Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

As an orphan, Harry Potter’s search for home and belonging is paramount to his development as a character. Unlike Dudley, Harry is raised by people who do not care for him. The Dursleys actively despise Harry, keeping him locked in a cupboard under the stairs. The concept of family is thus entirely foreign to Harry. When Harry arrives at Hogwarts, he soon realizes the importance of home and belonging. This theme appears throughout the entire series as Harry grapples with the circumstances of his birth and struggles to find a place where he truly belongs. Harry’s loneliness is most apparent during mail delivery every morning. Unlike other students, “Hedwig hadn’t brought Harry anything so far,” as he has no family to send him gifts or letters (108). Despite that, Hedwig still visits to “nibble his ear and have a bit of toast before going off to sleep in the owlery […].” (108). Hedwig offers the love and affection that Harry lacked in his early childhood. She is the first birthday present he ever received and his first pet, and Hedwig visits him for no reason other than to spend time with him.

Harry’s loneliness is especially evident when he finds