The Dursleys and Harry: Neglect or abuse?

female_jedis hmmadigan at excite.com
Sat Oct 9 02:47:24 UTC 2004


No: HPFGUIDX 115251


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "ohnooboe" <hautbois1 at c...> 
wrote:
> 
> 
> (SNNIP!)
> SSSusan:
> 
>  So, while we don't SEE the physical abuse--I suspect JKR wanted 
to 
>  spare us the details?--it's fairly apparent, to me at least, that 
>  it's happening.  How could it be Dudders' favorite form of 
>  entertainment if it doesn't happen?
> (SNNNIP!)
> Sherry now
>   I think the child protection services, here in the states, would 
> have a lot to say about abuse of a child in those circumstances.  
I 
> would call that abuse.  Even sleeping in the cupboard under the 
> stairs could be considered to be abuse... 
> > Sherry G
> 
> And...here's Patrick...
> 
> What I find absolutely amazing is that Harry is as stable as he is 
> considering the circumstances in which he was brought up.  Even if 
> there was very little physical abuse (and I agree that there must 
be 
> at least a bit)the emotional neglect is enough. I often wonder 
when 
> Harry turned into the Dursley's "punching bag".  When he was left 
> with them he was very young?  Did they treat one-year old Harry 
with 
> the same distane and and ill-will they do 15-year old Harry?  If 
so, 
> HOW he grew up to be as "stable" (and we know he's not TOTALLY 
> stable) as he is is baffling.
> 
> Patrick

Actually, what is really stunning is that he should be completely 
emotionally under-developed.  Physical abuse aside, babies and small 
children (well all of us really) need consistent, positive emotional 
connections in order to thrive.  There are tons of studies to this 
end. Harry's brain development should have been seriously limited by 
the lack of positive stimuli.

If Petunia completely ignored Harry as a baby and as a young child, 
while showering Dudley with attention and affection, Harry quite 
simply should be a sociopath at this point and should be completely 
unable to form healthy relationships without intensive therapy.  
Actually, he should be much more like Voldemort.  I can completely 
understand why Voldemort turned out the way he did.  

I don't understand how Harry can be so "normal" when he has been 
deprived of loving relationships since he was roughy one.

I additionally can't understand Petunia at all.  How could someone 
be so cruel and neglectful to the only child of her dead sister.  
Whatever their relationship was at the time of Lily's death, 
wouldn't you think in death, some remnant of sibling love would have 
revived?







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