PoA: Dementors and Aunt Marge

[linman6868 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 14624

I should probably check the archives for a topic of this sort, but 
it's occurred to me the last several times I've read PoA that Harry's 
struggle for the book is set up right from the Dursley episode in the 
beginning.  A poster mentioned that every episode with the Dursleys 
is designed to mirror to Harry what NOT to do; I've also been 
wondering if each episode with the Dursleys mirrors in little the 
conflict Harry's about to experience in the wizarding world.

Nowhere is this more evident to me than in the Aunt Marge episode.  
In order to survive Aunt Marge's visit, Harry forces himself to think 
about the Broomcare Handbook.  This forced concentration both diverts 
his attention from Aunt Marge's gibes and controls his emotional 
response to the gibes he does hear.  In effect, it's a Muggle version 
of a Patronus Charm.  Only it doesn't work.  Harry snaps, he does 
magical revenge, and then he runs away.  

It's kind of gratifying to think of Aunt Marge as a human dementor, 
but it raises a conflict that even Harry's mastery of the Patronus 
Charm can't solve on its own.  Harry seems to be able to overcome 
magical difficulties, even seemingly impossible ones like dementors; 
but the mirroring human difficulties can still get him down.  Not 
that we blame him a whole heck of a lot, but (in PoA especially) the 
Dursley episodes seem to shadow in the root human difficulties Harry 
will soon encounter, or is already encountering.  And what may or may 
not solve them.

Is this only a PoA thing? Or is this the recurring use JKR finds for 
the Dursleys?  I have some half-formed thoughts myself, but would 
like to hear what others think.

Lisa