Monday, January 11, 2010

Point of view

Throughout most of the story, we share Harry’s point of view. We see what he sees and experience what he experiences. In the first chapter, however, we are shown Mr. Dursley’s point of view as he drives to work, sees a cat reading a map, and encounters oddly dressed people on the streets. Rowling could have given us a more straightforward third-person story without any particular point of view. Why does she choose to show us Mr. Dursley’s thoughts and reactions in this first chapter?

2 comments:

Seth and Julie said...

I think she did this to start out the story with a bizarre feeling. These were things that were not normal to Mr. Dursley, and things he suspected could have something to do with the big secret they had kept from Harry. It created curiosity and mystery, and made us anxious for the story to unfold.

The Kings said...

He is trying so hard to protect "his" world from that of the Witch world. He has a safe little life and does not want it threatened. When he sees these things happening he wants to deny it but is afraid his worst fears are coming to past. It creates the feeling also that we will experience in the remainding books..."that strange things are afoot..."!