In this book as well, we have the three of them working together
to save the other students. Though Hermione is petrified, without
her help Harry would never have figured out that the monster was
a basilisk and how it was getting around. sm
In the beginning of the book, we have Harry’s breakout from
Privet Drive. We are introduced for the first time to a
completely magical house and lifestyle. Harry’s still awestruck
by it all.
He learns why Ginny’s afraid of him…she has a crush on him, which
flusters and annoys him (when he is attacked by singing
Valentine’s Day wishes). We learn more of the Weasly’s in
general. Arthur works for the ministry, Bill’s in Egypt,
Charlie’s in Romania, Percy’s a prat, the twins are louder at
home, if possible. And that’s strange for Ginny to be shy and
silent, cause usually they can’t get her to shut up.
We learn of the clever ways magic is used to get around stupid
muggle trappings like physics and gravity. Harry travels by floo
for the first time...and winds up in Knockturn Alley.
From here, we start to see the underside of this wonderful
Magical World. We meet Mr. Malfoy and maybe start to understand
why Draco is the way he is. We also get a mention of the Hand of
Glory (and maybe the cursed necklace) which is used in Book 6.
to save the other students. Though Hermione is petrified, without
her help Harry would never have figured out that the monster was
a basilisk and how it was getting around. sm
In the beginning of the book, we have Harry’s breakout from
Privet Drive. We are introduced for the first time to a
completely magical house and lifestyle. Harry’s still awestruck
by it all.
He learns why Ginny’s afraid of him…she has a crush on him, which
flusters and annoys him (when he is attacked by singing
Valentine’s Day wishes). We learn more of the Weasly’s in
general. Arthur works for the ministry, Bill’s in Egypt,
Charlie’s in Romania, Percy’s a prat, the twins are louder at
home, if possible. And that’s strange for Ginny to be shy and
silent, cause usually they can’t get her to shut up.
We learn of the clever ways magic is used to get around stupid
muggle trappings like physics and gravity. Harry travels by floo
for the first time...and winds up in Knockturn Alley.
From here, we start to see the underside of this wonderful
Magical World. We meet Mr. Malfoy and maybe start to understand
why Draco is the way he is. We also get a mention of the Hand of
Glory (and maybe the cursed necklace) which is used in Book 6.
- "Can I have that?" interrupted Draco, pointing at
- "Ah, the Hand of Glory!" said Mr. Borgin,
Draco. "Insert a candle and it gives light only to the
holder! Best friend of thieves and plunderers! Your
son has fine taste, sir."
- Draco paused to examine a long coil of hangman's
magnificent necklace of opals, Caution: Do Not Touch.
Cursed - Has Claimed the lives of Nineteen Muggle
Owners to Date.
| ... |
| Chamber of Secrets Chapter 4 |
They meet up with Hermione in Diagon alley to get their school
supplies. While there, they run into Malfoy and his father...we
learn here of the class system in the Wisarding World and the
Malfoy’s and the Weasley’s have apparently never gotten along.
Malfoy does the plant…he gives Ginny the Diary to discredit Mr.
Weasley and his raids. But really why not Hermione, if he’s
apparently heard so much about her from Malfoy? Lucius knows that
a muggleborn beat out his son for top marks and he isn’t pleased
about it.
supplies. While there, they run into Malfoy and his father...we
learn here of the class system in the Wisarding World and the
Malfoy’s and the Weasley’s have apparently never gotten along.
Malfoy does the plant…he gives Ginny the Diary to discredit Mr.
Weasley and his raids. But really why not Hermione, if he’s
apparently heard so much about her from Malfoy? Lucius knows that
a muggleborn beat out his son for top marks and he isn’t pleased
about it.
- "Though if his grades don't pick up," said Mr.
is fit for -"
- "It's not my fault," retorted Draco. "The teachers
- "I would have thought you'd be ashamed that a girl
Mr. Malfoy.
