Abuse and exam questions

[Susan McGee]

No: HPFGUIDX 2664

--- In HPforGrownups at egroups.com, "Simon J. Branford" 
<simon.branford at h...> wrote:
> 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.

Goodness. I have a hard time with this post. There were not just
a couple of incidents. In PS/SS we are told that there are no 
pictures of Harry over the fireplace, but only of Dudley. No sign that
he lives there.

When you suggest that he was not left in his cupboard...the only
reason the Dursleys removed him from his cupboard was their fear
of ramification. 

In SS/PS, there is a whole history of Harry's abuse. It is couched 
usually in his inadvertant magical response to it --- he grows his
hair, he apparates to the roof when confronted by school bullies,
the sweater shrinks, etc. etc.

The Dursleys do not treat him even worse (and what can be more
spiteful than sending one tissue as a Christmas present, it would have
been kinder had they ignored it)because they are afraid that
Dumbledore and his friends will retaliate.

Susan

> 
> 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