Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Information, Rumors, and Fear
Prejudice vs. Respect
Friendship, Loyalty, and Bravery
Fate, Choice, and Identity
Rules, Rebellion, and Doing the Right Thing
Summary
Analysis
Harry, Ron, and Hermione have long discussions about Riddle’s memory. Hermione wonders whether Riddle could have caught the wrong person, and if another monster could have been attacking students. But Ron questions how many monsters could be living inside the school, and Harry figures that the attacks must have stopped after Hagrid was expelled. They wonder whether they should ask Hagrid about it, but in the end, they decide to talk to him only if there is another attack.
One of Harry’s most important qualities is his loyalty to his friends, and his loyalty to Hagrid shows here. Hagrid has always been a friend and even a father figure to Harry, and Harry also knows that Hagrid would never intentionally do something to hurt students. This prevents Harry, Ron, and Hermione from immediately reporting him, showing how loyalty can combat misinformation.
Themes
It has now been four months since Justin and Nick were petrified, and life continues somewhat normally in the castle. Students sign up for classes for the following year, and Harry has another Quidditch game coming up. But the evening before the match, Harry discovers that someone has ransacked his dorm room, and that Riddle’s diary is gone. He wonders who could have done it, as only a Gryffindor would have the password.
Later it is revealed that Ginny is the person who steals Riddle’s diary here because she doesn’t want Harry to be possessed by Riddle like she was. This exhibits an immense amount of bravery and loyalty from Ginny, as she in essence sacrifices herself in order to protect Harry from Riddle.
Themes
The next day, Harry, Ron, and Hermione are returning from breakfast when Harry hears the cold voice again. He asks Ron and Hermione if they can hear it, but they shake their heads. Then Hermione says suddenly that she thinks she understands something, and she hurries off to the library.
In this moment, Hermione connects the fact that only Harry can hear the voice to the fact that only Harry can talk to snakes. True to form, she heads to the library in order to discover more information and confirm her suspicions before taking action.
Themes
Harry isn’t able to catch the voice again, so he heads off to the match. But just before it is about to start, Professor McGonagall comes out and says the match has been cancelled. She beckons Harry and Ron and brings them up to the hospital wing. Hermione and a Ravenclaw girl named Penelope Clearwater have been petrified. A mirror was found on the floor near them, but Harry and Ron don’t know what that could mean.
The attacks continue to plague the Muggle-born students, this time taking Hermione. But Riddle also later explains that he wanted to target Hermione because he knew that Harry is incredibly loyal to his friends. Harry would have no choice but to try and find out more information about the Chamber of Secrets and attempt to save more friends from this fate. In this way, Riddle plays Harry’s sense of loyalty against him.
Themes
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Harry, Ron, and Professor McGonagall head back to the Gryffindor common room. She announces that all students must be back in their common rooms by six each evening and will be escorted to each lesson by a teacher. She also mentions that it is likely the school will be closed if the culprit isn’t found. Harry can’t stop thinking about Hermione—and about how Tom Riddle felt at the prospect of the school closing.
Harry’s sympathy for Riddle’s feelings again highlights the similarities between the two. But his thoughts just before also highlight their differences: Harry is worried about one of his best friends, and about all the Muggle-born students, whereas Riddle was simply looking out for himself when he was in the same situation.
Themes
Harry tells Ron that they have to go and talk to Hagrid, though it won’t be easy with the new rules in place. They decide to break out Harry’s Invisibility Cloak and sneak down to Hagrid’s hut in the middle of the night. When Hagrid answers the door, he is holding a crossbow, but he lowers it when he sees Ron and Harry. Hagrid seems very nervous as he makes them tea, and Harry asks if he’s all right—and if he heard about Hermione. Hagrid confirms that he heard, but just then there is a knock on the door. Ron and Harry get under the Invisibility Cloak once more.
Again, Harry and Ron demonstrate loyalty to Hagrid by trying to ask him about the attacks and the events of fifty years ago, rather than assuming the worst without finding more information. Additionally, they begin their rule-breaking streak once more by sneaking out at night, because they know that it is more important to try and save other students than to follow the curfew rules.
Themes
Dumbledore enters with Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic. Fudge explains that the Ministry has to act, now that four Muggle-born students have been attacked. Though Dumbledore tries to assure Fudge that Hagrid has his confidence, Fudge says that he’s under a lot of pressure, that he has to be seen doing something, and that Hagrid’s record is against him. Fudge must take Hagrid to Azkaban prison.
There is another knock on the door, and this time it is Lucius Malfoy. He is looking for Dumbledore: he and the other school governors feel that it is time for him to “step aside.” He has an Order of Suspension to remove Dumbledore from his post because of the attacks on Muggle-borns. Fudge tries to protest that it would be a bad idea to suspend Dumbledore, but Lucius states that this is a matter for the governors to decide.
Lucius is also more concerned with the appearance of doing something than with actually finding out what happened. As is revealed later, he knows that Riddle’s diary is what is actually causing the attacks, because he planted the book in Ginny’s cauldron. But he takes advantage of the situation in order to remove Dumbledore, which he knows will only make the school more dangerous. Thus, Harry and Ron see how easily the rules are manipulated by corrupt people.
Themes
Hagrid becomes very upset at the idea of Dumbledore’s removal, but Dumbledore remains calm. He says that if the governors want his removal, he will step aside. He leaves with these parting words: “You will find that I will only truly have left this school when none here are loyal to me.” Harry thinks that Dumbledore is looking right at him, even though he and Ron are invisible.
This advice from Dumbledore becomes key for Harry. Later, when Harry is facing Riddle and the monster in the Chamber of Secrets, he proves his loyalty to Dumbledore. This calls Fawkes to him and enables him to be brave in the face of immense danger.
Themes
Lucius and Dumbledore lead the way out. Before Hagrid exits, however, he says that “If anyone wanted ter find out some stuff, all they’d have ter do would be ter follow the spiders.” Fudge looks at him in confusion, and then the two men leave. Once they are alone, Harry and Ron pull off the Cloak, horrified at what has just happened.
Hagrid’s advice to Ron and Harry will also test their bravery and loyalty, as this advice leads them into the Forbidden Forest. But because they want to prove Hagrid innocent and save Hermione, they work together and are able to summon their courage even in a frightening situation.
Themes
