[HPforGrownups] Re:Harry and the Dursleys' abusive behaviour

[Penny & Bryce Linsenmayer]

No: HPFGUIDX 1640

Hi --

storm stanford wrote:

> 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.

That's what I've always thought, and why I would tend to agree that
JKR's purpose may be more along the lines of what Carole has argued -- a
caricature.  Like Carole, I'll emphasize that I'm not saying that this
type of abuse doesn't exist.  I'm certain that it does and that it can
be considerably worse than what Harry experiences.  But, I'm not sure I
believe that Harry could have come out of that situation as unscathed as
he appears to be in real-life.

I did enjoy Heidi's parenting attachment theories that she posted awhile
back (that the love he received early on from James & Lily would have
given him some measure of protection and self-worth during his years
with the Dursleys), but I do think any child who had lived through what
the Dursleys have done to him (especially since he also has no outside
friends or family) would be considerably less sociable, moral & centered
than Harry is.  Harry has no siblings, no friends & no family members
other than the Dursleys.  His only contact with the outside world is to
go to school (where he has no friends) or to Mrs. Figg (which he
dislikes).  Where on earth would he learn to interact socially & what it
means to make the "right" choices (Ron over Malfoy, etc.)?  He didn't
even have a library card we're told -- so it's not as though he escaped
with books & learned about life through reading.

I agree with Storm -- the abusive situation itself is probably described
with some measure of reality but the effects on Harry are not realistic
in my mind.

Penny



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]