Tuesday, 25 October 2016

How are adults generally portrayed in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone?

The adults in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (the first Harry Potter novel) cluster in two opposite categories: the bad authority figures and the good authority figures. 


Bad authority figures include Harry's muggle guardians, Petunia and Vernon Dursley. Petunia is the sister of Harry's mother, Lily. Both Petunia and Vernon have taken Harry in unwillingly. They treat him abusively and favor their own spoiled son, Dudley. They force Harry to sleep in a closet...

The adults in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (the first Harry Potter novel) cluster in two opposite categories: the bad authority figures and the good authority figures. 


Bad authority figures include Harry's muggle guardians, Petunia and Vernon Dursley. Petunia is the sister of Harry's mother, Lily. Both Petunia and Vernon have taken Harry in unwillingly. They treat him abusively and favor their own spoiled son, Dudley. They force Harry to sleep in a closet under the stairs. They let Dudley punch and bully Harry. Both parents fear doing anything in the least bit nonconformist. They worry that Harry will turn out like his wizarding mother—which, of course, he does.


When Harry gets to Hogwarts, his life improves immensely, but he still runs into bad authority figures, such as Professor Severus Snape, who dislikes and bullies him.


At Hogwarts, however, Harry finally gets under the tutelage and protection of some wise and kind (if at times gruff and stern) authority figures, such as the school headmaster, Dumbledore, and Professor Minerva McGonagall— both of whom have Harry's best interests at heart. The giant, Hagrid, the school's gamekeeper, also becomes a friend and protector of Harry. 

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