Harry Potter and the Chambers of Secrets
Harry Potter and the Chambers of Secrets is novels that false under the genre of fantasy. The novel was written by J.K Rowling, who is a British author. The plot of the novel is a continuation of Harry’s second-year attendance at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (Rowling). During this period, there are several continuous messages, which keep on appearing along the institution’s walls, which makes some of the students afraid. This is evident through the statement by Lockhart “Ron looked as though he'd just been told he had to go and live in the Forbidden Forest” (Rowling 284). The messages are a warning of the opening of the secret chambers and that Slytherin’s heir will take away the lives of students who were not from all-magical families. Throughout the novel, various names used in the novel contain more than nominative meaning.
Development of English language onomastic
Harry Potter and the Chambers of Secrets is known to be the second book written by J.K. Rowling in the Harry Potter series. Not only is the novel interesting to both juvenile and children, but it is also liked by most adults. One major feature developed in the novel by J.K. Rowling is the utilization of proper English noun. Meanwhile, each name used in the novel tend to have a meaning that supports the paradigm of the novel.
Names and their hidden meanings
In the novel, the English language onomastic is developed in a particular way to ensure all the names consist of both a nominative meaning as well as hidden labels and shapes, which must be explored for the owners to be able to establish their roles within the paradigm. For example, the names that are used for both Harry Potter and the chambers of secret have always had secret meaning within them. The names represent specific attributes, describe every personality and cultural associations. While the author was developing the novel, J.K. Rowling used numerous names whose origins were Roman and Greek mythologies, allegories from literature works and popular children literature.
Alliterative names and poetic aspects
Names used in Harry Potter and the Chambers of Secret tend to be mostly alliterative because of the addition of poetics aspects to the novel through the use of phonetic, portraying characters in various ways and suggesting that there exist a hidden meaning behind their names. For example, Albus is a good wizard, Snape snipers from time to time and Malfoys are of bad faith.
Intertextual echoes and cultural references
The stone Pensieve lay in the cabinet where it had always been: Harry heaved it on to the desk and poured Snape’s memories into the wide basin with its runic markings around the edge. To escape into someone else’s head would be a blessed relief...nothing that even Snape had left him could be worse than his own thoughts (Rowling 78).
While developing the book and establishing appropriate names to be used, J.K Rowling takes into consideration each name’s etymology as well as fills them with cultural and intertextual meaning. Most of the names, which are used in the Harry Potter’s novel tend to be British (Colbert). However, there are several French, Scottish, Greek, South European, Latin and Germany etymology (Colbert). Regardless, the etymology of any name used in the book does not necessarily signify the character’s area of origin, on the contrary it signify the personality’s root character.
Characters and their names
Rowling incorporates a great number of intertextual echoes within the novel. This is evident through names such as Hermione, which was adopted from the novel The Winter’s Tale written by Shakespeare and Longbottom which was acquired from the Lord of Rings and Twelfth Night’s own Marvolo among other names (King). Numerous names used in the book were borrowed from Latin and Greek mythology such as Minerva, Phoenix, Hippogriff, and Phoenix (King). In another instance, as J.K Rowling used various British folklore and history while developing the onomastics space. While there are several characters whose names belong to various heroes including Ronald, Arthur and Percival Weasley who were Arthurian legends (King). Albus Dumbledore’s phoenix is referred to as Fawkes, borrowed from Guy Fawkes who intended to blow down the parliament of Britain. As a result, the hidden meaning of the name is fire.
Names and their significance
To attain a deeper and better understanding of nearly every style utilized by J.K. Rowling when naming the characters within the book, it is important to assess the names of various characters present in the book such as Lord Voldemort, Harry Potter, Lucius Malfoy, Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore. The protagonist of the novel is Harry Potter who happens to be a young magician. The protagonist’s surname is attained from the word potter, which is a British name meaning “an individual who sells pottery” (Jentsch). Meanwhile, the name Henry is a common English name used to imply to plunder. In fact, the novel’s author himself acknowledged that he is fond of the name Henry (Jentsch). Even though the combination of the name Harry Potter, is greatly used in English language, it is clear that in the novel, the name was used to show that the protagonist is an ordinary individual who can perform great deeds.
