Dudley's development

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 92691

> Geoff wrote:
<snip> 
> > We are told that:
 
"Mr.Dursley..... tried to kiss Dudley goodbye but missed because 
Dudley was now having a tantrum and throwing his cereal at the 
walls." <snip>
and when Professor McGonagall objects to Harry being brought to 
the Dursleys, she remarks.....
"And they've got this son - I saw him kicking his mother all the 
way up the street, screaming for sweets."

I don't recall either of my sons being strong enough to throw 
cereal at the walls when they were sixteen months; in a temper, 
they might push the dish off the high chair or spit the cereal out.  
Again, a child of this age with the ability to walk up the street 
and kick Mum and also scream recognisably and specifically for 
sweets must be a fast developer, don't you think?
 
Susan:
LOL!  I never thought of Dudley as a fast developer in 
*anything*...but maybe in this case it's due to his motivation for 
FOOD.  Both instances you cite involve food.  Perhaps Dudders wanted 
Cap'n Crunch or Sugar Bombs instead of unsweetened oatmeal or 
something? :-)
 
Siriusly Snapey Susan

Carol:
As I indicated in another post (which cited these same examples
without the quotes), I think this evidence primarily indicates that
Dudley was a spoiled brat before Harry arrived on the Dursleys'
doorstep. IOW, Petunia's indulgence of Dudley has nothing to do with
her mistreatment of Harry (whom she fears will be a bad influence on
her already obnoxious toddler). Also McGonagall sees "these people" as
being as different as possible from Dumbledore and herself, more
evidence IMO that Petunia is pure Muggle despite her sister's being a
witch.

Yes, indeed, Dudders had a precocious appetite for food and sweets,
but he also knew very early that his mother couldn't bear to see her
precious darling throw a tantrum. Babies, even apparent morons like
Dudley, sense weakness in the adults who take care of them, and any
parent who gives in to a temper tantrum is asking for trouble--much
more trouble than the temporary loss of the child's "love" that
results from not giving him his way. (As for overfeeding him and
indulging his appetite for sweets, if this were a realistic novel,
Dudley would be heading toward early-onset adult diabetes.) The
spoiling is mostly Petunia's diong, but Vernon does nothing to stop
her, and he later encourages Dudley to be what he considers manly
(i.e,. a bully), so it's his fault, too.

In other words, I don't see precocity here, much less a potentially
magical Dudley. I see the consequences of bad parenting. Imagine what
Harry would have been like if they'd treated him in the same way!

Carol