One-Dimensional Dursleys

[francienyc]

No: HPFGUIDX 43092

It's struck me that in a series of books filled with highly complex 
charicters, the Dursleys are extremely one-dimensional characters.  
Uncle Vernon is a bully in every sense of the term, preying on the 
weak and building himself up; Aunt Petunia is nothing but a gossip 
and a busybody; Dudley is a glutton.  Does anyone have any theories 
on why this is?  Is it because they're the only Muggles who are main 
characters and are thus made banal in comparison with the multi-
faceted wizarding world?  This could work, because the only prominent 
Muggles we see have a very strong desire to remain Muggles--could 
this say something about the wizard in all of us, or is that too 
pithy?  However, Lucius Malfoy is definitely one dimensional, so I 
don't know how well that idea works.

To propose a theory myself, I think the Dursleys could be allegorical 
for some of the seven deadly sins, which are Envy, Sloth, Wrath, 
Gluttony, Pride, Lust, and Greed.  Well, Dudley definitely fits the 
gluttony aspect, and Vernon is certainly Wrath personified at some 
points, but what would Petunia be?  Pride?

Obviously, I'm not really sure where I stand on this issue, but I'm 
hoping to pick your brains on this one.  Any thoughts?

On the note of multi-dimensional characters, I'd also like to 
register what a wonderful character I think Snape is.  Not that I 
like him as a person, far from that, I'm just highly impressed that 
there's always another layer to him.  Just when you think you've got 
him figured out, he does something to surprise you.  I think the fact 
that Rowling can create such deep characters like Snape makes me 
think the Dursleys are one-dimensional on purpose.

~Francie