Chamber of Secrets: Chapter 5 "The Whomping Willow"
Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 5:55 pm
Are there any fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer who saw the title of this chapter and got an image of a certain red-haired computer nerd taking a baseball bat to some of her fellow students, particularly the popular and stupid and cruel ones? No? Was that just me?
Well, here we are with another chapter that describes a location, at least a place where our hero ends up. Not unlike the title of the book itself, eh?
Starting with a delightful description of who the Weasley family gets ready to take the kids to school--complete with not-unimportant detours back to pick up objects for the George (fireworks), Fred (his broomstick) and Ginny (her diary). There's an interesting psychological point here, in that Mrs. Weasley thinks it very nice that her hubby's Ford Anglia be as large inside as a small bus. Wizards really don't see the world the way we do, not at all. But then, there's a lot of mis-perceptions throughout this book. Frankly, Dobby is the least of them, as is the way so many people dismiss his warnings out-of-hand.
But to return to this chapter...Ron and Harry for some reason cannot go through the barrier to Platform 9 3/4. Stuck there, Ron in particular shows that he's the brother of the Twins and decides to fly the Ford Anglia all the way to Hogwarts. Both of them think this'll be a lark, until of course they are both hungry and thirsty from a long trip, and of course the car itself goes all wonky just as they reach the castle. They land, as luck (or destiny) would have it right in the branches of a Whomping Willow--not unlike a bad-tempered Ent when you think about it. Now, this tree will actually prove important in later books. It has quite a history. But for now let us look at two direct consequences of this crash-landing.
First, Ron breaks his wand. As we'll see, this is actually a good thing in the end, not least because with a new wand frankly Ron becomes better at magic. Yet one also wonders if perhaps this school year, struggling as he must with a second-hand and poorly repaired magical instrument, his focus got better out of necessity? Ron is far from stupid, after all, but he has a lazy streak and frankly has little emotional reason to exert himself.
Second, and more subtly, the Ford Anglia demonstrates a very interesting trait. Infused with magic, it has apparently come alive to some extent and decides it has had enough. Not that it dislikes these boys, but it no longer wishes to be at their beck and call. In fact, it decides to live as a free-ranging magical car in the Forbidden Forest. One has to wonder what else might be roaming around in there... Well, some answers to that question are forthcoming. But even more importantly, here is demonstrated the interesting idea that magic is to some extent alive and even sentient. Which brings up interesting possibilities with magical objects such as Hogwarts Castle, and wands. Not to mention books or hats or swords!
Making their way into the castle, we miss the sorting ceremony. Ron and Harry make a fairly foolish mistake upon not seeing Snape at the table with the other teachers. They assume/hope their least favorite teacher might have left, only to discover (to their horror) he has snuck up behind them, hearing every unflattering word. Harry gets the unsettling impression Snape is reading their minds (foreshadowing!) and then must face the music from MacGonnagal and Dumbledore. They have flouted all kinds of important rules. There will be punishment. But we also get the nice little insight that Harry in particular hopes their punishment will not touch Gryffindore. Rather farsighted for a twelve-year old. Which is both impressive and a little sad. Harry hasn't really had much a childhood, when you think about it.
And of course, most of the Gryffindores now think of them as heroes for being such efficient troublemakers--all save Percy and Hermione. It is a nice touch that those two are so similar and yet so very different throughout the series. Meanwhile, all this adulation will turn around and bite Harry in the bum before too long. The mob is fickle, and pays too much attention to flash. Look at the Gilderoy Lockhart and Severus Snape! Between those two, who is the more impressive wizard, the braver man, the more accomplished hero, even the better teacher? Yet which one is popular? And with whom?
One final question--whose idea was it that the Gryffindore password be "wattlebird" and for God's sake WHY?
Well, here we are with another chapter that describes a location, at least a place where our hero ends up. Not unlike the title of the book itself, eh?
Starting with a delightful description of who the Weasley family gets ready to take the kids to school--complete with not-unimportant detours back to pick up objects for the George (fireworks), Fred (his broomstick) and Ginny (her diary). There's an interesting psychological point here, in that Mrs. Weasley thinks it very nice that her hubby's Ford Anglia be as large inside as a small bus. Wizards really don't see the world the way we do, not at all. But then, there's a lot of mis-perceptions throughout this book. Frankly, Dobby is the least of them, as is the way so many people dismiss his warnings out-of-hand.
But to return to this chapter...Ron and Harry for some reason cannot go through the barrier to Platform 9 3/4. Stuck there, Ron in particular shows that he's the brother of the Twins and decides to fly the Ford Anglia all the way to Hogwarts. Both of them think this'll be a lark, until of course they are both hungry and thirsty from a long trip, and of course the car itself goes all wonky just as they reach the castle. They land, as luck (or destiny) would have it right in the branches of a Whomping Willow--not unlike a bad-tempered Ent when you think about it. Now, this tree will actually prove important in later books. It has quite a history. But for now let us look at two direct consequences of this crash-landing.
First, Ron breaks his wand. As we'll see, this is actually a good thing in the end, not least because with a new wand frankly Ron becomes better at magic. Yet one also wonders if perhaps this school year, struggling as he must with a second-hand and poorly repaired magical instrument, his focus got better out of necessity? Ron is far from stupid, after all, but he has a lazy streak and frankly has little emotional reason to exert himself.
Second, and more subtly, the Ford Anglia demonstrates a very interesting trait. Infused with magic, it has apparently come alive to some extent and decides it has had enough. Not that it dislikes these boys, but it no longer wishes to be at their beck and call. In fact, it decides to live as a free-ranging magical car in the Forbidden Forest. One has to wonder what else might be roaming around in there... Well, some answers to that question are forthcoming. But even more importantly, here is demonstrated the interesting idea that magic is to some extent alive and even sentient. Which brings up interesting possibilities with magical objects such as Hogwarts Castle, and wands. Not to mention books or hats or swords!
Making their way into the castle, we miss the sorting ceremony. Ron and Harry make a fairly foolish mistake upon not seeing Snape at the table with the other teachers. They assume/hope their least favorite teacher might have left, only to discover (to their horror) he has snuck up behind them, hearing every unflattering word. Harry gets the unsettling impression Snape is reading their minds (foreshadowing!) and then must face the music from MacGonnagal and Dumbledore. They have flouted all kinds of important rules. There will be punishment. But we also get the nice little insight that Harry in particular hopes their punishment will not touch Gryffindore. Rather farsighted for a twelve-year old. Which is both impressive and a little sad. Harry hasn't really had much a childhood, when you think about it.
And of course, most of the Gryffindores now think of them as heroes for being such efficient troublemakers--all save Percy and Hermione. It is a nice touch that those two are so similar and yet so very different throughout the series. Meanwhile, all this adulation will turn around and bite Harry in the bum before too long. The mob is fickle, and pays too much attention to flash. Look at the Gilderoy Lockhart and Severus Snape! Between those two, who is the more impressive wizard, the braver man, the more accomplished hero, even the better teacher? Yet which one is popular? And with whom?
One final question--whose idea was it that the Gryffindore password be "wattlebird" and for God's sake WHY?