Vernon's outbursts (was Re: DD's dilemma)

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 126431


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Chys Sage Lattes" 
<yami69hikari at y...> wrote:
> 
>  
> k:
> > Vernon's outbursts only occur when Harry is involved.
> 
> Chys:
> It's from Harry's POV so we only see what Harry knows. Perhaps he 
has 
> outbursts around the others and Harry's not a part of that? I think 
> he's just an overall abusive person.

Geoff:
There is some canon evidence - not from Harry's POV - which suggested 
that he could get very worked up; not perhaps and outburst but 
certainly an internal rage.

"But on the edge of town, drills were driven out of his mind by 
something else. As he sat in the usual morning traffic jam, he 
couldn't help noticing that there seemed to be lot of strangely 
dressed people around. People in cloaks. Mr.Dursley couldn't bear 
people who dressed in funny clothes - the get-ups you saw on young 
people! He supposed this was some stupid new fashion. He drummed his 
fingers on the steering wheel and his eyes fell on a huddle of these 
weirdos standing quite close by. They were whispering excitedly 
together. Mr.Dursley was enraged to see that a couple of them weren't 
young at all; why, that man had to be older than he was, and wearing 
an emerald-green cloak! But then it struck Mr.Dursley that this was 
probably some silly stunt - these people were obviously collecting 
for something... yes, that would be it. The traffic moved on and a 
few minutes later, Mr.Dursley arrived in the Grunnings car park, 
hismind back on drills"

(PS"The Boy Who Lived" p.8 UK edition)

He later became uneasy when he passed another group of oddly dressed 
people on his way to and from the baker's and also hears the 
name "Potter" spoken. And then he is hugged by a total stranger after 
they collide almost at the works entrance.

I thing he is so "correctly" middle class that any deviation from 
what he and Petunia see as "normal" behaviour creates a reaction of 
anger or unease. So Harry collects the flak. He, after all, does not 
fit the mould....

This type of person is not uncommon. I know a few myself!