CHAPTER DISCUSSION Chamber of Secrets Ch. 2, Dobby's Warning

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 188732



Questions for discussion:
1) We first learn of House Elves in this chapter. What was your reaction to
Dobby's self-punishments and description of his the conditions of his
enslavement?

Potioncat:
I don't remember my first reaction, but I never had the aversion to Dobby that many readers have.
The list has discussed the particulars of House Elfdom for many years but it still isn't clear what compels the House Elves to punish themselves. There's a considerable difference between Dobby's and Kreacher's behavior though both are serving masters they dislike.

2) Dobby states that he heard about Harry's recent (end of PS/SS) confrontation with Lord Voldemort. Who do you suppose was his source?

Potioncat:
My first thought would be from the Malfoys. But if Lucius had any idea that LV was around, why would he use the diary? I'm pretty sure he didn't know it was a Horcrux, but he did know it was valuable to LV. 


3) Dobby intercepted all the letters Ron, Hermione, and Hagrid wrote to Harry.
How do you suppose he did this?

Potioncat:
Erm
.Magic? On the one hand, House Elves must serve their families; on the other they have very powerful magic of their own. So Dobby must have had some way of intercepting owls coming to Privet Dr.

4) Why do you suppose Lucius picked this year to open the Chamber of Secrets?

Potioncat:
Again, I'm not sure why he used LV's diary if he knew LV was around. Unless he thought it would somehow help LV to come back
or unless he thought using it would give him power over LV. Also, whatever his motive, the MoM was intensifying its search for Dark items. He may have felt it was now or never.

5) Harry has a dream in this chapter after the Dursleys lock him up, that he is on display in a cage labeled "Underage Wizard", and Dobby refuses to rescue him because he is safe in there. Any thoughts on the meaning of this dream, and how it is similar to/different from, other dreams of Harry's we read about in the series?

Potioncat:
I don't think I ever realized how many dreams Harry has in the course of the series! In many ways these dreams are just like RW dreams—a sort of reviewing of events. Dreaming that he was in a cage he couldn't get out of, then waking to Ron at the bars of the windows seems like the way a dream would flow.

6) Harry receives a reprimand by Owl from the Ministry after Dobby uses a Hover Charm to destroy Petunia's pudding. This is our first encounter with the Ministry. What was your reaction to this letter? How does it fit in with what we learn of the Ministry throughout the series?

Potioncat:
The bureaucracy of the MoM reflects the red tape of the RW. It never seems to be of any real help.

7) Dobby reappears in several of the books, and his story culminates with his rescue of Harry and death in "Deathly Hallows". What was your first impression of Dobby? How has it changed?

Potioncat:
I liked Dobby's storyline with the contrast between his power and lack of power, and his misguided attempts at helping Harry. Seeing how JKR took the old Brownie stories and gave them a twist was intriguing. 

Potioncat's question:
Dobby makes reference to "there are powers Dumbledore doesn't...powers no decent wizard
" Does Dobby know about the Horcrux? If not, what powers is he talking about?

My new spell checker wanted to change Horcrux to Horror. Not a bad suggestion!

Thanks, Zara for interesting questions.