[HPforGrownups] PoA: Dementors and Aunt Marge

[Margaret Dean]

No: HPFGUIDX 14660

linman6868 at aol.com wrote:
> 
> 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.

I think it's also instructive to note =when= Harry snaps.  He can
take it as long as Aunt Marge confines her gibes to him
personally, but when she starts insulting his parents it's the
last straw.  (And one can hardly blame him.  In many societies
remarks like that would be sufficient grounds for a challenge to
a duel.  To the death.)

And then note the content of Harry's dementor-induced
hallucinations (or whatever you want to call them).
 

--Margaret Dean
  <margdean at erols.com>