Chapter 1 Dudley Demented
Since the book I choose ("Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix") was the fifth book of the Harry Potter series, there are numerous backgrounds to introduce before actually entering this book. Therefore, throughout writing the chapters, detailed introductions and contents from the other novels might be included often. In addition, I hope it will help to explain this particular book better.
Though the past books, Harry Potter is introduced as a boy without parents as they were murdered when he was still young. (Further details in the following blog post) As his only relatives were his uncle and aunt, he was forced to live with them for 15 years. However, his life in this house has not once been a peaceful stay for him, as his aunt and uncle almost disliked him because of certain circumstances; He, being a "Wizard" when his aunt and uncle despised being "extraordinary" as much as "magic" itself. In addition, they believe that keeping Harry in their family was dangerous for their own reputation, but also had no choice but to do so. Imagine saying the word "magic" would force a person inside a cupboard under the stairs for months, without food. This was Harry's life. He was punished for almost anything he does and any kind of uncanny thing happening in the house.
"I want to know what you're really up to - and don't give me any more of this listening to the news tosh!" says his uncle, when he finds Harry hiding outside of his house window trying to listen to the news in the first chapter. "What are you doing under our window, boy?." Harry was not allowed to watch TV; as a matter of fact, he was not allowed to even sit on the sofa in front of the TV, which left him no choice but to try listening from outside. After being accused by his uncle, Harry loses his temper and leaves the house, as he knew he was going to be punished later on anyways. Unfortunately, he meets his nephew Dudley and also has a fight with him on the way home. (Dudley lives together with Harry, as his parents are his aunt and uncle.)
However, as they head towards their home, they meet unpredictable attackers, which are called "Dementors," which belongs to the wizarding world. Normally, Dementors are the guards in a wizard prison called "Azkaban" and are not allowed to enter the "muggle world." (The "muggle world" refers to the non-magical people in the series.) Dementors are more close to a creature than a human and are explained as "the foulest creatures that walk this earth. They infest the darkest, filthiest places, they glory in decay and despair, they drain peace, hope, and happiness out of the air around them... Get too near a Dementor and every good feeling, every happy memory will be sucked out of you. If it can, the Dementor will feed on you long enough to reduce you to something like itself... soulless and evil. You will be left with nothing but the worst experiences of your life."(From book 3, the prisoner of Azkaban)After Harry fights off the dementors with his wand, shocked with what just happened, the first chapter finishes with he meeting a muggle(A word for non-magical people) called Mrs. Figg which lives in his neighbor. The chapter finishes shockingly with Mrs.Figg shouting "Don't put it away, idiot boy!"(towards the wand Harry held in his hand, )"What if there are more of them around?."
In my own opinion, one of the great settings of Harry Potter is how they divide the muggle world and the wizarding world. Muggles are not supposed to know about any kind of magic or even the existence of magic in the books. This makes it much more realistic and refers to ourselves as muggles. It gives readers the idea that "magic might exist, only that we do not know about it." Because of this setting of the book, I was surprised by the appearance of the dementors in this chapter. Even magical creatures are not allowed in the muggle world. I think this made a shocking plot for all of the readers. In addition, the appearance of Mrs. Figg was also surprising.
As I explained, Muggles such as Mrs. Figg is not supposed to know or even be able to see these magical creatures. In addition, Mrs. Figg is one of the characters who showed from the first book and has been treating Harry as worse as his uncle and aunt. Therefore, the fact that she can see dementors was a huge surprise, worth five books. The way the author "JK. Rowling" leads the readers inside the stories are great, in my own opinion. By putting these shocking facts in the first chapters allows the readers to really enter the world of her stories. Overall, I could not find the main message in this chapter, as I also think its meant for the readers to catch up and review the past books, as the author has also included many of these contents. However, it was definitely a great and shocking read and start for a book.
Though the past books, Harry Potter is introduced as a boy without parents as they were murdered when he was still young. (Further details in the following blog post) As his only relatives were his uncle and aunt, he was forced to live with them for 15 years. However, his life in this house has not once been a peaceful stay for him, as his aunt and uncle almost disliked him because of certain circumstances; He, being a "Wizard" when his aunt and uncle despised being "extraordinary" as much as "magic" itself. In addition, they believe that keeping Harry in their family was dangerous for their own reputation, but also had no choice but to do so. Imagine saying the word "magic" would force a person inside a cupboard under the stairs for months, without food. This was Harry's life. He was punished for almost anything he does and any kind of uncanny thing happening in the house.
"I want to know what you're really up to - and don't give me any more of this listening to the news tosh!" says his uncle, when he finds Harry hiding outside of his house window trying to listen to the news in the first chapter. "What are you doing under our window, boy?." Harry was not allowed to watch TV; as a matter of fact, he was not allowed to even sit on the sofa in front of the TV, which left him no choice but to try listening from outside. After being accused by his uncle, Harry loses his temper and leaves the house, as he knew he was going to be punished later on anyways. Unfortunately, he meets his nephew Dudley and also has a fight with him on the way home. (Dudley lives together with Harry, as his parents are his aunt and uncle.)
However, as they head towards their home, they meet unpredictable attackers, which are called "Dementors," which belongs to the wizarding world. Normally, Dementors are the guards in a wizard prison called "Azkaban" and are not allowed to enter the "muggle world." (The "muggle world" refers to the non-magical people in the series.) Dementors are more close to a creature than a human and are explained as "the foulest creatures that walk this earth. They infest the darkest, filthiest places, they glory in decay and despair, they drain peace, hope, and happiness out of the air around them... Get too near a Dementor and every good feeling, every happy memory will be sucked out of you. If it can, the Dementor will feed on you long enough to reduce you to something like itself... soulless and evil. You will be left with nothing but the worst experiences of your life."(From book 3, the prisoner of Azkaban)After Harry fights off the dementors with his wand, shocked with what just happened, the first chapter finishes with he meeting a muggle(A word for non-magical people) called Mrs. Figg which lives in his neighbor. The chapter finishes shockingly with Mrs.Figg shouting "Don't put it away, idiot boy!"(towards the wand Harry held in his hand, )"What if there are more of them around?."
In my own opinion, one of the great settings of Harry Potter is how they divide the muggle world and the wizarding world. Muggles are not supposed to know about any kind of magic or even the existence of magic in the books. This makes it much more realistic and refers to ourselves as muggles. It gives readers the idea that "magic might exist, only that we do not know about it." Because of this setting of the book, I was surprised by the appearance of the dementors in this chapter. Even magical creatures are not allowed in the muggle world. I think this made a shocking plot for all of the readers. In addition, the appearance of Mrs. Figg was also surprising.
As I explained, Muggles such as Mrs. Figg is not supposed to know or even be able to see these magical creatures. In addition, Mrs. Figg is one of the characters who showed from the first book and has been treating Harry as worse as his uncle and aunt. Therefore, the fact that she can see dementors was a huge surprise, worth five books. The way the author "JK. Rowling" leads the readers inside the stories are great, in my own opinion. By putting these shocking facts in the first chapters allows the readers to really enter the world of her stories. Overall, I could not find the main message in this chapter, as I also think its meant for the readers to catch up and review the past books, as the author has also included many of these contents. However, it was definitely a great and shocking read and start for a book.
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