Theoretical boundaries

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 120527


Carol responds:
I won't go into the abuse theme, which I agree is presented in a
Cinderellaish way in SS/PS, especially, but forgive me for nipicking
here. Harry didn't spend ten years in a cupboard (or closet, as we'd
say in America--"cupboard" (= cup board) suggests enclosed shelves 
fordishes in the kitchen!). We don't know at what point he was 
transferred to the little room under the stairs. I doubt if he was
there from the time he was fifteen months old until just before his
eleventh birthday. And in any case, he only slept there (and was
occasionally sent there for punishment). He didn't spend twenty-four
hours a day there (except when he was punished). He walked around the
house and presumably the neighborhood, and on school days he spent 
hiswaking hours in school. Many children up until the nineteenth 
century at least had similar sleeping quarters with no ill effects. 



Alla:

Hmmm, I always thought that that exactly what happened - he was 
stuck there since he was fifteen months old . Is there anything in 
text that conradicts it? You are right though - we don't know one 
way or another when it happened.

Of course he got out sometimes, but even the fact that he had to 
sleep there is bad enough , in my opinion.

The fact that many children had similar sleeping quarters... Well, 
consider that emotional reaction, but I  am glad they don't anymore 
and hope that they never will again. :o) Society is moving forward 
after all.