Choosing sides

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 118818


SSSusan wrote :
> > " Yes, lots of people end up following the path they've been 
> > shown and Harry might've become yet another Dursley.  But others, 
> > of which Harry is one, clearly look outward for other models of 
> > behavior, for other worldviews beyond the garbage they've been 
> > shown."
 
Del replies :
> Reading your post made me realise something : could it be that Harry
> didn't stick to the Dursley model simply because it was
> *inconsistent*? He could see that he was treated differently than
> Dudley and of course he didn't like it because he was systematically
> on the wrong end of that system.
> 
> But what if he had been treated the same way as Dudley ? What if the
> Dursleys had been consistent in their treatment of the 2 boys ? Can 
> we be sure that Harry would have rejected that model, and Draco 
> because of it ?


SSSusan:
Good question.  I don't think we can be *sure* of anything -- there 
is too much of one's individual nature to take into account -- but I 
think you're right about the *likelihood* of what would have 
happened.  If Harry'd been treated the same as Dudley, with the 
resultant consistency you mention, then I'd think the odds of his 
turning out a pampered little prince would've been greater, yes.  

*I* happen to think that part of it, too, is that Harry is fairly 
introspective.  Hang on, hang on -- don't hoot me down just yet!  I 
mean introspective for a kid of 9, 10, 11.  I'm sure he didn't like 
Dudley getting all the goodies & affection, but I'm guessing he also 
spent some time *thinking* in his little cupboard about life in 
general and about what jerks the Dursleys were.  They didn't care a 
whit about anyone besides themselves, and that may have bugged Harry 
in & of itself and caused him to look outward for other examples of 
ways of behaving & believing.

All speculation, of course, but that's my view of it. :-)

Siriusly Snapey Susan