[HPforGrownups] Re: FAT

[devika261 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 20386

In a message dated 6/7/01 4:37:26 PM Eastern Daylight Time, meboriqua at aol.com 
writes:


> Someone mentioned that Dudley's upbringing is really the issue with 
> his weight.  I completely agree.  Petunia and Vernon Dursley are, IMO, 
> not very good parents.  As mean as they are to Harry, they spoil 
> Dudley even more.  He has been given no limits, no consequences, and 
> no real guidance of any kind for his behavior.  I think parents who 
> allow their children to eat endlessly are abusive.  It's a form of 
> neglect, because anyone as obese as Dudley is unhealthy and any normal 
> parent should see that.  Insisting that "my child is not like that!" 
> when all evidence points to the contrary is doing an injustice to 
> one's child.
> 
> JKR is clearly showing us the kind of parents the Dursleys are.  His 
> weight is a way to physically show us how spoiled, gluttonous and 
> careless Dudley has become because that is how his parents raised him.  
> I understand that JKR's constant references to his weight are not the 
> nicest references, but his weight has become a symbol of how he was 
> raised.  Had Dudley's parents said no more than just once or twice in 
> his life, he might not be the bullying, temper tantrum throwing 14 
> year old he is now.  I'm curious to see what will come of his diet.
> 

I think you're right.  In fact, so does JKR.  IIRC, she said in a chat that 
she feels sorry for Dudley because she sees him as being abused just as much 
as Harry is, only in a different way.
Devika


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