Albus Dumbledore is a character within the novel who serves as the head of Hogwarts. The origin of the name can be traced back to a Latin word Albus-white. In the novel, the name is used first to symbolize that the character has grey hair hence he is old. Secondly, the name signifies purity, morality, and objection to evil forces (Jentsch). The surname is borrowed from Anglo-Saxon word dumbledorehumblebee. The author uses the word Dumbledore to distinguish the specific habit of the headmaster walking while numerous humbling songs silently.
Meanwhile, Lord Voldemort who is commonly known as the dark magician and a former Hogwarts student previous name happen also to be symbolic (Jentsch). First, Tom is a name used to signify non-magic origin while the name Marvolo, is derived from a character who is in Shakespearean’s Twelfth Night novel (Jentsch). Malviolo is identified as a narcissistic individual who greatly desires for power, greatness and hard to be explained. As a result, the audience may form a conclusion that the names used are definitive and give a vivid description of the specific character of the individual.
The name Lord Voldemort happens to be an anagram of the actual name and is borrowed from the French word “vol de mort.” Even though the name “Vol de mort” implies death’s flight, it is also descriptive especially when it is considered that the actor seeks to attain immortality and has the ability to fly amidst the air (King). Lastly, Lucius Malfoy who is among the main antagonists present in the novel and is the parent to Draco Malfoy. The name of the character is borrowed from Latin name Lucian, which implies “Light.” There could be a possibility that the name is greatly associated with the word Lucifer, used to display malicious and evil personality.
Meanwhile, the Surname Malfoy has the ability to exist as two different words, i.e. Mal and Foy. Mal is attained from a French word implying evil or bad while the words Foi is used to denote Faith (King). Through the use of the above name, J.K. Rowling means that the character is not a good individual and has bad motives. As a result, it is easier to establish the intention of the characters and the intended theme, which is used to bring out the theme of the novel.
Tolerance and genetic heritage
For instance, the ideology behind exercising tolerance within the society is critical in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. This idea is well illustrated through Salazar Slytherin’s desire to clear out “mudbloods,” or wizards who did not have any magical ancestors from the learning institution (Rowling). The contradiction takes place since Harry is half-wizard while both of Hermione’s parent are “Muggles,” who happen not to be magicians. Despite the situation, both Hermione and Harry happen to be great wizards compared to Malfoy, who is from a pure lineage of wizards (Rowling).
As a result, the situation shows that success has more to do with hard work and dedication rather than genetic heritage. According to Rowling, the Slytherin students are inbred, which has resulted in them being oversized, unintelligent and mean looking (Rowling). However, their pride is based on the fact that their blood is pure. Meanwhile, the theme is also shown through Dursleys with their inherent intolerance they are mean to Harry and ill-tempered. However, they are still proud of themselves.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the names used for the characters present in the novel Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets consist of more than just a nominative meaning. Through the use of several methods, the author J.K. Rowling can communicate the basic characters of every name given to the characters within the novel. Rowling borrows the names from Greek and Roman mythology, English folklore as well as from the cultural heritage of the British hence developing the characters to make them easily understood and meaningful.
Works Cited
Colbert, David. The magical worlds of Harry Potter: A treasury of myths, legends, and fascinating facts. Penguin, 2008.
Jentsch, Nancy. "Harry Potter and the Tower of Babel." The ivory tower and Harry Potter: Perspectives on a literary phenomenon (2002): 284-304.
King, Ros. "Reading beyond Words: Sound and Gesture in The Winter's Tale." Pedagogy 7.3 (2007): 385-400.
Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. S.I.: Pottermore, 2016.
