This story introduces us to Harry Potter, an orphaned boy sent to live with his "horrible" Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia, and their fat, obnoxious son, Dudley. Vernon and Petunia know that because Harry’s parents were witches he will likely become one himself. Since they hate Witchcraft and anything to do with it, they determine to try to raise Harry in such a way as to deny him any knowledge of his parent's powers. Therefore, they do not tell Harry the truth of his parent's death. They also force Harry to live in a closet underneath the stairs. Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia deny Harry any parental love and compassion; in fact, all through the book, any non-witch folk -- like Vernon and Petunia -- are depicted as being "dumber than a box of rocks" (p. 14-15), and of living the most boring, unimaginative lives possible. Witches, on the other hand, are depicted as being very smart, very "with it", and of living wonderfully exciting lives. …show more content…
Harry spends his first ten years totally unaware that he has Witchcraft in his background, and that he might possess inherent "special powers". Suddenly, a letter arrives from the Hogwart School of Wizardry and Witchcraft, telling Harry that he has been accepted as a student. Of course, Uncle Vernon intercepts and destroys the letter. On the next day, two letters arrive, and Vernon destroys them. On the next day, many more letters arrive, this time coming in through windows, doors, and cracks. Finally, after the most stupid flight possible to avoid the letters, enough letters arrive at the boat on which Uncle Vernon has taken Harry that Harry finally gets his hands on one of the