Fred and George: The Bullies You Do Know
jenny_ravenclaw
meboriqua at aol.com
Sun Aug 25 00:37:42 UTC 2002
No: HPFGUIDX 43129
--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "flower_fairy12" <flower_fairy12 at y...>
wrote:
> Dudley, IMO, deserved that toffee he ate. He would have done the
same if he were a wizard facing a younger, vulnerable, muggle, no
doubt about it. I thank Fred and George for giving him what he
deserved.>
I can't lie and say I didn't squirm with delight when I first read the
scene where the twins dropped the Ton-Tongue Toffees all over the
floor; the anticipation of what was to come made me laugh out loud.
However, does that mean I think Dudley deserved to experience what he
did? Maybe. Does that mean that I think it was Fred and George's
place to cause such an experience? No, I don't.
What makes me uncomfortable about that scene is two outsiders coming
into the Dursleys' home and taking matters into their own hands. I
don't like it. I love that the twins want to protect Harry, but it
would be much more satisfying as well as justified if Harry was the
one who stood up to Dudley (and I believe JKR has mentioned that this
will happen).
I don't like expressions like "he got what he deserved" or "it's her
fault she was attacked", because it is placing responsibility on the
wrong person. We all know Dudley is a vile and disgusting character
and I would hope by now that people agree with me when I say that his
parents have taught him every single behavior he has displayed so far.
However, Fred and George used a bit of "vigilante justice" with those
Ton-Tongue Toffees (as well as used Dudley as an experiment). They
were out of line. Had Harry developed and dropped those candies on
the floor, I might feel differently.
--jenny from ravenclaw ***************************
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