Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets: Analysis

In this analysis of Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets I will be specifically looking for instances of these themes: information & rumors, fear, choice & identity, prejudice vs respect, empathy, and hysteria.

This analysis will be separated by theme and citations within that theme, hopefully making this analysis more digestible and cohesive. Obviously, spoilers.

INFORMATION & RUMORS

“Ron’s school spellbooks were stocked untidily in a corner, next to a pile of comics that all seemed to feature The Adventures of Martin Miggs, the Mad Muggle.” (Chapter 3, page 40). This is evidence that the wizarding world has borrowed some things from the muggle world. In this case, comic books. Which begs the question, why they don’t embrace the other parts of muggle culture and muggle technology.

In chapter 4, page 45; Hermione mentions meeting up with Harry and Ron at Diagon Alley. I do not remember this being mentioned in canon, at least not in these two first books on how muggleborn students and their parents find Diagon Alley (since Hermione came with her parents and Harry had to have Hagrid escort him into Diagon Alley). Where is this information? Is it readily available for muggleborns and their parents?

“1. What is Gilderoy Lockhart’s favorite color --- 54. When is Gilderoy Lockhart’s birthday, and what would his ideal gift be?” (Chapter 6, page 100) Obviously, Lockhart is rather egotistical and has set his personality around the false identity he’s made for himself. However, it’s basically the first class he’s taught and it’s based on his books, that he’s made a requirement for the year; even though it’s shown to be basically useless.

““Dobby cannot let Harry Potter stay here now that history is to repeat itself, now that the Chamber of Secrets is open once more-”” (Chapter 10, page 178). This is actually a very good example of not only information, but loyalty and fear as well. Since Dobby is the Malfoy’s house elf - he is directly going against his master by protecting Harry (or at least trying to). Dobby has information because he’s the Malfoy’s slave; which comes with inherent “loyalty” and definitely fear. Because of how the Malfoy’s treat Dobby. However, Dobby also has loyalty to Harry and fears what might happen to him.

““You’re a Parselmouth. Why didn’t you tell us?” “I’m a what?” said Harry. “A Parselmouth!” said Ron. “You can talk to snakes!”” Once again, Harry doesn’t know anything about himself, that everybody else knows … even other muggleborns and halfbloods. It’s obvious from Justin’s reaction, that he was fearful of Harry, as well as how Ron and Hermione reacted since it is a rare ability. They are genuinely creeped out since there’s a built in fear of Parseltongue, being associated with Salazar Slytherin and the current events of the Chamber being open.

““Hannah” said the stout boy solemnly “he’s a parselmouth. Everyone knows that’s the mark of a Dark wizard. --- Remember what was written on the wall? Enemies of the Heir, beware. Potter had some sort of run-in with Filch. Next thing we know, Filch’s cats attacked. That first year, Creevey, was annoying Potter at the quidditch match, taking pictures of him while he was lying in the mud. Next thing we know - Creevey’s been attacked.” (Chapter 11, page 199) Because of the attacks, people naturally want answers and someone to blame it on. They create scenarios and rumors to spread with the information that fits the situation at hand. These rumors create a mild hysteria around Harry; later affecting how others act around him ( avoiding him in corridors, not wanting to look at him in classes, etc).

““Yeh can’ take Dumbledore!” yelled Hagrid, making Fang the boarhound cower and whimper in his basket. --- “If anyone wanted ter find out some stuff , all they’d have ter do would be ter follow the spiders.” Hagrid has an established loyalty with Dumbledore. This is a feeling that’s extended to Harry (again, something established) signaled by him giving Harry and Ron clues to what they need to confront this year's threat to Hogwarts.

““Hagrid is my good friend, and a good man. When I was discovered, and blamed for the death of a girl, he protected me. --- we do not speak of it!” said Aragog fiercely. “We do not name it! I never even told Hagrid the name of that dread creature, though he asked me, many times.”” (Chapter 15, Page 277-278) Aragog and the rest of his spider family know exactly what is attacking Hogwarts but because of a natural predator/prey situation they are fearful to even utter the name.

FEAR

““The name Malfoy still commands a certain respect, yet the Ministry grows ever more meddlesome. There are rumors about a new Muggle Protection Act - no doubt that flea-bitten, Muggle-loving fool Arthur Weasley is behind it-”” (Chapter 4, page 51) The Malfoy’s are known to be a highly respected pureblood family who have prejudice against those who aren’t born from fully magical families. Lucius being a governor for the Ministry on top of the existing respect for his family, he especially would know the truth to certain rumors and insider information that the Ministry isn’t ready to divulge.

