Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Chapter 2
So in chapter 2, Harry accidentally rescues a snake from a zoo by wizarding away the glass separating the snake from freedom. Harry gets on my good side by being sad that the snake is locked up. Yet this sequence comes after Harry is described as having the best morning of his life. Do not the other animals have in cages make Harry sad? Does he only care about the freedom of snakes? Rowling glosses over a morning of Harry experiencing the captivity of animals with only describing the threats and treats that come from the “family” who enslaved him.
Rowling seems to want to use the snake in captivity as a metaphor for Harry. Like the snake, Harry is as born into captivity. Perhaps the snake is special just as Harry is special which explains why Harry doesn’t care to free the other animals. Perhaps Harry only seeks out those who are special.
Yet the snake in its captivity lives a better life than Harry. Harry must often steal food from those who are supposed to care for him in order to have dinner. He must slave away as a cook and cleaner for the very family supposed to love and care for him. The snake is amply provided for by the zoo, living a sedentary life. The snake may be there to entertain us cruel humans who like to watch animals that should be wild and free, but it has everything it needs.
An there is one more difference. Harry is old enough that his captivity is now self-imposed. He is not bound. He is not locked in the cupboard that serves as his bed. He goes to the cupboard willingly when told. He remains with the Dursleys instead of running away. But the snake cannot exit from its tank. The snake grasps freedom at the very first opportunity while Harry remains with the Dursley’s by choice.
So who is really the greater captive here? The snake held by force or Harry who has been programmed by years of mental and physical abuse ? Harry needs a savior, someone to help him see his emotional and psychological chains for what they are, chains. Only ince Harry realizes that he Is in prison can he begin to emancipate himself from mental slavery.
He is a child who has had no possible nurturing or role modeling of moral code. He only knows that zoos are fun places that good/loved children get to go to. How could he possibly be judged for not seeing the animals in the zoo as harmed? They are cared for and given attention and nourishment. Their environment is designed to feel comfortable and safe.To him that treatment would be a massive upgrade to his own life.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I probably should have been more clear that I was intending to be entirely descriptive. I'm not judging Harry, only observing.
DeleteI do find it interesting that Harry almost immediately has empathy for the snake. But Rowling doesn't mention if there is any empathy for any of the other animals. I don't think it's a stretch to presume that he doesn't. So there is something about the snake that captures Harry's moral intuition even though he hasn't had any guidance.