Weight watching (was Dancing Dudley?)

[jenny_ravenclaw <meboriqua@aol.com>]

No: HPFGUIDX 52474

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Amy Z <lupinesque at y...>" 
<lupinesque at y...> wrote:
 
> Neville is also coded as fat, btw--"round-faced."  I have trouble  
with JKR's attitude toward fat as seen in the way she writes Dudley,  
but she is definitely capable of creating an overweight character who  
is meant to be viewed with affection and respect.>

I don't see Hagrid and Madame Maxime as characters who we are supposed 
to see as fat.  I thought they were yet another example of regular 
people who just look different or have a background that is outside of 
the mainstream.

Dudley's weight, however is problematic for two reasons.  One is what 
you just said: JKR seems to think we should laugh at Dudley because he 
is obese.  This leads to the next problem, and Crunchy Frog (nice  
name) already explained it:  JKR also seems to be making a point of 
Dudley's weight being a result of his parents' neglect.  Which is it?  
I don't think Dudley's weight is funny, nor do I think Vernon and 
Petunia are anything short of abusive towards Dudley as well as Harry.

I must admit that the Ton-Tongue Toffee incident made me laugh out 
loud, but that was because to me Dudley is a "great bullying git", not 
fat.  Um, let's not get into the bullies thing again, though!  :-)

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