CHAPTER DISCUSSION Chamber of Secrets Ch. 3, The Burrow

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 188759

 
> Discussion Questions
> 
> 1. How did the beginning of this chapter, combined with the end of the
> previous chapter, affect your impressions of the Dursleys and their
> treatment of Harry?

Potioncat:
I agree with Carol; this is a Cinderella story and some of the events are written in fairy-tale measures. Some of it isn't and the back-and-forth nature of the book sometimes jars. So I didn't get too wrapped up in reacting to the Dursleys, I just took them as bad people who were in Harry's way.
> 
> 2. Why do you think Vernon tried to prevent Harry's escape? If he feels
> Harry is such a burden and freak, why not let him go?

Potioncat:
I'm not sure if he thought he had to keep Harry all summer as part of the agreement of taking him or if he just wanted to keep Harry away from magic. If he knew Harry wouldn't come back, maybe he would have been more willing to send him off. So my answer is "I don't know."
> 
> 3. What did you think of the Weasley rescue and the flying car?
Potioncat: Wicked! I thought it was lots of fun.
> 
> 4. Fred and George know how to pick locks by Muggle means. Did you think
> anything of the fact that they could do this, or did you think it could
> possibly come up later?

Potioncat: 
At the time I was surprised they would bother learning Muggle tricks. Now I understand that they can't use magic, so they've found non-magical ways to carry out mischief.
> 
> 
> 5. What did you think of the Weasley home and the family dynamic?
Potioncat:
I loved it! I can't be too hard on Molly---Fred and George would drive a mother crazy. And I thought it was funny that Arthur wanted to know how the car did. I have a feeling our responsible Arthur got into mischief himself once-upon-a-time.
> 
> 6. What did you think of Molly's alternating behavior, yelling at her sons,
> then being sweet and loving to Harry?
Potioncat:
Funny. What mom hasn't had an experience where her kids had done something really stupid while there was company around? (What, no one?) And I have to echo Carol; I didn't take a lot of this seriously. I was enjoying the ride.
> 
> 7.  What did you think of the de-gnoming process: funny, cruel, gross, anything
> beyond just a humorous scene?
Potioncat:
OK, this is where the ride became uncomfortable. I was left thinking "What is going on here!?" But in RL I wasn't able to take any of the measures recommended to get rid of the chipmunk colony in my yard either. I considered teaching them to sing, but I can't carry a tune. So there's nothing the Weasleys could have done that I would have been ok with.
> 
> 8. We learn about Mr. Weasley's job and his obsession with all things Muggle
> in this chapter. What were your feelings about his fondness for muggle
> things, and the fact that he enchanted a car via a loophole in Wizarding
> law?

Potioncat:
You know, for some reason at the first reading I thought the loophole was a good thing--that the wizarding law was too restrictive. It was later that I understood that Arthur had created the loophole for his own use.

I do think many of the events are not intended to be taken seriously and JKR did feel adults over analyzed her work. At the same time, there is a clear pattern of Us and Them. "We" can side-step the rules but "They" have to follow rules.

But, hey, it was Arthur, so it's ok by me.
> 
> 9. From this chapter on, the burrow becomes one of Harry's favorite places,
> and the Weasleys become his favorite family. What do you think draws Harry
> so much to this quirky home and family?

Potioncat:
The love, the activity, the activity, the honesty. It was the complete opposite of Privet Drive.
> 
> 10. Do you have any other thoughts or questions on this chapter?

No, I'd like to thank Sherry for her excellent questions.
And I'd like to encourage everyone else to volunteer to do a chapter. Come on in, the water's fine. See section below for instruction. ;-)

> 
> 
> 
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------NOTE: For
> more information on HPfGU's chapter discussions, please see " POST DH Chapter
> Discussions" at
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> 
> Next Chapter Discussion, Chapter 4, At Flourish and Blotts, on January 24, 2010.
> 
> If you would like to volunteer to lead a Chamber of Secrets chapter discussion,
> please drop a note to HPforGrownups-owner @yahoogroups.com (minus that extra
> space).
> 
> 
> Sherry
>