Sexuality as a theme in HP (long)

[cat_kind]

No: HPFGUIDX 119581


Pippin: Though Snape's occlumency lessons did not solve the 
> ostensible problem of  the dreams, they did solve the 
> psychological problem which was posed at the beginning of the 
> book--Harry's experience with Voldemort had left him with a taste 
> for sadism, as shown by his attack on Dudley. By the end of the 
> book this desire has been successfully repressed, and Harry is 
> unable to perform the cruciatus curse.

catkind:  Harry's experience with Voldemort made him sadistic?  Surely
he has seen plenty of this bullying, taunting behaviour from Dudley
himself, and assorted Slytherins, he doesn't need Voldemort to teach
it to him.  I think it is more that, partly due to his experience with
Voldemort, Harry is no longer scared of smaller bullies.  (And isn't
sadistic a bit strong? I'd say he was angry.)
What is more, I wouldn't say he's recovered from the tendency by the
end of the book.  He taunts Draco Malfoy about his father, and goes as
far as physical nastiness on the train, in scenes which remind me
strongly of the Harry/Dudley one - in both cases the victim thorougly
deserves it, but it makes me uncomfortable that Harry lowers himself
to their level.

Do you really think Harry could have performed a cruciatus at the
beginning of OotP?

catkind