Answer and Explanation:
In J. K. Rowling's "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets", the discrepancy between the way Harry and the Dursleys' perceive magic is clearly outline at the very beginning of the book. Harry, the main character in the saga, is an orphan who has to live with his aunt, uncle and cousin while he is out on holidays from Hogwarts School.
Magic means everything to Harry. It is the one connection he still has with his deceased parents, and also what makes him special. When he is surrounded by magic and by other people who can do magic, he feels at home. The Dursleys, on the other hand, do not tolerate magic at all. They hate and fear it at the same time. Magic makes them feel inferior and powerless, since they are unable to use it. That is, by the way, the very source of their despise. Harry's aunt, Petunia, was Harry's mother's sister. While her sister was a very skilled witch, Petunia was never able to use magic, was never sent to Hogwarts. Her resentment lasts to this day.
The excerpt that best shows the Dursleys' intolerance is:
<em>Dudley, who was so large his bottom drooped over either side of the kitchen chair, grinned and turned
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<em>to Harry.
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<em>“Pass the frying pan.”
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<em>“You’ve forgotten the magic word,” said Harry irritably.
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<em>The effect of this simple sentence on the rest of the family was incredible: Dudley gasped and fell off
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<em>his chair with a crash that shook the whole kitchen; Mrs. Dursley gave a small scream and clapped her
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<em>hands to her mouth; Mr. Dursley jumped to his feet, veins throbbing in his temples.
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<em>“I meant ‘please’!” said Harry quickly. “I didn’t mean —”
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<em>“WHAT HAVE I TOLD YOU,” thundered his uncle, spraying spit over the table, “ABOUT SAYING THE ‘M’
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<em>WORD IN OUR HOUSE?”
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<em>“But I —”
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<em>“HOW DARE YOU THREATEN DUDLEY!” roared Uncle Vernon, pounding the table with his fist.
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<em>“I just —”
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<em>“I WARNED YOU! I WILL NOT TOLERATE MENTION OF YOUR ABNORMALITY UNDER THIS ROOF!”
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<em>Harry stared from his purple-faced uncle to his pale aunt, who was trying to heave Dudley to his feet.
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<em>“All right,” said Harry, “all right…”</em>