- "Ha!" said Harry under his breath, pleased to see
| Chamber of Secrets Chapter 4 |
However, had it been Hermione the story probably would have ended
talk to someone about this strange book she’d never seen before
that talks back to her.
talk to someone about this strange book she’d never seen before
that talks back to her.
From there, we see that even sensible Hermione has
a crush on Lockhart, even she can be taken in by
brave deeds and heroism. Harry doesn’t fall for it,
but doesn’t suspect Lockhart’s rotten. He’s just an
affable, self-absorbed oaf...once again we’re all
proved wrong in the end.
a crush on Lockhart, even she can be taken in by
brave deeds and heroism. Harry doesn’t fall for it,
but doesn’t suspect Lockhart’s rotten. He’s just an
affable, self-absorbed oaf...once again we’re all
proved wrong in the end.
Harry is resilient and resourceful when it comes to
fighting for something he believes in and he’s not
going to allow Ron’s little sister to get hurt...
because that’s all she is at this point. We hardly
know her as that even.
fighting for something he believes in and he’s not
going to allow Ron’s little sister to get hurt...
because that’s all she is at this point. We hardly
know her as that even.
It doesn’t even dawn on Harry to let someone else
do the fighting or to sit back and do nothing. He
has to take action, because he can. There is no
other option. He is a good boy just and true and
has an acute sense of fairness that motivates his
protection of others, even people he hardly knows
before himself.
do the fighting or to sit back and do nothing. He
has to take action, because he can. There is no
other option. He is a good boy just and true and
has an acute sense of fairness that motivates his
protection of others, even people he hardly knows
before himself.
Even though he was an inch from death, Harry stabbed the fang
through the diary. He knew then that he had to stop Tom Ridddle
from coming back to power anyway he could. It’s not really murder
(though killing any bit of a soul can kind of fall under that
heading) it’s about stopping a greater evil. So is Harry capable
of stopping Voldemort...definitely yes!
He has great stores of strength within him that we only scratch
the surface of here. His capacity to love is astounding given his
upbringing, it’s his saving grace. It’s more love of other
people, the desire to protect them that motivates Harry’s fight.
We see it in the fact that he is genuinely hurt that people think
he’s attacking muggleborns and terrified that he really may be
Slytherin’s heir.
Having been bitten by the fang of the basilisk, Harry knows he’s
not going to make it. Yet he still fights Riddle and when Ginny
finally wakes up he tells her to save herself. After all, if she
doesn’t make it...this would all have been for naught.
He went after Ginny more for Ron and because it was the right
thing to do. He didn’t know her, didn’t feel any personal tug for
her. Not like when he went after Hermione when the troll was in
the school.
He knew Hermione and there was a sense of urgency that he go back
and save her. With Ginny, when you find out, it’s more like “aw,
man, Ron’s little sister.” It’s more about Ron than Ginny.
Hermione was threatened first year, so now it’s Ron’s turn...
Fawkes comes in and saves Harry’s neck. He cries for the Boy Who
Lived so he could live once more.
through the diary. He knew then that he had to stop Tom Ridddle
from coming back to power anyway he could. It’s not really murder
(though killing any bit of a soul can kind of fall under that
heading) it’s about stopping a greater evil. So is Harry capable
of stopping Voldemort...definitely yes!
He has great stores of strength within him that we only scratch
the surface of here. His capacity to love is astounding given his
upbringing, it’s his saving grace. It’s more love of other
people, the desire to protect them that motivates Harry’s fight.
We see it in the fact that he is genuinely hurt that people think
he’s attacking muggleborns and terrified that he really may be
Slytherin’s heir.
Having been bitten by the fang of the basilisk, Harry knows he’s
not going to make it. Yet he still fights Riddle and when Ginny
finally wakes up he tells her to save herself. After all, if she
doesn’t make it...this would all have been for naught.
He went after Ginny more for Ron and because it was the right
thing to do. He didn’t know her, didn’t feel any personal tug for
her. Not like when he went after Hermione when the troll was in
the school.
