[HPforGrownups] CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Chamber of Secrets Chapter 17: The Heir of Slytherin

[No Limberger]

No: HPFGUIDX 189249

<potioncat snips>
>1. How is the magical diary in CoS like a modern Muggle device that young
>(and not so young) use? Do you think this was intended as a warning?

No.Limberger responds:
I had not previously viewed the magical diary as being similar to any
electronic device that we have today. When this book was written, there
were no social networking sites on the Internet and its usage wasn't as
widespread as it is today.  So, I don't believe that JKR created it to be
a warning to young people regarding electronic devices or the Internet.
I believe she created it for the purpose of her plot as the diary is
pivotal:
it contains a living piece of LV's soul that is able to gain influence over
the young Ginny Weasley so that it can have her reopen the CoS.

>2. How does Riddle's comment fit with the theme of secret keeping we see
>throughout the Harry Potter series?

No.Limberger responds:
Secrets are a common aspect of everyday life. Employers often require
employees to keep information confidential, for example. They're intent
is to protect those, as well as the information, that is being kept secret.

>3. Riddle says he grew stronger on the diet of deepest fears and darkest
>secrets. What dark creature does this recall? Is this also the nature of a
>Horcrux? Did the locket in DH do the same thing?

No.Limberger responds:
There are no living creatures that feed off the negative emotions of others.
What this brings to mind is an old episode of "Star Trek" (The Original
Series)
in which a creature comprised of pure energy feeds off of fear and does
so by possessing corporeal beings and spreading fear to other corporeal
beings that it can then feed off of.  I believe the episode was entitled
"Wolf in the Fold".

>4. How did Ginny hide her feather-covered, paint-splattered robes? Did
>House Elves clean them without telling anyone?

No.Limberger responds:
No idea; I hadn't thought about that.

>5. When the Basilisk appears, Fawkes flew off Harry's shoulder. Harry
>wanted to cry, "Don't leave me!" Compare this to Harry's experience in DH
when
>he goes to face Voldemort in the forest.

No.Limberger responds:
Harry is only 12 years old and alone. The closest thing that he has to a
friend
or ally in this situation is Fawkes. It would only have been natural to cry
out.

>6. Several times Riddle's expression is described as "hungry." Young
>Severus's expression was described the same way in DH. What do you make of
this?

No.Limberger responds:
They both hungered for power to have control over their respective
situations,
including the people that they interact with. LV found power in part by
spreading
fear: the worse he seemed, the more others were inclined not to fight him
and let
him have his way. This also made him seem more magically powerful. Granted,
he was a powerful dark wizard, but just as with Lockhart, it's also a matter
of
perception.

>7. Riddle comments on how similar he and Harry are. We can make several
>comparisons: Harry and Tom; Severus and Tom; Severus and Harry. What is JKR
up
>to with this Trio?

No.Limberger responds:
All three had something in common: each was an outcast of sorts and Harry &
Tom
were both orphans. In my opinion, what JKR establishes is that regardless of
how
bad someone's life may start, it can get much better depending upon the
choices
one makes.  This was certainly true for her own life as she went from being
flat
broke to the wealthiest woman in the world. In Harry's case, he had no
inclination to
harm others (well, for no reason), as was the opposite case with Riddle. As
for
Severus, he was looking more for acceptance and a way to gain power, which
Riddle as LV gave him for a time at least.


-- 
"Why don't you dance with me, I'm not no limberger!"


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]