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 ***************************





More information about the HPforGrownups archive