Hagrid's attack on Dudley (Was: A few random puzzles)

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 117668


> Carol responds:
old
> Okay, I'm somewhat biased
> in favor of Muggles, being one myself, but Hagrid, IMO, is 
prejudiced
> against them. He's lumping all the Dursleys together as worthless
> Muggles who mistreat Harry. He happens to be right, but I think 
he's
> basing his conclusions on insufficient evidence. In any case, he 
sees
> nothing wrong with punishing Dudley for what Vernon has done 
because
> all Muggles, and especially all Dursleys, are the same in his view.
>

snip.

> 
> Anyone want to come to Hagrid's defense or at least correct the 
flaws
> you perceive in my analysis?




Alla:

OK, first and foremost let me say that I have NO defense for Hagrid 
in this particular occassion, NONE. 

Dudley indeed did nothing to harry in front of Hagrid. I would say 
he bullied him plenty when Hagrid was not there, but you mentioned 
it yourself.

Nevertheless, I see a  mitigating circumstance for Hagrid - he WAS 
provoked by Vernon and he DID lose his temper.

I would argue that if hagrid would hex Vernon, he would be very much 
justified.

"Now, you listen here, boy," he snarled, "I accept there's something 
starnge about you, probably nothing a good beating wouldn't have 
cured - and as for all this about your parents, well, they were 
wierdos, no denying it, and the world's better off without them in 
my opinion...." - PS/SS, p.36, paperback.

So, Vernon insults Lily and James and Harry in one sentence. Hagrdi 
obviously knew them and loved them.

What does Hagrid do? 

"But at that moment, Hagrid leapt from the sofa and drew a battered 
pink umbrella from inside his coat. Pointing this at Uncle Vernon 
like a sword, he said, "I'm warning you, Dursley - I'm warning you - 
one more word..." - id, p.36.

Hagrid manages to control himself here, but quite soon he loses it.

Was he right? Nope. Is he a bully? Sorry, not IMO. Decent man, who 
lost it while lsitening to the insults about his dead friends and 
their son.


Now, what did you mean about punishing son for the sins of his 
father? We are not talking about Snape, right? :o)
Dudley did enough to Harry to deserve his own punishment. "Harry 
hunting", anyone?


I am also not getting your point about Hagrid being prejudiced about 
all muggles. He is prejudiced about Dursleys,sure( very deservingly 
so, IMO). He calls them muggles, because that is who they are.

Could you give me a quote,where Hagrld calls all muggles worthless, 
please?


He may be guilty AT MOST, what is all WW is guilty off inregards to 
muggles, even Arthur Weasley - patronising attitude, because muggles 
do not have magic, but that is about it.


Oooo, I know. I just came up with even better defense for Hagrid. 
maybe he knows Legilimency and he used it on Dursley. :o) (No, I 
don't really believe it).


Another idea - if Harry indeed was watched closely than he would 
ever know when he was with Dursleys, maybe Hagrid was one of those 
who watched hima nd then he saw every cruel trick Dudley played on 
hima nd that is why Hagrid PLANNED to turn Dudley into a pig, 
because he ahd plenty of time to plan him.

This one I may believe in actually