Harry's questions ... parents - Dangerous Questions

[Julia]

No: HPFGUIDX 117411



> bboyminn wrote:
> 
> When ever this comes up, I bring up the same point. I really don't
> think people are giving enough weight to the fact that Harry was
> raised in an abusive and oppressive household. Yes, people 
acknowledge
> that, but I don't think they make enough of an effort to look at 
the
> underlying psychology. 

Julia replies:
Yes, you're right. Many people don't do this but I think theu don't 
even know how to do it so we can't blame them. 
You know, I also think that the fact that Harry was brought up in 
such an unfriendly enviroment plays a huge role in his life and 
determines his behavior. However, I really don't know why you call 
it an abusive household...
 
> bboyminn wrote:
> Living in a household like this is like living with an armed bomb 
that
> has a hair-trigger; the slightest tremor is likely to set it off. 
So,
> the abused is likely to learn very early on to tread lightly 
through
> that world.
> 
> An abusive household is also irrational, there is no logic or 
reason
> to what sets off the abuser. In many cases, the abuse is initiated 
by
> a random insignificant event that is nothing more than an excuse 
for
> the abuser to re-engage in abuse. 
> 
> Examples: You bring the abuser a cup of tea, and it is either too 
hot
> or too cold, or the abuse is triggered by the fact that you put the
> tea down on an end table rather than handing it to him directly.
> Another example which more clearly demonstrates the irrationality 
of
> it all, you bring the abuser a beer and the beer is too cold, like 
you
> can actually control the temperature of the beer. No logic ...no 
rhyme
> ...no reason. Being too quiet is as likely to set them off as being
> too noisy.
>

Julia replies:
Again, I agree with your description of the situation. But IMO Harry 
wasn't in such a situation. Of course it was bad, even really really 
bad, Dursley's house wan't normal but still they didn't act as a 
typical abusers. They spent very little time with Harry, in fact 
they didn't want to spend time with him at all. He wasn't their 
child so they didn't care. And Harry was a smart kid - he quickly 
learned how to survive. 
What I want to say is that Dursleys didn't care to abuse Harry, they 
couldn't care less. The only situations that really made them angry 
were these where Harry did some sort of magic. 
And when it comes to questions... I think that Harry when he was 
young - before getting the letter - didn't have reasons for asking. 
Of course he at some point as curious but it wasn't that important 
then. He didn't remember his parents. They were dead so what was the 
point for asking - he was little then and didn't know the importance 
of parents (Dursleys and Dudley weren't a good example)
But now... I think that (apart from the fact that JKR doesnt want to 
reveal too much) he is somehow afraid of asking, afraid of what a 
answers may be. And - he is a teenager - he really doesn't know what 
to do...

PS: What exactly do you want Harry to ask? Which questions do you 
think he might ask?

Julia