pauraque_bk

Happy new year!

Some of you will recall last spring's chapter-by-chapter Prisoner of Azkaban re-read, followed a few months later by the Chamber of Secrets re-read. Keeping up our backwards progression (oxymoron?), today I'm starting Philosopher's Stone.

Everyone is welcome to participate in the chapter discussions -- neither knowing me nor agreeing with me is a prerequisite. Jump right in!

I hope to do a chapter every other day. I'll be reading the UK paperback edition, so that's what page numbers will refer to.

PS 1: The Boy Who Lived

Mr and Mrs Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much. They were the last people you'd expect to be involved in anything strange or mysterious, because they just didn't hold with such nonsense. (7)

Throughout the series, this attitude is consistently presented as ridiculous and wrong. And perhaps the given reasoning is wrong... Petunia's only stated reason is jealousy, and Vernon has no textual reason at all... but it's certainly not a lie that the magical world is dangerous, especially if you're a Muggle. Why would a Muggle ever *want* to associate with wizards? At best, they're not using their powers to help you with your problems, and at worst, they'd like to see you dead.

This is a problem I have with the wizard=queer reading. Anti-queer prejudice *is* ridiculous -- anti-wizard prejudice is not.

When Mr and Mrs Dursley woke up on the dull, grey Tuesday our story starts[...] (7)

I laughed here. I think this is the only point where the series is framed as a tale told by J.K. Rowling to us, the readers -- the children sitting cross-legged in a circle.

After this, we spend several pages in Vernon's head, which I found rather delightful. There are only three limited-third POV characters in the series: Harry, Vernon, and Frank Bryce. (JKR also goes into omniscient-third twice more in this book: when McGonagall and Dumbledore are conversing at the end of this chapter, and then during the Quidditch game.)

At half past eight, Mr Dursley picked up his briefcase, pecked Mrs Dursley on the cheek and tried to kiss Dudley goodbye but missed, because Dudley has now having a tantrum and throwing his cereal at the walls. 'Little tyke,' chortled Mr Dursley as he left the house. (8)

Poor old Vernon. He's not *such* a bad guy, you know... Just a bit dull and blustery.

Mr Dursley, however, had a perfectly normal, owl-free morning. He yelled at five different people. He made several important telephone calls and shouted a bit more. He was in a very good mood until lunch-time, when he thought he'd stretch his legs and walk across the road to buy himself a bun from the baker's opposite. (9)

This is the only real indication in this chapter that Vernon is kind of a jerk. He's not nearly as excitable and draconian as he is ten years later. He's happy with his boring life, his job, his baby son... His narrative voice here isn't as judgmental as his later behavior indicates; his response to the odd events around him is worry (and even curiosity), not immediate rage.

There was no point in worrying Mrs Dursley, she always got so upset at any mention of her sister. He didn't blame her -- if he'd had a sister like that ... (9)

This is funny, now that we've met Vernon's sister, whom I don't think he likes.

'Sorry,' he grunted, as the tiny old man stumbled and almost fell. It was a few seconds before Mr Dursley realised that the man was wearing a violet cloak. He didn't seem at all upset at being almost knocked to the ground. On the contrary, his face split into a wide smile and he said in a squeaky voice that made passers-by stare: 'Don't be sorry, my dear sir, for nothing could upset me today! Rejoice, for You-Know-Who has gone at last! Even Muggles like yourself should be celebrating, this happy, happy day!' (9-10)

Flitwick?

Also, I sort of question the idea that upon V's apparent demise, celebration would break out all over Britain. For one thing, why are they so sure he's gone? For another, his followers are certainly still around to take revenge.

Mrs Dursley had had a nice, normal day. She told him over dinner all about Mrs Next Door's problems with her daughter and how Dudley had learnt a new word ('Shan't!'). (10)

I like how easily JKR sketches these personalities. She doesn't have to tell as much as she does; she's better at showing than she perhaps realizes.

'[...]Perhaps people have been celebrating Bonfire Night early -- it's not until next week, folks![...]' (10-11)

What's Bonfire Night?

'Funny stuff on the news,' Mr Dursley mumbled. 'Owls ... shooting stars ... and there were a lot of funny-looking people in town today ...'

'So?' snapped Mrs Dursley.

'Well, I just thought ... maybe ... it was something to do with ... you know .. her lot.'

Mrs Dursley sipped her tea through pursed lips. Mr Dursley wondered whether he dared tell her he'd heard the name 'Potter'. He decided he didn't dare. Instead he said, as casually as he could, 'Their son -- he'd be about Dudley's age now, wouldn't he?' (11)

The dynamic here is interesting. Later on, Vernon seems much more dominant in the household, but here's quite deferent to Petunia. Nonetheless, he does bring up what he's seen, and wants her take on it. I wonder what he'd want to do if he *did* let himself conclude that this would ultimately involve him.

'How did you know it was me?' [McGonagall] asked.

'My dear Professor, I've never seen a cat sit so stiffly.' (13)

He didn't know she was an Animagus?

'You can't blame them,' said Dumbledore gently. 'We've had precious little to celebrate for eleven years.' (13)

He says "eleven years" again a few paragraphs later. That seems oddly specific... not the last few years, not a decade, but *eleven years*. What happened eleven years ago?

'You flatter me,' said Dumbledore calmly. 'Voldemort had powers I will never have.'

'Only because you're too -- well -- noble to use them.' (14)

Oh really! I'm not entirely sure what this alludes to.

Dumbledore gave a great sniff as he took a golden watch from his pocket and examined it. It was a very odd watch. It had twelve hands but no numbers; instead, little planets were moving around the edge. (15)

An astrological instrument, I guess. I like that detail.

'I've come to bring Harry to his aunt and uncle. They're the only family he has left now.'

'You don't mean -- you can't mean the people who live here?' cried Professor McGonagall, jumping to her feet and pointing at number four. (15)

I guess, then, that she's been sitting here "all day" because Dumbledore told her to, but didn't tell her exactly why. Weird.

'Borrowed it, Professor Dumbledore, sir,' said the giant, climbing carefully off the motorbike as he spoke. 'Young Sirius Black lent it me[...]' (16)

I'm firmly of the opinion that JKR had her plot basically set when she started, and was not attempting back-continuity. I don't see a reason to think otherwise.