Is Vernon so Bad?

[Christopher Nuttall]

No: HPFGUIDX 92864

Something that has been debated often on this group is the 'dreadfulness' of Vernon Dursley, who is one of Harry's 'carers' after his parents died.  While I quite agree that he is a horrible man, I must note that all we know of him if from Harry's POV.  There are a few facts in his favour:

 

-Vernon provides an excellent and above-average standard of living for his family and even provides Harry with enough food to live.  That is a better achievement than most families do in this day and age.

-Vernon is a caring parent who only wants the best for his son.  Now, to some extent Dudley has been spoiled, but in OOP, he has improved himself enormously.  Vernon was right when he said that 'Smeltings' would be the making of him, although this was partly against the wishes of his mother, who insisted that he was only 'big-boned'.  

-Vernon is concerned enough about his family that he is willing to throw Harry out on the street (which would offer the chance of punishment, whether Muggle child protection services, or Dumbledore), in order that Voldemort might look for him elsewhere and ignore the merely Muggle Dursleys'.  He must know (from Lily and James' deaths if nothing else) that the wizarding world can kill.

-Vernon clearly loves his wife, enough to comply with her request to keep Harry even after the Dementor attack.

 

Yes, Vernon treats Harry in a dreadful manner, but is that not understandable?  Harry represents a clear and present danger to his family - like standing next to an unexploded bomb - both by attracting attention from Voldemort and by acts of underage, uncontrolled, magic.  Further, Harry is not directly related to Vernon, stronger men than he would be unhappy about providing for such a child.  Its not 'right', but it is understandable.  

 

So, is Vernon so bad?

 

Chris


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