On the other hand (was Re: Disliked Uncle Vernon)

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 92628

Geoff wrote: 
> <huge snip>If Vernon and Petunia had had a little more thought, if
Vernon's 
> actions had been less of a high class pachyderm and more of an 
> understanding person, he might have treated Harry on more of an equal 
> footing with Dudley. As a result we would have had a Harry who was 
> not a waif and stray and Dudley would not have developed into a 
> tantrum-throwing, bullying "pig in a wig". Mark you, we might not 
> have had such an interesting series of books......   :-) <big snip>


I don't think Harry ever would have been on an equal footing with
Dudley (fortunately for him) because Dudley was already spoiled as a
sixteen-month-old baby (the age he was when Harry was placed on the
doorstep): "Little Tyke" threw food and tantrums in his high chair as
vernon left for work, and McGonagall commented that she had seen him
kicking his mother and screaming for sweets. So the spoiling had
nothing to do with Harry, only a confused idea of what constitutes a
loving parent on the adult Dursleys' part. I can find the relevant
quotes if you like: They're in SS/PS chapter one.

BTW, my post on Vernon seems to have been lost or overlooked. I
suggested some time back that his treatment of Harry stems from fear
of the unknown or misunderstood WW, the same fear of the abnormal or
uncanny that led to witch-burning in the middle ages and witch hanging
in Salem in 1692. I referred to him as Salazar Slytherin in reverse
(only not so powerful). He denies the existence of magic even when it
happens right in front of him, and when he can't deny it, he tries to
fight it because he sees it as a danger to himself and his family. I'm
not excusing Vernon, but I think it's entirely possible to understand him.

Carol