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pauraque_bk*goggles at suddenly enhanced friends-of list* Hello! I assume most of you showed up for the CoS re-read. Good to have you aboard. Feel free to introduce yourselves, or just jump in whenever the mood strikes you.
For anyone who missed it,![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
black_dog left a couple of great, long comments on Chapter 1 about the nature of second books in a series, and themes we should be watching out for in CoS. I'm sure I'll be looking back on them as we go on. Here and here.
CoS 2: Dobby's Warning
It seems likely that there really is something "wrong" with Dobby, if one takes the other house-elves' brainwashed behavior as normal for their kind. He thinks for himself, which perhaps explains why the Malfoys would gratuitously abuse him as described in this chapter, frustrated with their defective servant.
For a darker take on it, you might theorize that the house-elves are naturally intelligent and free-thinking, but were magically "domesticated" for slave labor at some point in the past, and that Dobby is a throwback to their true normal state. (I don't have OotP with me, or I'd look up exactly what Dumbledore says about the statue at the Ministry.)
So, why does Dobby care so much about Harry? Voldemort's fall probably didn't have any appreciable impact on Dobby's everyday life, but he's decided the Malfoys are bad wizards and anything they want must therefore be bad. He hears Harry destroyed someone the Malfoys venerated, and fixates on him as a personal hero.
(Actually, I'm not sure how much the Malfoys truly *did* venerate him, but that just complicates matters even more.)
If Dobby is trying to give a hint here, it would seem he has a very good idea of what Lucius's plan is. The threat isn't Voldemort, but Tom Riddle -- before he gave up his name.
Previous chapters will be saved here. (Oy, I need to re-do my memories.)
For anyone who missed it,
black_dog left a couple of great, long comments on Chapter 1 about the nature of second books in a series, and themes we should be watching out for in CoS. I'm sure I'll be looking back on them as we go on. Here and here.CoS 2: Dobby's Warning
'Harry Potter!' said the creature, in a high-pitched voice Harry was sure would carry down the stairs. 'So long has Dobby wanted to meet you, sir ... Such an honour it is...' (15)If he's truly "bound to serve one house and one family for ever" (16), where does he get the idea that Harry's a hero and Voldemort a villain? What's to stop him taking what he presumably hears from the Malfoys at face value?
It seems likely that there really is something "wrong" with Dobby, if one takes the other house-elves' brainwashed behavior as normal for their kind. He thinks for himself, which perhaps explains why the Malfoys would gratuitously abuse him as described in this chapter, frustrated with their defective servant.
For a darker take on it, you might theorize that the house-elves are naturally intelligent and free-thinking, but were magically "domesticated" for slave labor at some point in the past, and that Dobby is a throwback to their true normal state. (I don't have OotP with me, or I'd look up exactly what Dumbledore says about the statue at the Ministry.)
So, why does Dobby care so much about Harry? Voldemort's fall probably didn't have any appreciable impact on Dobby's everyday life, but he's decided the Malfoys are bad wizards and anything they want must therefore be bad. He hears Harry destroyed someone the Malfoys venerated, and fixates on him as a personal hero.
(Actually, I'm not sure how much the Malfoys truly *did* venerate him, but that just complicates matters even more.)
'And I thought I was hard-done-by staying here for another four weeks,' he said. 'This makes the Dursleys sound almost human. Can't anyone help you? Can't I?' (17)At 12, Harry is more overtly compassionate than in the later books. One hopes we'll see this quality come to the fore again.
'Hang on -- this hasn't got anything to do with Vol -- sorry -- with You Know Who, has it? You could just shake or nod,' he added hastily, as Dobby's head tilted worryingly close to the wall again.Heh.
Slowly, Dobby shook his head.
'Not -- not He Who Must Not Be Named, sir.'
But Dobby's eyes were wide and he seemed to be trying to give Harry a hint. Harry, however, was completely at sea.
'He hasn't got a brother, has he?' (18)
If Dobby is trying to give a hint here, it would seem he has a very good idea of what Lucius's plan is. The threat isn't Voldemort, but Tom Riddle -- before he gave up his name.
'Albus Dumbledore is the greatest Headmaster Hogwarts has ever had. Dobby knows it, sir. Dobby has heard Dumbledore's powers rival those of He Who Must Not Be Named at the height of his strength. But sir,' Dobby's voice dropped to an urgent whisper, 'there are powers Dumbledore doesn't ... powers no decent wizard...' (18)Again, Dobby may have gotten this notion from hearing the Malfoys talk, and simply assuming that whatever they say, the opposite must be the case. Who in the Malfoy household could possibly have told him Dumbledore was a great Headmaster?
[Harry] jumped the last six stairs, landing catlike on the hall carpet, looking around for Dobby. (20)Heh. Ninja!Harry.
Dear Mr Potter,That was quick. It's possible that Harry is under close surveillance due to his exalted position, or Dobby may have alerted the authorities himself. I like the latter possibility, as it goes nicely with the systematic and rather brutal way Dobby plots to keep Harry out of school. Though he has a moral sense independent of the Malfoys, Dobby is Slytherin in his methodology.
We have received intelligence that a Hover Charm was used at your place of residence this evening at twelve minutes past nine[...] (21)
Previous chapters will be saved here. (Oy, I need to re-do my memories.)
