[HPforGrownups] Dudley's fate. Was Re: Are we abusing the concept of "abuse?"

[Jocelyn Grunow]

No: HPFGUIDX 124739

On Thursday, February 17, 2005, at 10:01 am, dumbledore11214 wrote:

> What will happen , in your opinion, if  there is indeed  Petunia's
> redemption to occur( If you think of course that she needs
> redemption.) ? Do you think Dudley will be redeemed by extension or
> he will side with his father?
>
> If indeed we will see conflict between Petunia and Vernon, I wonder
> what Dudley will do.
>
Interesting question.  I am not sure about the whole 'redemption' 
thing, but have some thoughts about changing attitudes and beliefs.

I actually think that Dudley could be the hardest of the three to 
change.  Vernon would presumably know nothing about the WW without 
Petunia, so he is in a sense dependent upon her opinion of such 
matters.  If she changes her mind and sets her foot upon a different 
path, I think his family loyalty will carry him grumbling along with 
her.  I see her as the engine in that partnership.

Dudley, OTOH, has been brought up from his earliest days listening to 
'Harry is worthless/WW is horrific and perverted blah blah'.  His 
childhood experiences with the WW HAVE actually been pretty bad (pig 
tail/blownup aunt/dementors) and I really don't know if he could change 
his attitude.

On Thursday, February 17, 2005, at 09:58 pm, Irene Mikhlin wrote:
>
> Why people are so sure that Dudley is doomed? I don't
> get it. He goes to a boarding school now, so he only
> sees his parents during holidays and maybe weekends.
> And it seems to be a good school: they forced him on a
> diet, and they found an area of competence (boxing)
> and encourage him to excell in it.
> I think he'll turn out to be quite an average person.

What an encouraging point of view!  I hope you're right.  It would be 
lovely to think that Dudley could rise above his upbringing and leave 
behind his nasty habits.

Jocelyn