He knew Hermione and there was a sense of urgency that he go back
and save her. With Ginny, when you find out, it’s more like “aw,
man, Ron’s little sister.” It’s more about Ron than Ginny.
Hermione was threatened first year, so now it’s Ron’s turn...
Fawkes comes in and saves Harry’s neck. He cries for the Boy Who
Lived so he could live once more.
So despite his willingness to sacrifice himself, he didn’t need
to. Thank Merlin!
Harry is saved by an unusual House-Elf. In return, Harry frees
Dobby from abusive owners. Maybe like he sometimes wished someone
would save him….and then did when he was 11 and he became a
wizard. (The slavery, and resulting emancipation by Harry, of
this little guy is what inspires Hermione to start SPEW in the
first place.)
The symbolism here is heavy and dripping from the edges. I’ll
only touch on it lightly. A House-Elf is an image of slavery and
bondage and brainwashing. It has no free will, must punish itself
for even thinking of disobeying orders. Dobby stands up for
himself, tries to protect Harry, and gets punished for it. Both
by himself and by others for ostracizing him from their community
because he was different. Is it really a wonder why Hermione
would feel for these creatures and want to help them.
It shows how help and how those who want to help can be misguided
and misunderstood. And that sometimes being helped can be more
dangerous than not...but Dobby is a bit overeager.
Because Dobby was trying to prevent Harry from going back to
school, we discover that the Ministry monitors magic levels and
usage especially underage wizards, especially in primarily muggle
areas. (We find out later that they can’t tell so much when there
are other wizards around, that’s why they couldn’t tell that it
was a House-Elf not a wizard in this case, but there is something
that registers.)
This book is very important. It brings up the idea of the Heirs
of the Founders...everyone thought Harry was the Heir of
Slytherin, but we know that to be Riddle. Is Harry the last heir
of Gryffindor?
It shows Horcruxes for the first time, though no one knew what it
meant then. House-elves and blood bigotry are introduced and
highlighted. The link between Harry and Voldemort is further
illustrated with Harry speaking Parseltongue. All of these things
are relevant and recurring in all of the other books.
Perhaps it is the key to unlocking series?
to. Thank Merlin!
Harry is saved by an unusual House-Elf. In return, Harry frees
Dobby from abusive owners. Maybe like he sometimes wished someone
would save him….and then did when he was 11 and he became a
wizard. (The slavery, and resulting emancipation by Harry, of
this little guy is what inspires Hermione to start SPEW in the
first place.)
The symbolism here is heavy and dripping from the edges. I’ll
only touch on it lightly. A House-Elf is an image of slavery and
bondage and brainwashing. It has no free will, must punish itself
for even thinking of disobeying orders. Dobby stands up for
himself, tries to protect Harry, and gets punished for it. Both
by himself and by others for ostracizing him from their community
because he was different. Is it really a wonder why Hermione
would feel for these creatures and want to help them.
It shows how help and how those who want to help can be misguided
and misunderstood. And that sometimes being helped can be more
dangerous than not...but Dobby is a bit overeager.
Because Dobby was trying to prevent Harry from going back to
school, we discover that the Ministry monitors magic levels and
usage especially underage wizards, especially in primarily muggle
areas. (We find out later that they can’t tell so much when there
are other wizards around, that’s why they couldn’t tell that it
was a House-Elf not a wizard in this case, but there is something
that registers.)
This book is very important. It brings up the idea of the Heirs
of the Founders...everyone thought Harry was the Heir of
Slytherin, but we know that to be Riddle. Is Harry the last heir
of Gryffindor?
It shows Horcruxes for the first time, though no one knew what it
meant then. House-elves and blood bigotry are introduced and
highlighted. The link between Harry and Voldemort is further
illustrated with Harry speaking Parseltongue. All of these things
are relevant and recurring in all of the other books.
Perhaps it is the key to unlocking series?
| Chamber of Secrets |
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| The Ultimate Harry Potter Analysis Source |
| Choosing what is Right over what is Easy |
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