[HPforGrownups] Re:Harry and the Dursleys' abusive behaviour
Ellimist15 at aol.com
Ellimist15 at aol.com
Mon Sep 18 11:37:01 UTC 2000
No: HPFGUIDX 1633
In a message dated Mon, 18 Sep 2000 6:11:29 AM Eastern Daylight Time, "storm stanford" <msmacgoo at hotmail.com> writes:
<< For what it's worth - I think the description of the abuse is very realistic but the effect on Harry is not ie for that level of emotional abuse he just doesn't seem *that* damaged. he still has a strong sence of self and a sence that he is not deserving of this kind of treatment. If he didn't then he wouldn't have been able to 'set' the boa on Dudders.
someone said on this group a while ago that Harry could have a strong sence of self through his early experances with Lily and James. I don't think that 16 months (July 1980 - October 1981) of care, even at that crutial time, would be able to combat 9.5 years in a cupboard.
storm
btw - where did I get the 1980 date from? It's very clear in my mind but from where? >>
It's based on Nearly-Headless Nick's deathday, October 31, 1492. If Harry was 12 at the 500th deathday, he must have been born in 1980.
Ellie
----- Original Message -----
From: Schlobin at aol.com
To: HPforGrownups at egroups.com
Sent: Monday, September 18, 2000 3:28 PM
Subject: [HPforGrownups] Re: a writer's power of imagination (was abusive behavior)
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It's really not important to me that you agree that Rowlings probably
experienced abuse or knew someone who did...what's important to me is that
you realize that what Harry experiences at the Dursleys, is what children go
through who are being
abused in their homes. It's extremely realistic.
The dynamics of child and partner abuse are not very well known outside of
their fields, and those who have been there, and the situation with the
Dursleys is too
real to have been imagined.
It's one thing to "make up" Quidditch; it's another thing to describe so
precisely the dynamics of a very specific sub set of human behavior. If she
didn't experience it or know someone, then she did interviews or research.
Susan >>
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