[HPforGrownups] Bullying (was: SPOILERS.Re: JKR site update)

[feklar]

No: HPFGUIDX 114931

> SSSusan:
> I'm not sure "heroic" is a word I would have even thought of
> bringing in here, but I do think that JKR's portrayal of Harry's
> silence/stiff upper lip in OotP gets put forth as NOT necessarily a
> smart move on his part.  As you say, Harry *was* encouraged to talk
> to someone--was it DD and MM who were suggested, or just DD?--and he
> refused.  At that point I think we could chalk his refusal up to at
> least three things:  1) Harry's belief that DD has rather abandoned
> him; 2) Harry's somewhat reticent nature [though less so in OotP
> than earlier]; and 3) the fact that Hogwarts as we've seen it really
> doesn't have much of a mechanism for assisting students [see
> above].

feklar--
It looks to me like classic abused child behavior--he may not want anyone to
know he was being abused or how.  Also the Dursleys trained him to think
cries for help not only wouldn't be heeded but would result in harsher
restrictions or punishment.  I think it's possible that asking for help
never even occurs to him even in his muggle school-years because of how the
Dursleys treated him; their treatment and the ignoring of his cries are the
norm as far as he knows.

 Feklar