It is the year 1926, prohibition is at its height and the jazz age is in full swing. There are two years before the Great Depression and one war is behind them, while another looms in the future. Magizoologist, Newt Scamander journeys to New York, hoping to collect more information for his book and to free a Thunderbird. Instead, he is swept into a battle between the magic and non-magic communities and the rise of the dark wizard, Grindelwald. Joined by Jacob Kowalski, a No-Maj and the Goldstein sisters, Tina, and Queenie, the four find Newt's creatures, protect the wizarding world and perhaps the most dangerous task of all, defeat Grindelwald. Xenophobia and intolerance line the streets of J.K. Rowling's Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, all in an attempt to find acceptance.

The magical community in America has separated itself from their non-magical counterparts. While the wizarding world continues to combat Grindelwald, they fear exposure to and the retaliation of the non-magical community. Their laws are strict, one cannot befriend or even marry a No-Maj. The Magical Congress of the United States' (MACUSA) rulings go as far to have a Section 3A in which all non-magical persons must have the memory erased if they are exposed to magic. This particular law gets Newt into trouble when Jacob Kowalski witnesses magic. Beth Felker Jones writes, "This concern for secrecy is the basis for draconian American laws against keeping magical creatures and against friendships between wizards and ordinary people. (The parallel with prohibition as with Puritanism, is just beneath the surface)" (Jones 44). The severity that has been placed upon the magical community leaves them with an idea that they are in the wrong. Their environment is oppressive and cruel, forbidden to be themselves but also forbidden to extend themselves to the No-Maj.

The non-magical community also to some extent have the right to be afraid. Both groups fear the mysterious force that is wreaking havoc. "Whatever it is, one thing's clear- it must be stopped. It's terrorizing No-Majs and when No-Majs are afraid, they attack. This could mean exposure. It could mean war" (Rowling 42). Seraphina Picquery, President of MACUSA knows full well she has everything to lose. It does not matter what it is if it continues to attack the No-Maj will eventually rise to stop the force themselves. In doing so, they will go after the magical community as an explanation for the uncontrolled force. Conveniently they are for a while able to blame it upon Newt's creatures, whom the wizarding world also does not understand and fear. Alicia Powell writes, "There is this fear of the other, this fear of what we don't understand, a need to blame and segregate. And how hate can grow into something that is just overpowering because of that," actress Alison Sudol, who plays the mind-reading Queenie Goldstein, told reporters on the red carpet in New York" (Powell). Alison Sudol's words are at the heart of Fantastic Beasts. So long there is fear, they will separate and stay to the known. The unknown leads to hate and blame, it leads to war.

Gellert Grindelwald has been steadily gaining power in Europe but has vanished from the public eye. His goal is to free the wizarding world from hiding and to dominate over the muggles. In his mind nothing will stop him, or his ideals which hold a populist ideology. Andrew Chow writes, "However, she did say that modern global developments informed her story set in the 1920's. "This period was threatening to become very dystopian. You were looking at the rise of a very dark force... I think I was partly informed by a rise of populism around the world" (Chow). Populism, which is the range of political stances focusing on the ideas of "the people" and will form groups with anti-establishment and anti-political ideologies against the elite. There is fear and when fear is apparent there will be a rise in power. Grindelwald acts as one of the few who will seize that power and upend the world as it is known with his dangerous charisma and values for the world. Logan Hill writes, "Mr. David Yates said, "He wants to win the hearts and minds in a way that's quite beguiling and sophisticated, but his values are dangerous... able through sheer charisma and the ability to inspire and hypnotize and carry the crowd and take the world to a darker place" (Hill). Grindelwald is manipulation at its finest, capable of hoodwinking both Credence and the entire magical world. He will play off emotions, lure others into the idea that they should no longer have to hide.

When Grindelwald infiltrates MACUSA, he assumes the form of Percival Graves rising to the top as the right-hand man of Madam President, Seraphina Picquery. He also gains control over Credence who is desperate for love and attention. He keeps Credence in check with false promises of magic. Rowling writes, "...You want to join the wizarding world. I want those things too, Credence. I want them for you. So, find the child. Find the child and we'll all be free" (Rowling 89). The child is connected to the mysterious force that is running loose about the city. Just behind the pose of Percival Graves is Grindelwald reminding Credence that Grindelwald is not fighting for himself. He is fighting for the rest of the wizarding world, for the ones like Credence who fear to stand up. Eventually Grindelwald will blow his own cover, as Credence is supposedly killed, he has now lost his greatest weapon. He has also lost faith in MACUSA and its President as they only aim to protect the International Statue of Secrecy. Before Percival Graves is revealed to be Grindelwald, Rowling writes, "A law that has us scuttling like rats in the gutter! A law that demands that we conceal our true nature! A law that directs those under its dominion to cower in fear lest we risk discovery!" I ask you, Madam President- I ask all of you- who does this law protect? Us? Or Them? I refuse to bow down any longer." (Rowling 254-255). The law in question is the International Statue of Secrecy, which begs for complete concealment of the magic world. While the magical world suffers in hiding, the non-magical community is free to be themselves. Should the Statue of Secrecy ever fall, Grindelwald's way would be clear with the magical world in the open for all to see.

