[HPforGrownups] Chapter Discussions - Chapter One, Dudley Demented

[Cornet83 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 68242

Hello all, 
Delurking for a short time to stick in an opinion...

Pip!Squeak wrote, in her chapter synopsis/discussion (major snippage)
>Both Aunt and 
>Uncle accuse Harry of being up to something. They demand to know 
>what news the Owls are bringing him. Harry has to admit that the 
>Owls aren't bringing him any news. Harry loses his temper and stalks 
>off. He knows he'll be in trouble later.

To which Wendy replied: (more snippage)
<<This is something which really confused me, especially on my second
reading. Not because Harry gets angry, but because he really is *lying* to
the Dursleys. The owls most definitely ARE bringing him news - we learn a
page or two later that he's getting the Daily Prophet delivered every
morning. The paper may not be printing the news he wants to see, but the
owls are bringing him the news.So that whole paragraph about how it cost
him something to tell the truth this time to his aunt and uncle just makes
no sense to me. It's as though Harry is lying for no good reason without
even knowing he is telling a lie. Is this just sloppy writing? Or is there
really something weird going on with Harry? (Sorry - more questions than
answers here, huh? <g>). Did anyone else have this reaction to reading this
scene?>>

And now me:

I assumed that Harry wasn't lying. His response, IMO, was more of a statement 
of his viewpoint/opinion rather than reality.  The only news he is interested 
in and therefor referring to is any news relating to Voldemort or his Death 
Eater's action. Yes, he was receiving the Daily Prophet, but it had no 
references to the only thing Harry is looking for and so is worthless and not 
considered "news" to Harry. Also, the letters he receives from Hermione and Ron have 
no informational value to him either. They simply leave him with more questions 
and a growing sense of frustration. I think that depending on the way one 
views the conversation, Harry is both lying and stating the truth. Yes, he is 
receiving a newspaper, which to Vernon and Petunia is considered news; he told 
them he wasn't getting any news, he has lied, albeit unintentionally. On the 
other hand, no, Harry has no idea what is happening on the Voldemort defense 
front and nothing he has gotten has given him any inkling into the Order or its 
goings on; he has received no pertinent information, no real news, he has told 
the truth.

Just my two knuts, 

mariahisabel
 (longtime listie who is now retreating back to lurkdom)


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