Dudley's Worst Memory

[a_reader2003]

No: HPFGUIDX 93047

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "fauntine_80" 
<fauntine_80 at y...> wrote:
> 
> > (Carolyn originally wrote):
I think Dudder's worst memories are from when he is 11, and he 
discovers for the very first time that his wishes will not always 
be obeyed by his parents. A much-delayed, but salutary moment for the 
unpleasant little monster.
> 
> (Fauntine_80):
> Possibly, but he eventually came to accept that Harry had moved 
into the room, and he wasn't horror struck or frightened that Harry 
moved into the room.
> 
Carolyn again:
Well, firstly, Dudley didn't 'accept' the situation, he found he had 
no choice but to put up with Harry in the smallest bedroom. A serious 
shock to his system. Secondly, Dementor-induced nightmares work by 
bringing back bad memories exactly as they were at the time they 
happened, eg. Harry's repeated memories of the green AK flash, his 
mother's screams etc. My thought was that Dudders was induced to 
recall exactly his feelings at the time the Hogwart's letters started 
to arrive, and the subsequent mad drive over the country ending up on 
the rock. It all happened over the space of a few short days, and he 
ended up with a pig's tail at the end of it. 

When Harry sauntered back into the house, clutching his cauldron, 
wand and books on the evening of 31st July, you must have been able 
to cut the atmosphere with a knife. That episode must be seared into 
Dudley's memory I would say.

> (Fauntine_80):
> In OotP, after the  dementor attack, Dudley hides his face in his 
hand and he can't speak to his parents about what he saw.  He says, 
if I remeber correctly, he heard "things."  Plural, and the fact that 
Dudley is too frightened to say anything is a significant clue.
> 
My first interpretation was that Dudley could have been putting on an 
act and overdramatizing what he heard, or was he?
> 
The fact that he is so disturbed by it physically is a big sign. 
Also, Harry thinks to himself "what would spoiled, pampered, bullying 
Dudley have been forced to hear?"  is left completely open.
I don't think it's insignificant by any means, epsecially since it is 
left open.

(Carolyn again):
Dudley has been brought up NEVER to say the M-word, or anything 
connected with it. In a funny way, like Harry, he has been taught to 
ask no questions in certain areas. He has just experienced a big dose 
of magic, in the nastiest possible way - I am not surprised he can't 
find the words to speak to his parents about it. I don't expect he 
can even take it in himself.

My theory is that the bad memories he has been forced to remember are 
all episodes which have called into question his mental image of 
himself as the centre of attention/top dog, either with his parents 
or with peers, teachers etc. I think this all started with the sudden 
shock about Harry, but has probably also included things like being 
forced to go on a diet of 'rabbit food' that summer (ie realising he 
was stupendously fat, not well-built as his mother claimed); and he 
has probably been beaten up from time to time by bigger bullies than 
himself at Smeltings. And I hope that his teachers have been pretty 
caustic from time to time about his poor academic efforts.

I don't think it is insignificant either, but for different reasons. 
Possibly it will be the catalyst for an eventual change in his 
nature - though this might equally be for the bad, as well as for the 
good. A bully might well decide just to be even nastier, as the only 
way of staying on top. Certainly his parents are going to give him no 
useful moral guidance on the problem.

Carolyn
PS Pl. could you attribute when you snip - I only saw your reply to 
my post by accident. Thanks.