interesting discussion of Harry Potter's mental health, but debating this point might also lead a reader to miss the whole point of the series, which is to escape into a magical world that does not exist in real life.
Escapist literature gives readers a break from the reality of their lives. The magical existence of Harry Potter and his friends and enemies takes place in a complex world in which a reader can lose him or herself. Freud might say that a reader who enjoys reading about Harry Potter is enjoying the expression of the reader's own subconscious worries, hopes, and dreams as they appear in the pages of the novel. If a reader experiences something frightening, like a fight with someone, the subconscious might absorb the fear so that the reader is not totally aware that fighting is scary; reading about Harry's fights with Draco might be a relief to this reader because he can then see that good guys can win fights, making the reader feel less anxious around fights in the future.
According to Freud, the contents of the subconscious are not readily accessible, and the hidden nature of these fears and desires means that they might sneak out at anytime. Reading about Harry Potter and observing how fears and desires operate in the lives of the characters might enable a reader to feel better prepared for when his or her own subconscious reveals itself.
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