RACISM/PREJUDICE
In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, we see a major conflict arise that will continue throughout the series as a major theme: racism. We are given many examples throughout the entire book, starting at the beginning with Lucius Malfoy’s comment: “The company you keep, Weasley… and I thought your family could sink no lower.” The Malfoys, along with many other wizards including Death Eater members, believe that they are more superior to others because they are ‘pure-blood’. An introduction to the word ‘Mudblood’ establishes the racism in the magical world. It is a horrible word for wizards with ‘dirty’ blood, in other words, they have a Muggle as a parent. It becomes a reoccurring theme that is a major issue/topic that is an underlying theme throughout the series. We are also reintroduced to the ‘pureblood’ distinction again when Hagrid contrasts it to Muggle-borns: “There are some wizards-like Malfoy’s family- who think they’re better than everyone else because they’re what people call pure-blood.”He then comments that “[most] wizards these days are half-blood anyway. If we hadn’t married Muggles we’d’ve died out.” It creates equality among all of the wizards in the world, which the ‘pure-bloods’ want to ignore because they are “better than others”. It’s basically a social commentary on society. I love that in that scene they also establish and comment on the fact that Neville is pure-blood but he is slightly incompetent, but most importantly, the fact that this contradicts the theory that pure-bloods are better than everyone else, because then Neville would be a ‘better’ wizard.
CoS establishes and builds this theme that was a major drive for Voldemort and fueled his evil and hatred, but this will be covered in the analyses over later books, not here, sorry. I promise that it is more important in HBP.
CORRUPTION
Corruption is a major flaw of several characters in the books. Though we do not see it outright until later books, Cornelius Fudge is a major example of this, as are Percy, Scrimgeor, Umbridge, and even Dumbledore. Fudge proves that there is corruption in the wizarding government. He is not the only one making decisions; it is even possible that he is not fully in control anymore. An example of this is in chapter 14 in Hagrid’s hut when they are arresting him. Fudge says: “Things’ve gone far enough. Ministry’s got to act. Hagrid’s record’s against him. Ministry’s got to do something-the school governors have been in touch-… look at it from my point of view. I’m under a lot of pressure. Got to be seen to be doing something. If it turns out it wasn’t Hagrid, he’ll be back and no more said. But I’ve got to take him. Got to. Wouldn’t be doing my duty.” His sentences are very short and he seems to be having trouble saying this. I imagine him being ashamed. He says it himself that he has to be seen doing something about the situation and it appears that there is only one solution in mind: to get rid of Dumbledore and reblame Hagrid. It is obvious that he is/was pressured to be in this situation in the first place. You see how Malfoy acts when he gets there. He enters with “[already] here Fudge? Good, good.” It is apparent that he is in control, as he tells Dumbledore of his suspension, rather than Fudge.
DOBBY
Everyone loves Dobby. He’s a helpful little house-elf that one can easily sympathize with. I find it interesting that in the beginning of the book, Dobby has ideas of Harry being “brave, and humble” and having a defense of Dumbledore at the same time that he was a servant for the Malfoys, and shouldn’t be thinking like this, but the opposite. This shows Dobby’s independence (though with limitations- “can’t say!”) from the persuasion of others; like in OotP when wants to receive pay. Another thing I thought was something to be looked at was how Dobby was able to go to Privet Drive in the first place. There are rumors that it was a plot by Draco to stop Harry from going to Hogwarts, and even that the Malfoys sent Dobby to spy on him by intercepting his mail and watching him. In my opinion, I don’t think that Dobby would go there on his own, because there is probably nothing ever positive said about Harry. No matter how independent Dobby may come across by ‘defying’ his masters to “help” Harry and even if he doesn’t believe anything from the Malfoys. With that said, I disagree that he would truly feel those feelings towards Harry and Dumbledore until after he was freed, because that is obviously very explainable, but before-not so much.
