Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Books/Chamber of Secrets/Chapter 1
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Chapter 1 of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: The Worst Birthday
Contents |
[edit] Synopsis
Harry has returned to stay with the Dursleys for the summer holidays, and things are not running smoothly. On Harry's birthday, Harry and Uncle Vernon have an argument over breakfast, triggered by Dudley commanding Harry to pass him the bacon, and Harry informing him that he forgot the magic word. The mere mention of magic or anything like it is enough to send Uncle Vernon into a towering rage.
Uncle Vernon then launches into his plans for the evening, entertaining a prospective client, who was called Mr. Mason. Harry's part in these plans is very simple, reiterated many times: he will remain in his room, making no noise, pretending not to be there.
When Harry is sitting in the yard later that day, Dudley nastily reminds him that it is Harry's birthday and asks why all his "weird friends" have not even bothered to send him any cards or presents. Harry tells him he is trying to set the garden hedge on fire with magic; although he is only teasing, as he is not allowed to practice magic outside Hogwarts. But Dudley tells his aunt, and as a punishment for mentioning magic Harry has to work all day at cleaning the house.
That evening, as Mr. and Mrs. Mason arrive, Harry is sent to his room. However, when Harry enters the room, he is shocked to see there is someone sitting on his bed.
[edit] Analysis
As is usual, this first chapter reinforces the framework for the contrast that will be echoed throughout the series between the magical and the mundane. In this chapter and the one following, we will see the spiritual poverty and deprivation of Harry's non-magical life.
[edit] Questions
[edit] Review
[edit] Further Study
- Harry notices something with very large, green eyes apparently looking at him from within the hedge. What or who could this be? Is magic sneaking into the staunchly Muggle environs of Privet Drive?
[edit] Greater Picture
We will find out shortly that the green eyes in the hedge belong to Dobby, a House-elf. Dobby will prove to be an important character throughout the remainder of the series.
What we see, mostly, in this chapter, is the characters of the Dursleys, the family that Harry has been living with. We see how they remain stolidly pinned to the fabric of the everyday, and how they live by the impression they make on their neighbours and associates. As the series progresses, we will see some character growth and change on the part of Dudley; he will eventually come to realize that there may be some good in magic. Vernon and Petunia will remain stubbornly convinced that magic is wrong. Petunia's reasons for this belief will eventually become clear to us; Vernon, likely, was simply the least magical person that Petunia could think of to marry.
