Pampering (was Re:Harry at the Dursleys)

[delwynmarch]

No: HPFGUIDX 118584


Kjirstem wrote :
"One of the ideas that I was trying to express is that I read the
Dursley's as a bit of a parody.  I was concerned that this might
further incite the abuse thread since some people appear to feel
strongly about the Dursley's behavior toward Harry.  I'm not
interested in joining in that discussion myself because, to me, they
are not to be believed."

Del replies :
In the first books at least, the Dursleys were quite obviously a
parody element. The first chapters of the first book are absolutely
hilarious in my idea. I remember how my friends and I laughed our
heads off when reading them aloud in English class.

Up until OoP, the Dursley scenes were awfully funny for me. I re-read
the beginning of GoF the other day, and the episode with the
grapefruit quarters, and how Aunt Petunia still tries to make Dudley
feel better by giving Harry a smaller quarter, that just cracks me up !

And then, things changed in OoP. The Dursleys suddenly seemed to
become real people, Dementors haunt the neighbourhood, Harry starts
bullying Dudley, Uncle Vernon tries to strangle Harry and gets
shocked, and Aunt Petunia knows about the Dementors and receives a
Howler. Things aren't fun anymore.

So of course now, we're forced to consider the Dursleys like real
people, and the way they treated Harry becomes very real abuse. It
doesn't make sense to me because, just like you Kjirstem, I never
really considered the Dursleys to be real people. But hey, it's JKR's
story, she can take it wherever she wants. We readers are not forced
to follow all the way, though. For now, I'm still happier with
Parody!Dursleys.

Del