Parents' attitude towards HP and (simplistic) HP/Dahl comparison

[alhewison]

No: HPFGUIDX 43051


> 
> Alina wrote-
> 
Of course, the book was intended for children not adults, but 
Rowling herself is a mother, I wonder what she was feeling when she 
herself wrote about Harry's life with the Dursleys.


Is it? I thought that JKR has said that she wrote the books for 
herself - an adult. They have been marketed for children, but they 
are seen as amongst a few books now viewed as "cross-over" ie for 
adults and children alike. Surely HPFGU bears testimony to the fact 
that the books contain alot of material to intrigue and interest a 
more adult audience.

I do agree that adults will carry different emotional baggage into 
their reading of the books than children will. However, 
this "baggage" will differ greatly from adult to adult, just as it 
will from child to child. I personally feel very strongly about Harry 
and his treatment at the Dursleys. I think that although some of this 
is maternal instinct - how could "parents" be so cruel, it is also 
empathy. I share and enjoy Harry's triumphs over his former 
oppressors.
>  
>  Olivia wrote:- A reviewer I read likened the Dursleys to 
characters out of Dickens novels with their exaggerated proportions 
and cruelty. But, if you  want to get psychological, they also serve 
as useful stand-ends for a child's feelings of having horrible, 
unloving parents and bullying  siblings who are petted and adored 
over them even if they really  aren't.


I see a much stronger resemblance between the Dursleys with the 
charactures of Roald Dahl. Take James and the Giant Peach for 
example. Even the heroes names are similar: James Henry Trotter v. 
Harry James Trotter. James is brought up by a thin aunt (Aunt 
Spiker) - Aunt Petunia and a fat aunt (Aunt Sponge) -Uncle Vernon. He 
sleeps in a locked room with a barred window. The similarities go 
on...
> 
Olivia again:-

> I recently read a quote about how every child no matter how loved 
has  at one time or another hated their parents. With the awful 
Dursleys  we have parent and sibling substitutes that a child can 
hate with out  feelings of guilt getting in the way. If Harry's real 
parents treated  him as the Dursleys do I doubt anyone could enjoy 
the series. But to  have a more distant relation like an aunt and 
uncle doesn't seem to  have the same horror of being mistreated by a 
parent. 

I do agree that the charactures are more funny because they are only 
Harry's guardians. But their treatment is aborrment because no child 
should be so abused by someone in a position of trust. In a recent 
and tragic case in Britain 2 young girls were abducted and murdered. 
This terrible crime has rocked the country, but what has shocked 
people most is that it now seems that the perpetuators were known to 
the girls. One was their classroom assistant, the other was her 
fiance and caretaker at a nearby school. Any crime like this is 
terrible, but the question now being asked is who can be trusted? We 
can tell children not to talk to strangers, but can't we expect them 
to be safe in the hands of carers? Harry has been let down and 
mistreated by the Dursleys in a way that makes all readers regardless 
of age feel for him and with him.

Olivia:-

> Rowling seems to be following the time honored tradition of having 
a  down trodden hero (and who among us hasn't felt a little down 
trodden  at times?) who rises above his/her unhappy surrondings and 
many trials to find happiness in the end.

Certainly, JKR is leading Harry down the "heroic path". I only hope 
that you are right and that he will find happiness in the end!


Ali
>