Fred and George: The Bullies You Do Know

[darrin_burnett]

No: HPFGUIDX 43130

Jenny wrote:

> 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.
> 


First, I think the connection between "he got what he deserved" 
and "it's her fault she was attacked" is faulty.

The latter is typically used in describing a rape victim. I do not 
know if that is the connotation you are trying to put forward, but if 
so, it is quite unfair.

Dudley is not an innocent victim. We have it from Fred and George's 
own words. They pulled the prank because he is a "great bullying 
git." 

And as you point out, it was an experiment. I don't deny that Fred 
and George were dying to see if their creation worked.

The bully got a little comeuppance. He DID get what was coming to 
him. 

I revolt against the idea that Dudley's misfortune is equivalent to 
an innocent victim's, and especially against the connotation of a 
rape victim. They simply are not the same things.

I too look forward to seeing Harry stand up to Dudley. But the fact 
remains, Dudley is much, much bigger than Harry and could still pound 
Harry into meat jelly. And since Harry can't use magic while at the 
Dursleys (and the Dursleys know this) he can't use his wand to even 
the odds.

Until Harry hits the Hogwarts weight room, it is going to take bigger 
kids like Fred and George (or maybe Ron, who is physically bigger 
than Harry) to do this. 

Darrin
-- Sometimes vigilante justice is the only justice