Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter, #3)

by J.K. Rowling

[Whitney @ First Impressions Reviews]

Summary:

Harry Potter returns for his third year at Hogwarts and with concentrating on new classes and winning the Quiddich cup must also be put on his guard with Sirius Black an escaped murderer for the wizard prison Azkaban and is supposedly after Harry. Although one must keep in mind that things do not always appear what they seem.


Thoughts:

Part of this may have to do with Alan Rickman's delivery of the line but my favorite quote of all the Harry Potter books/movies is spoken by Professor Snape while substituting for the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher Professor Lupin, "Turn to page 394." on page 394 is the chapter on werewolves and by setting this chapter hopes a student will recognize Remus Lupin for his true nature. I love this because it is portrayed so dry but at the same time with great authority.


Another thing I didn't realize before now is that however slightly has the underlining of prejudice in the plot. I believe this is shown through Professor Lupin, who's true nature is of a werewolf which is why he's been missing classes. Remus is described as having shabby dress with dark circles under his eyes. Somewhere in the book he is commented as saying that it is difficult for him to hold a job and after transforming, and putting students at risk, resigns from the post because "parents wouldn't want their children being taught by someone like me." Maybe I'm reading too much into this but I thought this was an interesting analogy towards racism or discrimination.