Is Lucius Malfoy Abusive?

[hannahmarder]

No: HPFGUIDX 112251

Joe wrote:
> Perhaps I've been reading too much fan fiction in anticipation of 
> HBP, but I've now began rereading the first five books (now for 
the third time) trying to pick up some additional clues.  Several 
recent 
> fan fiction stories by different authors have concentrated on 
> Draco's abusive homelife, and I'm most curious if this stems from 
> clues in the books.
> 
> Though Draco is mostly portrayed as a bullying git in the books, I 
> wonder if there's more to him than has been presented so far - or 
if 
> there are clues in the books I've overlooked.  
> 
> Draco obviously has the highest respect for his father.  Is this 
> perhaps partially out of fear?  Lucius has made it very well know 
to 
> Draco whom he should choose for his friends, and his prejudices 
> toward mudbloods, etc.  Draco received a rather stern warning from 
> his father while in Borgin and Burkes.  What of Narcissa?  What is 
> her homelife like and her opinion of their son?  Neither Lucius 
nor 
> Narcissa seemed to think their son in any potential danger while 
> they went off juggling muggles during the world cup - all while 
the 
> dark mark was conjured.
> 
> JKR's characters are obviously far more complex than what one 
would 
> typically encounter in a "children's" book - complex enough that 
> even we adults miss many subtle clues after multiple readings.

Hannah now: I've often wondered this.  In PS/SS Malfoy tells Harry 
he hopes to 'bully his father' into buying him a racing broom.  This 
could just be bravado or a figure of speech; I can't see even a non-
abusive Lucius letting anyone bully him into anything he doesn't 
want to do.  On the other hand, if Draco was living in fear of his 
father, would he have spoken so casually about him?

Narcissa Malfoy cares enough about Draco to have objected to his 
being sent away to Durmstrang, as it was too far away (GoF).  She 
clearly managed to override Lucius on this point.  She also sends 
Draco daily packages of sweets from home (or at least, she does in 
PS/SS).  Draco is an only child (JKR in one of the web chats) and 
certainly behaves as though he has been spoilt rotten, at least by 
his doting mother.

I think Lucius views Draco more as a fashion accessory than anything 
else.  He is able to say; 'look, I'm so rich and magnanimous, I've 
bought brooms for my son's entire Quidditch team.'  I'm sure he 
would like to brag about his son's prowess in academic studies and 
quidditch as well, and is very annoyed that a muggle-born prevents 
him from doing this.

Although Lucius is undoubtably a very nasty piece of work, IMO he 
doesn't extend this towards his own son.  He might whack him 
occasionally for a punishment, but a lot of parents do this, without 
it being full blown abuse.  The wizarding world is a bit behind the 
times, and it wasn't that long ago in the real world UK that it was 
not only socially acceptable, but the 'proper' thing, for parents to 
hit their children as a punishment (I'm not saying that makes it OK).

Lucius is grooming Draco up to carry on the fine family tradition of 
being a bastard.  He has schooled him in his own pureblood-supremacy 
beliefs, and seems to share quite a bit of sensitive information 
with his son.  He isn't worried about having Draco accompany him to 
Borgin and Burkes, and Malfoy Jr. even knows where the rest of the 
stash is hidden.

I think it is too easy to say 'oh, Lucius is abusive, that's why 
Draco's the way he is.'  Especially since we've had a strong hint 
that Snape's father was.  I don't think it will turn out that *both* 
have abusive home lives,  JKR is too subtle to use the same thing 
twice.  I wonder how Dobby feels about Draco?  He never mentions 
that he wants to/ has been to see him.  You'd think that if Draco 
had also been mistreated by Lucius, then Dobby would have had some 
kind of sympathy towards him. 

On the other hand, this might all be a lot of hot air.  I'll admit 
that there are aspects of Draco's behaviour and character that could 
be explained by cruel treatment by his father.  I just think it's a 
bit too simple for Potterverse.

Hannah, agreeing there's *got* to be more to Draco and looking 
forward to finding out more about him and Narcissa in book 6.