Is it worse for Harry or Dudley at 4 Privet?

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 96302

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, squeakinby <squeakinby at t...> 
wrote:
> Even though Dudley is the Dursley scion, one might make quite an 
> argument that he is being abused as well.  As the pampered pet, 
Dudley 
> has no realistic conception of the RW.  He's being overfed to the 
point 
> of ill-health (even the UK has a rise in childhood obesity), he's 
had an 
> over-reliance on video games hence he is probably experiencing some 
> degree of illiteracy even though he attends the prestigious 
Smeltings.
> (A smelting is a fish, is it not?  To smelt is to fuse.  Or smelt 
is 
> simply the past participle of smell.)  Undoubtedly Dudley will grow 
up 
> to owe far too much on credit cards as he's been given no notion of 
the 
> value of money, and, sadly, will one day be forced to declare 
> bankruptcy.  As a bully, he has no true friends, just compatriots 
cowed 
> by him.  He must beat up little 10 year old Mark Evans to prove his 
> stature in his community.
> 
> What does a bully want?  Love and realistic feedback.  Dudley 
apparently 
> receives neither.
> 
> Who has a greater sense of self?
> 
> Jem


Actually you get no argument from me here. Dudley is definitely being 
abused as well. Petunia and Vernon clealry do not seem to know what 
their son needs.

As for Harry, I already said that the only possible, realistic story 
wise reason that he turned out OK to me is Lily's protection.

Alla