[HPforGrownups] Re: More on Dursleys

[Lea]

No: HPFGUIDX 56283


 
 a_rude_mechanical <a_rude_mechanical at yahoo.com> wrote:
--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "darrin_burnett" 
<bard7696 at a...> wrote:
> Something that just hit me as I was re-reading the beginning of 
PS/SS 
> to doublecheck another tidbit.
> 
> Why on earth did the Durseleys take Harry in? Why not just ship him 
> off to an orphanage, or call the proper authorities, pretend you 
have 
> no clue who the kid is, and send him into the system.

and later...

> 
> Why did Dumbledore allow the abuse, emotional and physical, of 
Harry 
> to continue? 
>

and later... 

> And the Dursleys are just too earthy a people not to raise their 
> hands to Harry.
> 
> As has been pointed out, it's damned lucky Harry didn't grow up to 
be 
> a serial killer, being locked in a cupboard for 10 years and made 
to 
> be a slave. Dumbledore, to my way of thinking, took an awful 
chance, 
> letting that continue.

and later..
> 
> And lastly, I don't believe for a second that the Dursleys have 
done 
> Dudley any favors. 
> Darrin

>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!! =)

>Elisabeth


And now me:

I have to agree with Darrin on this one. I don't find Harry's situation with the Dursleys to be funny or exaggerated (on Harry's part). I believe the abuse is there - on more than one level - and I'm very relieved that Harry seems to have escaped their parenting skills. I am not sure why Dumbledore is of the belief that Harry is safer at 4 Privet Drive, personally I have my doubts.  

What is the legal age in England for leaving home?  In Canada it is 16. 

Lea (who is eagerly awaiting Harry's "coming of age" so he can tell the Dursley's exactly what he thinks of their loving "care", although he probably won't)

 




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