Bad Behavior, Fairness, Snape and the Dursleys

[Joywitch]

No: HPFGUIDX 1443

I have been reading the endless threads on the topic of why Snape is 
so badly behaved, how he can get away with it, why doesnt Dumbledore 
DO SOMETHING about it, etc. etc. and a thought struck me:

Why are we (HP fanatics, that is) willing to accept the improbably 
bad behavior of the Dursleys, but not of Snape?  After all, the 
Dursleys, who live in a middle class suburban area, send their nephew 
to school in broken glasses and clothes that dont fit.  All the kids 
in Harrys primary school were so afraid of Dursley that they wouldnt 
even talk to Harry.  Is it likely that this would go unnoticed for so 
many years by all the teachers and administrators in a typical middle 
class school?  Probably not.  The reason why, IMHO, the Dursleys get 
away with this bad behavior is because the HP books are a work of 
fiction, and JKR is not trying to accurately portray reality.  I 
think that the Dursleys are a caricature and therefore an 
exaggeration of a certain type of person.  IMHO the Dursleys are 
something of a tribute to Roald Dahl, whose books often contain 
characters who represent unrealistic extremes, like the really 
horrible parents in Matilda (who are a lot like the Dursleys), the 
extremely poor family in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (and the 
extremely feeble grandparents) and probably others.

But what is so interesting to me is that while we put up with the 
Dursleys, we can not seem to accept the improbably bad teacher - 
Snape.  Of course it is not likely that a teacher, just about 
anywhere these days, could get away with treating students as bad as 
Snape does.  And also, of course, Snapes true nature is of great 
importance to the storyline, so the endless speculation is natural. 
But why should Snape be more realistic than the Dursleys?  This is 
JKRs universe and it doesnt work the same as ours, after all. It is 
full of magic, unlike our mundane little muggle universe (sigh).

I think part of the charm of the HP books is that it includes such 
creeps as Snape and the Dursleys - it is full of the little 
injustices that make life so hard.  Many, many unfair things happen 
in the HP books.  Authority figures are not only NOT infallible but 
often idiots.  And just about anyone, including all of our intrepid 
heros, can unwittingly participate in the perpetuation of an 
injustice by their willingness to believe what is popularly perceived 
to be the truth, rather than questioning other peoples assumptions.  
For example, look at how EVERYONE believes that Sirius Black is 
guilty until the end of PoA, how so many people believe the lies that 
Rita Skeeter tells, etc.

I think part of what JKR is trying to teach us is to always QUESTION 
AUTHORITY, QUESTION OUR ASSUMPTIONS, and always be vigilant about 
SEEKING THE TRUTH.