The New Salem Philanthropic Society, otherwise known as The Second Salemers want one thing as their name suggests, a second Salem. Considering the mysterious force wreaking destruction, it only strengthens the rise of anti-witchcraft. This rise, however, is manifested through the fear of witchcraft by the Second Salemers and the non-magical community. Jones writes, "Fear is brewing in the city as something destructive and unexplainable wreaks havoc, and that fear is personified in Mary Lou Barebone (Samantha Morton), the leader of the New Salem Philanthropic Society" (Jones 44). Fear is the biggest factor in retaliation, that fear becomes a weapon. Mary Lou Barebone knows that to further gain ground; she must show her supporters where their enemy lies. The natural choice is to blame what one does not understand, witchcraft. Signe Cohen writes, "The association of this group with the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, which led to the execution of individuals who were social outsiders in one way or another, suggests that the Second Salemers' fear of magic is also fueled by an intolerance of difference" (Cohen 49). Although not specifically stated, Mary Lou Barebone holds on to Puritan ideologies of self-control, simplicity, and that salvation is for a select few. Witchcraft is a sin and holds a one-way ticket to damnation. It also sets them apart, causing segregation between groups and placing them as opposing forces. Their differences are what strengthen them, but it further influences the reactions of the opposing side. Rowling writes, "But where there is light there is shadow, friend. Something is stalking our city, wreaking destruction, and the disappearing without a trace... Hear my words and heed my warning... Laugh if you dare; witches live among us!" (Rowling 11 &13). The first thing that anyone could place blame upon is the unnatural. Tucked away from the public eye, the shadows have become breeding grounds for fear.

Both Gellert Grindelwald and Mary Lou Barebone want to recreate the present into the shape of the past. Grindelwald longs for a chance for the magical world to be free and to practice magic openly. Mary Lou insists that witchcraft is a punishable and they must put an end to it if the non-magical world is to live peacefully, returning to God-fearing like morals and values. Cohen writes, "A longing for the past can shape the political landscape of the present by insisting on a return to the perceived values and ideals of a different age" (Cohen 48). Grindelwald uses his position at MACUSA as a means to gain otherwise inaccessible information. Mary Lou Barebone often holds rallies and approaches newspaper owner Henry Shaw, in hopes of gaining further support through the newspaper's influence. There was time when witches and wizards were free and when they were persecuted. The present is fleeting, while the past remains calling to those who wish to change it for their greater good.

Credence Barebone has a foot in both the magical and non-magical worlds and longs for one of them to accept him completely. Mary Lou Barebone, his adoptive mother abuses him, while Grindelwald acting as Graves comforts him through manipulation. He is the mysterious force running about the city. Rowling writes, "Before Wizards went underground, when we were still being hunted by muggles, young wizards and witches sometimes suppress their magic to avoid persecution. Instead of learning to harness or control their power, they developed what was called an obscurus" (Rowling 150). Newt further explains it as a parasitical magical force and most young wizards and witches do not live past the age of ten. Credence has somehow lived past that, his power strong and uncontrollable. Signe Cohen writes, "Significantly, the obscurus is born precisely from an attempt at obscuring the past; Credence is forced to forget about his own magical background and family and is punished with physical violence for the smallest infractions against his adopted mother's strict Puritan lifestyle. The deadly Obscurus is merely the tangible form that his repressed past assumes" (Cohen 61). Credence has gone on without knowing who he is or what he can do. The past will always come back in some form to haunt those in the present. For Credence, his magic threatens to tear down every concealment of the magical world, a world he does not even know exists.

Mary Lou Barebone reveals that Credence's birth mother was a wicked and unnatural woman, explaining why Mary despised him so much. Graves before he realizes what Credence is he calls him a squib, destroying Credence's dream of acceptance. A squib is born to a magical family but has no power of their own and consequently cannot learn magic. Rowling writes, "I trusted you. I thought you were my friend. That you were different" (Rowling 229). Credence had truly believed the Graves had cared for him, that he had someone to protect him. Instead, he is left to be misunderstood and scared of himself. Newt, who understands the obscurus and Tina who once defended Credence, both offer genuine help to him to protect and take care of him. Before he is given a chance to finally be at peace, he is killed on Madam Picquery's orders.

Newt and company have captured Grindelwald, the Second Salemers are finished as Credence's obscurial kills Mary Lou Barebone. Yet Jacob must still be obliviated because he is a No-Maj. Xenophobia and intolerance still holds strong as the non-magical community witnessed a portion of the events in the subway. There will always be segregation and fear, but it can be combatted if one learns to understand and to accept. Otherwise, the world will be nothing but darkness and suffering.