““All students will return to their House common room by six o’ clock in the evening. No student is to leave the dormitories after that time. You will be escorted to each lesson by a teacher. No student is to use the bathroom unaccompanied by a teacher. All further Quidditch training and matches are to be postponed. There will be no more evening activities.”” Thankfully, the school is actually doing the right thing and trying to take precautions in keeping the students as safe as they possibly can. Everyone, students and staff alike are afraid for their safety. This fear has created a justified hysteria.

““Do use your common sense. My books wouldn’t have sold half as well if people didn’t think I’d done all those things.” --- “So you’ve just been taking credit for what a load of other people have done?” said Harry incredulously.” Lockhart has misled the public into believing the extraordinary things from his books with misinformation. He’s fearful people will uncover this fact since the other professors at this point have tasked him with going into the Chambers and retrieving Ginny while eliminating the threat.

CHOICE & IDENTITY

The fact that Arthur Weasley chooses to work in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts department, an office that’s not esteemed, doesn’t pay much, and gets him called a traitor to his pureblood says a lot about him as a person. He also owns and enchants multiple muggle artifacts. While he isn’t an auror he does work adjacently with/for them. So it could read unintentionally as a commentary on the hypocrisy of the ministry.

““It’s a bit small” - “this is the best house I’ve ever been in” Ron’s ears went pink.”” (Chapter 3, page 41)Ron has consistently been embarrassed about himself and his family’s situation. He identifies as “less than” other pure blood families who tend to have more, like The Malfoy’s. His identity according to him and some judgemental people is that he’s a poor, lowly boy from a family with a lot of kids and little to no money.

““Gave you a taste for publicity, didn’t I? - but it’s a start, Harry, it’s a start.” (Chapter 6, page 91). Lockhart identifies HEAVILY with his fame and notoriety in the wizarding world. So much so that he credits himself for Harry flying an enchanted car to school, after meeting him in Diagon Alley.

PREJUDICE VS RESPECT

“And if the Dursley’s were unhappy to have him back for the holidays, it was nothing to how Harry felt.” (Chapter 1, page 3) As it was established in the first book, the Dursley’s are indifferent towards Harry because Harry is a wizard. Which results in them neglecting and abusing him, more than they did before his Hogwarts letter.

““Noone asked your opinion, you filthy little Mudblood.” he spat. Harry knew at once that Malfoy had said something really bad because there was an instant uproar at his words. Flint had to dive in front of Malfoy to stop Fred and George jumping on him. Alicia shrieked “How dare you!” and Ron plunged his hand into his robes, pulled out his wand, yelling “you’ll pay for that one, Malfoy!” and pointed it furiously under Flint’s arm at Malfoy’s face.” It is no surprise that Draco is prejudiced towards Muggleborn and Halfblood students, or people in general. Since (mostly) his dad taught him that they were beneath him and other pure bloods. To the point that he uses a known slur and feels comfortable enough to do it. The whole Gryffindor quidditch team stands up for Hermione, some of them (particularly the ones closest to her) even willing to physically fight shows a lot of respect for Hermione and other non purely magical people.

““Hagrid’s record’s against him. Ministry’s got to do something. --- the school governors have been in touch ---” Not only does Lucius have something against Hagrid but the Ministry itself does since not only is Hagrid half giant, but surely, they know the “real” story of the first time the Chamber was opened. Putting a strike against Hagrid since it’s believed he (or rather Aragog) was responsible for the first round of attacks.

EMPATHY

““You could have died, you could have been seen, you could have lost your father his job --- I’m very pleased to see you, Harry, dear,” (Chapter 3, page 33) she said “come in and have some breakfast.” Molly KNOWS that Harry gets yelled at and abused by the Dursley’s so she reassures him that he is not the one in trouble or getting scolded. Since he had nothing to do with it and had not really been involved. Continued with (3,34) “I don’t blame you dear” and further explaining that she and Arthur would’ve gotten him if he hadn’t written by Friday.

“- this is the best house I’ve ever been in” (Chapter 3, page 41) Harry being in the situation he's in, has become very loyal to Ron but also exudes empathy when it comes to him and the Weasley’s. I think he feels it’s the best house he’s ever seen because there’s so much love in it.

Back to when Malfoy called Hermione a Mudblood, the way that the Gryffindor quidditch team reacts shows not only respect for Hermione, but empathy towards her and other Muggleborn or Halfblood students/people.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets plays around a lot with the ideas of prejudice and hysteria given that the main threat of this installation is a creature that is targeting certain students over others (at the beck and call of an individual who has that ideology). Not only that but showing the fear from the students and staff alike while they face the unknown threat.