Well, I am evil, but that's neither here nor there.

I just remember thinking at the time that, had I been Jewish and noticed that the most evil characters all had Jewish names, the conversation probably would have gone in a different direction.

More playing with the idea.

Which is how it was taken. The evil French thing is not something that bugs me per se, because it's a long-standing cross-channel rivalry, but, with my background, it's not going to go unnoticed either.

I was mostly amused by the one Jewish-sounding name in the book, Anthony Goldstein. We know almost nothing about him -- he's a Ravenclaw, a year younger than Harry, and friends with Michael Corner. His name gets mentioned a bunch of times, but I don't think he ever actually said anything or did anything other than being noted as being in the room.

Not many Jewish names, but I did notice the Goblins came awfully close to some old anti-semitic stereotypes. I'm not the only one who noticed. Not accusing her of anything. But it kind of makes me think that Rowling is well intentioned, but not all that well informed on diversity.

Did they have any anti-semitic traits that are actually semitic, if that makes sense? Or was it all about the money-grubbing?

Because in Jamaica that'd make it more an anti-Chinese thing.

Money grubbing, and a deep conviction that all the jewels (and I think gold) really belong to them -- so a deep hostility to the rest of the world, and some hints they have a desire to take over.

Perfect example about where you're standing. I understand that's a negative Jewish stereotype set, but Jamaican Jews aren't stereotyped that way. The money people would be Chinese instead which makes me wonder...isn't it just possible she wanted a money-grubbing species?

Of course, once you come to the place where you ascribe hard and fast positive and negative personality traits to equivalently sentient creatures, tolerance of diversity can take a nose dive.

I saw the goblins more like D&D/Tolkienesque dwarves, or some other Germanic mythical creature. Your cultural template may vary.

The Goblins - especially their portrayal in the movies - pinged a lot of people as being very similar to classic Jewish stereotypes, particularly from Nazi propaganda. Not just the money grubbing, but the big ears and noses etc. Very similar to the complaints about the way the Ferengi were portrayed in the Trek universe.

It would be more obvious if you were familiar with that propaganda, but most of that imagery is unseen nowadays because it's seen as offensive.

Not just the money grubbing, but the big ears and noses etc.

I have no idea if goblins were used to parallel Jews beforehand, but aren't those all longtime attributes?

Of course, once you come to the place where you ascribe hard and fast positive and negative personality traits to equivalently sentient creatures, tolerance of diversity can take a nose dive.

Yeah I think that is the problem. You have a fictional species who really is, as a species or culture, money grubbing and (maybe-only hinted) out to take over the world. The stereotype actually is correct for them. That is going to be congruent with some ethnic stereotype in a lot places. And the thing is it was not neccesary for the plot. Why not just have Gringotts be a money grubbing hostile institution, rather than have its actions representative of an entire species? (The series is quite specific in several places that Goblins in general are like than, rather than just Gringotts.)