[HPforGrownups] Re: Redeemed!Dudley?

[rayheuer3 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 56977

pipdowns at etchells0.demon.co.uk writes:

> Another interesting point is when Mr Weasley sees Dudley in GoF.  Mr 
> Weasley is an adult outside the family dynamic and a fairly 
> competent parent. Mr Weasley spots Dudley's behaviour as really 
> worrying almost as soon as he sees him. Even Harry notices that Mr 
> Weasley is `genuinely concerned'. [GoF Ch. 4 p. 45]  It's in line 
> with the school report, with its worries for Dudley's health. Adults 
> outside the Dursley family are worried about Dudley.
> 
> Is Dudley redeemable? Probably. Like Harry, he spends most of the 
> year outside his family environment. Unlike Harry, he's not adapting 
> well to being outside the family (bad marks, bullying others) – but 
> at least, like Harry, he has other adults who are becoming concerned.

Dudley can be redeemed only if the Dursleys can be intimidated by the school. 
 Now, I'm sure that this can be done.  The Durselys are terrified at the 
prospect of being thought "odd" or "wrong".  Certainly Duddikins being 
expelled from Smeltings would be a crushing blow (I'd love to hear how Aunt 
Marge would blame it on Harry), so they will bend over backwards to comply 
with the school's "suggestions".

As for Dudley himself, I can imagine what it must be like trying to be a 
bully in a school where everyone carries a stick!  Did Dudley's friends from 
primary school join him at Smeltings?  Or did this unathletic and 
out-of-shape young boy manage to recruit his own "Crabbe and Goyle"?  
Meanwhile, he would have gone from an environment where his every act is 
showered with praise to one in which he is criticized by the authority 
figures (we know Dudley's grades aren't up to snuff from the school report, 
and we also know that Dudley isn't much on studying) although I doubt he is 
made sport of the way Harry is by Snape.

Long term, if Smeltings can teach Dudley self-discipline he might even make a 
decent student and end up selling machinery like Uncle Vernon.  If not, he's 
probably headed for the dole queue or prison.

  --  Ray


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