10 Best Harry Potter Chapters
2. The Mirror Of Erised
Book: The Philosopher’s Stone
Chapter Synopsis: After receiving an Invisibility Cloak for Christmas, Harry uses his new gift to enter the library’s restricted section before accidently stumbling upon a mysterious mirror.
Considering that The Philosopher’s Stone was aimed at children, this chapter had a strikingly sombre quality to it.
Amongst all the fun and adventure of Harry’s first year, this enchanted mirror reminded readers that Harry still longed for his parents. The emotional weight of this chapter, though simple enough for children to understand, was far closer in tone to adult literature given that it was dealing with themes of death and grief.
Rowling also offered an insight into Ron’s personality. In contrast to his best friend, Ron saw himself as the best of all his brothers when he looked in the mirror, demonstrating the continued pressure he felt to live up to his family’s reputation.
Given the emotional heft of this chapter, it’s somewhat understandable that Rowling was initially rejected by many publishers, for children’s literature rarely tackles dark themes so openly.