Abused!Petunia (was:Re: So what if...)

[sistermagpie]

No: HPFGUIDX 161246

 
>  NJ:
> >   Yes, Yes, Yes! Vernon's family is a whole gang of bullies. 
Right
> down to sweet Dudders. The fact that he backs down when Petunia 
puts 
> her foot down just shows his insecurity and the inconsistancy of 
the 
> bullying attitude. He was probably pushed around by a parent and 
his 
> sister and he is now passing it on to his family. When anyone 
stands 
> up to him he is shocked and doesn't know how to deal with the 
> confrontation and therefore backs down. Harry has had the self 
> confidence to do this for a long time even without the threat of 
> magic. You have to see this kind of behavior run through a family 
to 
> believe it.
> Hmmm...maybe Vernon is the repressed wizard - LOL.

Magpie:
It seems like you're assuming a lot without actual canon backup.  
Yes, Vernon seems to come from a family of bullies and is one 
himself.  But since he doesn't bully Petunia to begin with it's not 
inconsistent when he backs down to her. The idea that he dominates 
her all the time and then when she stands up to him is confused and 
gives in is not the pattern I see in canon, it's the theory you're 
trying to prove. There are actually scenes in canon where Vernon is 
not only stood up to but is faced with a bigger person laying down 
the law, and he doesn't crumple in response.  

Harry does indeed stand up to him early on--which I think calls into 
question you're theory that he is quite as abusive and controlling 
as you describe.  Especially with Petunia, which is the subject of 
the thread. You said:

NJ: I understand what you are saying but he can be seen both ways. I
have seen many abusive husbands/parents who will still shelter their
family from others. Those who are psychologically abusive are not
aware of it and many are disgusted by physical violence. Also, he
would see his wife and son as too weak to defend themselves so he
must do it. There can be more to that blustering guy behind closed
doors.

Magpie:
It seems like this understanding owes more to real life examples of 
abuse than the author's words.  There is no "behind closed doors" 
with Vernon--he's only the guy on the page, and on the page Petunia 
is not always giving in to him, nor is she particularly cowed by him 
that I see.  We are in Vernon's head for the first chapter of PS and 
he seems to be doing more than shielding Petunia from others while 
abusing her himself. She's just as rejecting of her sister's family 
as Vernon is, so I see no reason to think that she's secretly 
wanting to argue with Marge and doesn't because Vernon is there.  
Seems to me Petunia would be all too happy to spend time with a 
woman who ranted on about what awful people they were.

-m