Muggle

Muggles are humans incapable of performing magic. They are born to two non-magical parents. In general, they don't know about the wizarding world and live separated unless marry or have a child with a witch or wizard. They shouldn't be confused with a Squib who is born to magical parents. They appear throughout the Harry Potter book series.

About

History

In earlier times, the Muggles knew of the wizarding world and they lived together in peace. They helped their non-magical neighbours when needed. However, during the fifteenth century, Muggles began to fear the ability of witches and wizards to do what they couldn't and thought magic was evil. They persecuted and killed witches and wizards throughout the Middle Ages. They felt that helping their neighbours was now suicide and that they had to learn how to cope without magical help. Younger witches and wizards were particularly prone to being caught by witch-hunters. Any friendly relations were broken and there was to a wizarding consensus to conceal their world.

In 1692, the International Statute of Secrecy was enacted. The wizarding world was hidden using Muggle Repelling Charms, and they started keeping track of what Muggles have gained knowledge of so they could erase their memories. Any violations of the Statue of Secrecy is handled by the Improper Use of Magic Office, and bewitched objects are taken and kept away by the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office. A Muggle Liaison Office is in the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes, and a Muggle Relations office was established.

Muggles tend to be very oblivious to anything magic even if it happens in front of their own eyes. They find their own, logical reasons for why strange things happen, and don't even pay enough attention to notice any wizarding establishments and towns, even those hidden within their own town. If they do happen to notice anything, action is taken to intervene. Witches and wizards have theories for their refusal to accept magic is possible. There is a book, The Philosophy of the Mundane: Why the Muggles Prefer Not to Know about it.

Physiology

Witches and wizards have a gene which causes differences with their physiology and capabilities. Muggles have a shorter life span and are more susceptible to injuries and illnesses which the wizarding world can easily cure. Studies discovered that Muggles cannot perform magic and can only briefly possess it if they are holding a real wand that generates random spell effects due to its residual power discharging. These effects cannot be controlled. Without any magical abilities, Muggles have found other ways to function, developing their own medicine and technology. They use electricity for power which causes magic to go haywire.

Views

Muggle views of the wizarding world

Muggles have very limited chances to be part of the wizarding world because they need special permission to know about it. This is usually when have family who are witches or wizards including a spouse and/or a child. They can also be involved in high government positions for which their knowledge of the magic world is necessary. The family of a Muggle-born finds out about the wizarding world when their child is eleven. Given that wizarding locations are often concealed with enchantment to prevent Muggles viewing or entering it, it is unknown how they are able to visit them with their child.

A sibling of a Muggle-born will also know about the wizarding world, which can be difficult for them when they do not have their own magic. Petunia Dursley thought her sister, Lily Potter was a freak because she was jealous. With her husband, Vernon Dursley they are obsessed with keeping things "normal", choosing to be ignorant and distrustful. Muggles are known to be both afraid of magic and to try and use it for their own personal gain.

It is unknown when or how a Muggle will receive permission to know about the wizarding world when they are dating or marrying a witch or wizard. It can be a shock when they find out their spouse is a witch or wizard, which was the case for Seamus Finnigan's father. Tom Riddle thought his father, Tom Riddle Snr. abandoned Merope Gaunt just because she was a witch.

Wizarding creatures

Art and literature created throughout the Middle Ages shows that Muggles were once aware of the existence of many magical creatures including the dragon, griffin, unicorn, phoenix and centaur. However, these are not always an accurate depiction and over time they've grown to believe that these creatures are imaginary. Other creatures have escaped their notice or are mistaken for something else. For example, Brother Benedict once mistook a Jarvey for a talking ferret. Although they consider magical creatures to be non-existent, they still fear what might be out there. During the time before the International Statute of Secrecy and Muggles often knew about the wisarding world, experiences of dangerous creatures like dragons or issues with others like Hippogriffs generated hysteria and contributed to the persecution of witches and wizards.

In order to persuade Muggles that these creatures do not exist, they have to be concealed and memories erased if they did witness or encounter one. During discussions held by the International Confederation of Wizards in the seventeenth century, witches and wizards along with several creatures in question tried to figure out how many they could hide. In the end, twenty-seven species were hidden very stringently to persuade Muggles that they never existed in the first place.

Wizarding views

The wizarding world is generally unconcerned about the Muggle world and focuses on their own world. A few take an interest and pursue studying subjects like Muggle Studies, or they have written books. An Institute of Muggle Studies has been established. Arthur Weasley was very curious about how they function even though he got things wrong, and collected objects including batteries and electric plugs.

Witches and wizards are able to pursue jobs where they liaise with and help protect the Muggle world against the Dark Arts and anything potentially dangerous including bewitched objects. These witches and wizards havr very favourable views of the Muggle world. Professor Dumbledore was known to be very fond of sherbet and ten-pin bowling.

However, other witches and wizards have negative opinions about the Muggle world. They consider their world superior and view Muggle-borns to be inferior. They engage in Muggle-baiting where they try to confuse and upset Muggles by purposely using magic without their knowledge. A known way of doing that is to use shrinking keys. A witch once proposed legalising the hunting of non-magic people.

Strong supporters of blood purity and superiority consider marrying a non-magic person unacceptable. They do not want to dilute their magic blood and find Muggle-borns weak and unworthy of studying magic or being involved in the wizarding world. Anyone who does not value their pure-blood status are called "blood traitors". Those who support Muggle protection or have a favourable view are looked at in disdain. They have been known to try sabotaging laws created in their favour.

A few Dark witches and wizards including Gellert Grindelwald and Tom Riddle tried control both the wizarding and Muggle worlds so they were subservient to wizards. Riddle and the Death Eaters caused and fought in the First and Second Wizarding Wars to gain control. They killed Muggles and shunned and punished Muggle-borns when they took control of the Ministry of Magic.

Known Muggles

• Category:Muggles