Week 1 Discussion: Chapters 1-3

[Prof. Sky Alton]

Here we’ll be discussing chapters 1-3 of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

Feel free to offer any thoughts that occurred to you while reading or to use some of our suggested questions below. If someone else has said something you find interesting, you should definitely respond to them – this is a discussion, after all!

Your response should be at least 50 words long and will earn you 10 beans and a turn. You’re welcome to post as many times as you like but you’ll only earn beans for your first 3 posts (we’d also prefer it if you wait for other people to respond before posting again, rather than doing it back to back).

Optional Questions
If you’re not sure what to say, here are some discussion prompts to get you started
What do you think about the start of the story? Do you think starting it in the muggle world added to the mystery? Do you remember what your initial reaction to the Dursley’s was the first time you read it?
Do you think the scene with the snake was an intentional bit of foreshadowing for later in the series?
If you’d needed to get a letter to Harry, how do you think you would have done it?

The deadline is 11:59 PM HOL-time on the 31st of May.

[Janne Halla]

I think it was rather brilliant to start in the Muggle world. When you pick up the book for the first time, you don't really know the world, what it's about, or what's going on. You're just as confused as the Dursleys, or, later on, Harry.

It really eases you into the situation and how something's going on, but you're not quite sure. It also shows you how the Dursleys are. I remember that even as young as I was, I absolutely hated them from the first page. Getting a look into Vernon Dursley's mind sure was...something.

[River Fenwick]

I distinctly remember my first impression of the Dursleys being that they have a severe case of superiority complex. While unpleasant, growing up in the environment likely contributed to Harry's personality and who he became, which worked out in everyone else's favor and Harry's expense. The experience of growing up with people like the Dursleys helped him gain somewhat of an emotional shield from such behaviors, which I'm glad was something he showed early on rather than something that needed to be developed throughout the story.

[Prof. Sindor Aloyarc]

Upon reading the series for the first time, everything about the way Vernon, Petunia, and Dudley—even as a tiny tot—are written from the go snatched my curiosity, glimpsing into the ridiculous caricature of their family.
A bony mother poking her long neck around nosily, comically contrasted by the meaty father with a bushy mustache and very little neck of his own. Neither particularly phased at their obnoxious baby’s dramatic tantrums.
I love the little bits of magical intrigue we readers experience sprinkled around the Dursleys’ “sensible” life together before (and certainly after) Harry was sprung upon them. The mass of shooting stars and daytime owls, a cat that appears to be reading, the oddly dressed people whispering excitedly about town.
Vernon trying to shake off all the warning signs that something so uncomfortable to him was afoot (while becoming increasingly more suspicious) made it even more enjoyable for me to picture when years later he sought so desperately to avoid discomfort once again by running from the letters for Harry.
Imagining such a despicable man slowly losing it over the relentless arrival of this post (to the point even his prim wife and spoiled child are shook into alarmed compliance at his manic behavior) just tickled me. I still love how delusional he was trying to escape the influence of a wizarding world, in spite of probably knowing deep down it was unquestionably futile.
Gotta give him credit, I suppose! At least the man tried for what he believed in.

[Luna Ravenlong]

I definitely think starting the story in the muggle world added to the mystery. Following Vernons day, and seeing the aftermath of Voldemort's demise through his eyes was a really fun way to start the book, especially the first time reading it, trying to work out how this horrible man has anything to do with the boy wizard that the books about. I think it was important to start the story showing what the Dursleys were like, as it really shapes Harry’s character, and the decisions he makes later on.

[Katherine Laurier]

In my opinion, the book beginning in the Muggle world was a brilliant choice. It begins with something that the readers are used to—normal non-magic life. This would help ease the readers into understanding the setting and the overall story since it is something that the readers may relate to before the story transitions into a completely different world. Aside from that, the interactions Mr. Dursley has with the witches and wizards at the beginning also emphasized the difference of the two worlds simply by the mention of cloaks, unusual terms like Muggles and You-Know-Who, and owl sightings. It makes the reader, or at least me especially when I first read it, curious and interested in reading more to understand what the context of those terms really are. Besides that, it also served as a good introduction to the kind of people and environment that Harry was surrounded by throughout his childhood, and the other world that was waiting for Harry. Even at the beginning, it's quite obvious that there had been a lot of thought put into it and ideas that are yet to be revealed, hinting at a bigger world that is just waiting to be uncovered. Pretty smart way to draw the reader in, if you ask me!

[Prof. Will Lestrange]

Every time I looked back at the first two chapters or so after the first time I made it through the series, it became apparent to me that Professor McGonagall was taking major risks to ensure baby Harry Potter's well being, scouting out what his next few years would be like with the Dursleys... and Albus Dumbledore essentially lied to her about his motivation to abandon him there (about not getting a big head from fame? really?!?!?!?!?!?!?! was that worth ten years of cruel mistreatment and dehumanisation?).

I have even called it the "Dumbledore challenge" - to reread those chapters knowing what you know now and see if you still like Professor Dumbledore after doing so! I can see reasons to hide the whole truth from people whose loyalties he didn't trust... or to people too young to understand... but there was *no reason* to keep the truth from his loyal Deputy Headmistress! Every time... I like Professor McGonagall more and Professor Dumbledore less!