LOCKHART
Oh, Lockhart. “Isn’t he the smarmiest bloke you’ve ever met?” I believe so. He is the perfect example of an appearance vs. reality character- Lockhart’s “flashing dazzlingly white teeth” charmed the crowd in the bookshop in the beginning of the book, but at the end, his true self comes out: “You’re the Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher! You can’t go now! Not with all the Dark stuff going on here!” Lockhart: “Well-I must say-when I took the job-nothing in the job description-didn’t expect…“ “You mean you’re running away? After all that stuff you did in your books?” “Books can be misleading.” “You wrote them!” “My dear boy. Do use your common sense. My books wouldn’t have sold half as well if people didn’t think I’d done those things.” This shows his image he puts on to contrast to how he really is. He’s really a dark, conniving character that is fake.
The first interaction of Lockhart at Hogwarts in the greenhouses is suiting and a great hint at what he will be like towards others, including professors. His talk of publicity is sickening, so is exploiting Harry all the time. We see how self-absorbed he is in their first DADA class. His first lesson includes a quiz over himself, and most of his classes after that were his reenactments of his ‘accomplishments’. He also offers signed copies of his books for the best poem.
I think that JKR uses him to mock people and show what happens to someone who becomes self-obsessed; they are more easily corrupted. “My ideal bday gift would be harmony between all magic and non-magic peoples” says the beauty pageant contestant. Seriously; it’s pathetic. JKR uses his over-exaggeration to add humor- portraying pixies as “the foulest creatures known to mankind… I must ask you not to scream.” Who would be afraid of a pixie? What about the acromantulas!?
COLIN REPRESENTING OUTSIDE OPINION OF HARRY
Colin reminds me of Hermione a bit in the way that he knows all about Harry: “I’ve read all about you.” But Hermione is more subtle and not concerned with his fame at all like Colin is. She just reads everything, and happened to read about him. Colin is like that really annoying preschooler that we’ve all met that has a million and one questions. Back to back. And will not cease with the interrogations until you’ve answered them. All of them. Not that I’m drawing from experiences or anything.
I believe that Colin represents the outside opinion of Harry, possibly the media aspect, even; Colin appears to be obsessed with him. He follows him around everywhere, asking him questions, not to mention him having a camera permanently attached to his hand aimed at Harry. He wants to know more about his life. I think that he is the perfect example of paparazzi. He becomes petrified after attempting to bring Harry a treat while in the Hospital Wing, and I think that his becoming petrified depicts the school’s view on Harry turning negatively towards him being the cause of all of the terrible things happening. The opinion of Harry to the wizarding world began as a great hero who ‘conquered’ the Dark Lord and saved them all, but as Harry progresses in the series, the opinion turns more and more negative and criticizing. It is very much like the decline of a famous pop star. The petrified Colin depicts the lasting change.
EASY THINGS TO GLOSS OVER
The feelings that Harry has of being x-rayed or having his mind read by Dumbledore and Snape. The Vanishing Cabinet is broken by Peeves when Harry is in trouble for “befouling the castle”
The fact that Dumbledore always knows where Harry is
Harry’s draw to the diary and sense of familiarity with Tom Riddle
Objects shown in Borgin and Burkes that play a part later on
THINGS I LOVED
JKR’s extensive use of foreshadowing. Sneaky, sneaky.
Harry’s first experience at The Burrow.
The personification of the car
Lockhart’s ridiculousness
The Kwikspell course letter
During the potions incident, it’s ironic that Malfoy’s nose is what swells when the potion hits him; it represents his nosiness and prodding into other people’s business.
Dumbledore’s office
QUESTIONS I HAVE
Why does Dobby think so highly of Harry when he is a servant for the Malfoys?
How did everyone know that they had flown the car and crashed?
Why did the light shoot out of the wrong end of Ron's wand? I know that it’s broken, but you’d think that it wouldn’t even be an option for a spell to go through the back end in order to protect its master. Unless Ron was pulled it out backwards in a hurry to defend Hermione? But it does say “[a] jet of green light shot out of the wrong end of Ron’s wand, hitting him in the stomach…”
How many times was Nick hit before he died?
Hermione is upset that she left her copy at home, why doesn’t she just send an owl?
How did they revive Nearly Headless Nick?
Mischief Managed.
Paige Cyrus
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