Professor McGonagall Character Analysis in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

The Transfiguration teacher at Hogwarts and the Head of Gryffindor House. Professor McGonagall is a strict rule-enforcer and doles out detention to Harry and Ron when they arrive via flying car. However, she also cares deeply for the students and is extremely anxious about the attacks going on at the school. When Dumbledore is suspended from the school at the end of the book, she takes over as the temporary Headmistress.

Professor McGonagall Character Timeline in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

The timeline below shows where the character Professor McGonagall appears in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Rules, Rebellion, and Doing the Right Thing Theme Icon

Snape then retrieves Professor McGonagall, who asks them to explain what happened. After hearing Ron’s story, she asks why they... (full context)

...the start of the term, and therefore Gryffindor shouldn’t have points taken from it. Professor McGonagall agrees, almost smiling, but she still gives Harry and Ron detention. She then conjures sandwiches... (full context)

The Gryffindors’ next class is Transfiguration with Professor McGonagall. Harry feels like he’s forgotten everything he learned the previous year, and he has a... (full context)

Harry, Hermione, and Ron return to the castle for lunch. In the entrance hall, Professor McGonagall stops Ron and Harry, informing them that they are to serve their detentions that evening.... (full context)

Information, Rumors, and Fear Theme Icon

Then, Dumbledore enters the room with Professor McGonagall while Harry pretends to sleep. They are carrying a petrified Colin Creevey, who is frozen... (full context)

...Nick, and starts to scream that another attack has occurred. Doors fly open and Professor McGonagall comes out into the hall. Ernie, the Hufflepuff student, comes out and accuses Harry of... (full context)

McGonagall leaves Harry alone in Dumbledore’s office and tells him to wait. He looks around and... (full context)

...he heads off to the match. But just before it is about to start, Professor McGonagall comes out and says the match has been cancelled. She beckons Harry and Ron and... (full context)

Harry, Ron, and Professor McGonagall head back to the Gryffindor common room. She announces that all students must be back... (full context)

...next to the scene of the first attack. A few days before exams start, Professor McGonagall announces at breakfast that the Mandrakes are almost ready. Once the students are revived, they... (full context)

On the way, Harry and Ron are stopped by Professor McGonagall. Harry lies and says that they were trying to sneak off to visit Hermione, and... (full context)

...be in Moaning Myrtle’s bathroom. They decide to go to the staffroom to tell Professor McGonagall what they’ve discovered. (full context)

Just then, Professor McGonagall’s voice echoes throughout the corridors: all students are to return to their dormitories at once,... (full context)

McGonagall goes on to say that all the students will be sent home the following day.... (full context)

Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Lockhart go to McGonagall’s office, where Mr. Weasley and Mrs. Weasley sob with relief to see Ginny, and Dumbledore... (full context)

...mystery. Additionally Hagrid returns from Azkaban, Gryffindor is named as the House Cup winner, and McGonagall announces that exams have been canceled. Dumbledore also announces that Lockhart will be unable to... (full context)