More on Dursleys

[jenny_ravenclaw]

No: HPFGUIDX 56265

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "a_rude_mechanical" 
<a_rude_mechanical at y...> wrote:
 
> Whoa!  I like to think of Rowling's description of Harry's life with  
the Dursleys as being as fantastical as his life at Hogwarts, but 
without the magic.  Clearly, penning a child into a cupboard, feeding 
him only bread and cheese, and throwing frying pans at him are all 
horrible forms of child abuse, but these are still children's books.  
My point, and I do have one, is that I don't think that Harry's life 
is meant to be taken seriously in any form--his mistreatment (and 
arguably that of Dudley's) at the hands of Vernon and Petunia are 
exaggerated to be funny--this is, after all, fantasy!! =)>

While the Dursleys' treatment of Harry seems quite exaggerated, it 
really isn't so funny.  Even JKR herself has said that she feels sorry 
for Dudley and thinks he is as much a victim of his parents as is 
Harry.  We may laugh at Dudley's description, but JKR knows it really 
isn't a laughing matter.  I think the same of the Dursleys' treatment 
of Harry in general.

The sad thing is that there really are a lot of children out there who 
are treated exactly as Harry was, but they don't find out they are 
wizards and have the opportunity to start a new life elsewhere.  That 
is, IMO, one of the reasons I love the series so much.

It is hard to understand why Harry has managed to be so grounded after 
living with the Dursleys, but there are kids who have the ability to 
see outside of their situation.  At least Harry always had the 
knowledge that the Dursleys aren't his real parents.  He also, as was 
said in SS, has had numerous hints that he didn't belong with the 
Dursleys at all - strangely dressed people coming up to him in the 
street and shaking his hand, hair growing back overnight and so on.  
Some people believe that Lily's love for Harry was enough to keep him 
going all those lonely years with the Dursleys, or that she even used 
her Charms talents to instill that love in Harry once she was gone.

--jenny from ravenclaw ****************