[HPforGrownups] Re: Harry at the Dursleys

[Magda Grantwich]

No: HPFGUIDX 118336

> "Dobby might have saved Harry from horrible  happenings at
> Hogwarts, but the way things were going, he'd probably starve to
> death anyway" - CoS, p.22, paperback.
>
> Pippin:
> > > Miserable, yes, afraid he might die, yes, but not so unhappy
> that  he wished he would. And what caused it? Interference from the
> magical world, in the form of Dobby. 
> 
> Alla:
> I am sorry? Child who is afraid that he will die of hunger is not
> miserable enough? 

Alla, that's not what Pippin said.  Harry isn't laying on his bed
WISHING he were dead; he's contemplating his situation.  Nor did
Pippen say that Harry "is not miserable enough".  

I believe that JKR meant us not to take that line LITERALLY, not to
believe that Harry really did think he'd starve to death.  How many
times have you heard kids say (or you say yourself when you were a
kid) "My mom's going to KILL me for doing that!"  Did you really
believe your mom was going to kill you?  It was an expression, to
hightlight an intense feeling.  

I agree with Pippen that we're exaggerating the Dursleys' "abuse". 
They're jerks.  Harry's not happy there.  No question.  But this is
not a series about an abused child.  Whether we think JKR is playing
down Harry's childhood traumsas or not, we just have to accept
somethings so we can get on with the books.  

Magda


		
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