Think of the Chamber of Secrets as sort of a hidden clubhouse. A hidden clubhouse for bigots and people who can talk to snakes.

Hey, we didn't say it was a good club.

This place is tucked way underneath Hogwarts castle and was built by one of the four Hogwarts founders, Salazar Slytherin, right before he left the school in a huff. See, he was annoyed that the other founders wouldn't agree to his plan to discriminate against Muggle-born students.

We'll let Professor McGonagall explain:

PROFESSOR MCGONAGALL: Now, according to legend Slytherin had built a hidden chamber in this castle known as the Chamber of Secrets. Though, shortly before departing, he sealed it until that time when his own true Heir returned to the school. The Heir alone would be able to open the Chamber and unleash the horror within, and by so doing purge the school of all those who in Slytherin's view, were unworthy to study magic. Muggle-borns.

Geez. Talk about taking workplace disagreements to a new level.

So, in a way, the Chamber of Secrets represents the prejudice that's simmering just below the surface at Hogwarts. These hateful attitudes are always there locked away, but there are people who want them to get out and run wild. Some wizards would like to throw open the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets and let all their hate flag fly, while other folks would rather than whole chamber be sealed off and the basilisk of pure-blood supremacy be slayed.

We're glad that the movie ends up with option B.