Abuse and exam questions

[Simon J. Branford]

No: HPFGUIDX 2617

Storm wrote: "Simon I'm going to advance my theory about Harry and abuse
again - that is that JKR shows a very evocative and horrible account
emotional abuse and depravation - what she doesn't show as realistically is
the effect on Harry. Even with his 15 months of love prior to landing
(litrally) on the Dursley's door step Harry is a remarkabley well adjusted
child, given his circs. This may be the reason for your perspective (which I
guess I'm fairly forcefully suggesting is wrong - rude but no sense
pretending otherwise)"

I will know try and say what I intended to say yesterday.
Yes there definitely was a problem, I am not arguing against this. I think
that we see only a couple of incidents against Harry. My feeling is that
things were in the process of getting a lot worse but up until that point
things had not been too bad. The worst incidents that we hear about are
quite recent, or occur during the books. I may be reading too much into this
and in fact we are only told about recent events even though there are
plenty of others.

Storm wrote: "Now it's interesting to conisder that what Harry lives though
is the reverse of many abused children - that is they are abused by thier
natural parents and then live in foster care where they are (sometimes) safe
and well cared for. Your argument that this "innoculates" him from some of
the horribleness is possible"

My point was that it is the first few years of a child's life that shape
his/her future the most. At least for the first part of this Harry is well
cared for. This may of course have the opposite effect that there is then
the big shock factor of a total change of environment.

Firebolt wrote: "BTW, Simon, I'm writing up a page of interesting/funny
quotes and anecdotes for my school newspaper - can I mention that Philosophy
Finals question? Please?"

Fine by me. It is not a question I have ever been asked or an answer I ever
gave. I would not have the confidence to do so. It is something that a
friend told me about, and may in fact have occurred quite a while ago (I
think it is at least 20 years ago). I think the details are all correct but
it may be psychology rather this philosophy.

Simon