In the novel “Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone” by J.K. Rowling the interactions between children and adults share a common feature, whether in the Wizarding world or muggle world. That is, the adults do not view children as independent people but rather viewing them as a pawn to be shuffled around. As Hogwarts is considered to be the safest place in the Wizarding world the professors tend to dismiss the complaints of their students and believe they cannot come to any real harm while on campus. Meanwhile, the teachers will use the children for their academic prowess and failures to further their own house’s success in the competition for the House Cup. Though Harry, Ron, and Hermione continually prove their capability to learn well-guarded …show more content…
In doing so, the adults will withhold information from Harry. They believe that if he does not know exactly what there is to fear he will not live in fear. Harry has a right to know what happened to his parents, who tried to kill him. Furthermore, even a child has a right to know their own identity. Harry’s guardians withhold information from the boy and put him in a situation where he must search for answers, often at his own risk. Hermione and Ron are outsiders to Harry’s life when they meet the famous “boy who lived” however, they already have a greater knowledge of Harry’s life than Harry does. This demonstrates that the witches, wizards, and other adults in Harry’s life have more respect for Voldemort than for the boy he attacked. Later in the novel when the children begin investigating abnormal events within Hogwarts the teachers dismiss the children and their questions; they underestimate Harry, Ron and Hermione’s intelligence. QUOTE. When confronted with an imminent threat to Hogwarts the trio approaches a trusted advisor, the head of Gryffindor house, for assistance in the matter. McGonagall tells them to “go enjoy the warm weather” rather than worry about what may happen. McGonagall will not admit that the children may be capable of knowing something she does not. Thus the three first-years are left alone to handle the threat of a dark wizard breaking into Hogwarts to steal the Philosopher’s Stone, a danger they should be nowhere