When comparing Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet to J.K Rowling's Harry Potter series, one would be surprised at the similarities held between the two. Our group took notice of these similarities, which is why the theme of Harry Potter was taken and put into Act III Scene I of Romeo and Juliet. A huge factor we noticed was the feuding. In Harry Potter, the Slytherins and the Gryffindors have a feud that runs miles deep, as do the Capulets and Montagues in Romeo and Juliet. It was also fitting, considering the first line of the prologue applies to the Slytherins and Gryffindors perfectly; “Two houses both alike in dignity” (1.1.1). Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff are all referred to as houses, much like the Capulets and Montagues. We also compared the Prince, a figure of authority, to Professor McGonagall. They are both neutral people of power who hold a slight favor to a specific house (the Prince favors the Montagues, and McGonagall favors the Gryffindors). This slight pull also helped us decide what family would become what house. The Montagues only became the Gryffindors because of the favoritism the Prince held for the Montagues and McGonagall held for the Gryffindors, albeit only a slight pull, but a pull nevertheless. This also is why we referred to the Capulets as the serpents, considering the animal represented by Slytherin is the snake. The Montagues are referred to as the lions because the Gryffindors are represented by the lion.
Another parallel found between Harry Potter and Romeo and Juliet was fighting. In Romeo and Juliet, the Capulets and Montagues taunt each other with crude words and insults, and it eventually turns into a battle of swords leading to injury. The same can be found in Harry Potter between the Slytherins and Gryffindors; the only difference is that wands are used instead of swords. This was an easy change, and added a magical element! Rather then a sword fight between Tybalt: The Capulet and Mercutio: The Montague, we inserted a wand fight filled with spells and jinxes between Tybalt: The Slytherin and Mercutio: The Gryffindor.
