Why is Harry less prejudiced? (was sent to live with the Dursleys)

[Amy Z]

No: HPFGUIDX 21752

Susan Hall wrote:

>But if
> Harry had been brought up by the Weaseleys while he would have had 
a happy
> secure and supportive childhood  he would have absorbed the same 
prejudices
> about were wolves and giants that Ron has.  One of the big 
advantages he has
> is that because he spent the first 11 years of his life as an 
oppressed
> minority persecuted for being different he brings a level of 
empathy to his
> dealings with others that Ron (and other wizard children) lack.

Interesting take on Harry.  I had just read it as his not having 
those prejudices because he's ignorant of "how things are supposed to 
be" in the magical world--an ignorance that helps him see assumptions 
and say "how come?"  (Hermione does the same.)  Yours is a nice 
addition to my mental picture.

Wizard children ought to have that empathy too, since wizards are an 
oppressed minority persecuted for being different, or were recently 
enough that it should be a part of the culture . . . but it doesn't 
always work that way.  People forget very quickly what it's like to 
be on the bottom.

Amy Z