Thoughts about the Dursleys

[Eric Oppen]

No: HPFGUIDX 93164

I'm not sure how big Little Whinging is, but unlike JKR Her Very Ownself
(and, I think, unlike a lot of listees) I'm a lifelong resident of a small
town myself, and I think that the Dursleys' behavior is about the last thing
they'd do if, as repeatedly stated, their goal is respectability and Little
Whinging is small-to-smallish.

In a town like that, the parents generally know which kid goes with which
household, and they would notice Harry always wearing crappy clothes and
sellotaped glasses.  Also, I can't imagine that Dudley's gang _only_ bullies
Harry---and some of their other victims might well report at home just what
goes on at school.  Not to mention, the teachers probably live there too,
poor wretches, and they might well talk about what goes on in school.  When
I was Harry's age, the teachers _knew_ which kids were bullies and
troublemakers, even if they couldn't sanction the little bas...er, little
bundles from heaven.

I would not be surprised to find out that the Dursleys' quest for Utter
Respectability has been sabotaged, at least in part, by the very fact that
Harry goes about looking like such a ragbag---and by Dudley's lifelong quest
to be the most obnoxious, spoiled bully that he can possibly be.

If Utter Respectability was my goal, one way I'd pursue it would be by
taking conspicuously good care of any children unfortunate enough to be in
my care, and by making durn sure that those children _looked_
well-cared-for...sleek, well-turned-out, healthy, happy, etc.