Sunilkumar Kapure

The second book in the Harry Potter series contains all of the exciting ingredients which made the first one such a success. Harry’s cruel treatment by the Dursley family continues, as does the kindness and support offered by Ron Weasley’s family. The fantasy elements also abound, with the flying sequences arguably even more dramatic and fascinating than in Philosophers Stone. In the latter it was flying broomsticks, in Chamber of Secrets it is a flying car – a Ford Anglia belonging to Ron’s dad. The flying car is an inspirational inclusion which many children will relate to. How many of us have clutched the steering wheel of the family car imagining we are flying an aeroplane? The flying Anglia reminded me of another great fictional creation in the 50’s comic ‘Eagle’ – ‘Dan Dare Pilot of the Future’. When Dan finally makes it to the planet Venus, he finds ‘flying chairs’ as the internal transport system in one of the planet’s biggest cities – Mekonta. The plot is similar to the first book – the discovery of a lethal force concealed in the Hogwarts building. It presents a serious threat to staff and pupils alike - ultimately, the story revolves around Harry’s bravery in eliminating the menace. It leads to many more characters and developments, many of them quite frightening. The chamber is found to be the home of a basilisk – a giant snake with the power to kill people if they look at its reflection. Harry and Ron also encounter giant spiders reminiscent of the giant Martian war machines in H G Wells’sci-fi novel ‘The War of the Worlds’. Some believe that children may find such aggressive monsters too frightening. I would argue that children should be aware of life’s more confronting areas – and the Harry Potter novels do this most effectively. Monsters never fail to fascinate us - look how long the Loch Ness legend has kept our attention. ‘Harry Potter And The Chamber of Secrets’ also continues to address several more social and behavioural issues - Harry still suffers bullying by the Dursleys and the persecution of pupils who do not come from all magical families, is an obvious protest against racism. The dangers of acting upon unreliable information is another of the story’s messages. At a deeper psychological level, the narrative suggests that one’s character is the result of one’s choices – which overlooks the fact that choices are often made for you by circumstances. As usual, there is plenty to digest in Harry Potter. Above all ‘Harry Potter And The Chamber of Secrets’ is a top story full of imaginative and intriguing scenarios. It is as original and stimulating as the first – a pattern which I am assured continues throughout the whole series. I look forward to more to come.