[HPforGrownups] Respecting the Dursleys

[puduhepa98 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 159596

>Lynda:

>I just listened to SS again last week when I was  doing housework. Vernon
>Dursley "hitting Dudley around the head" was  mentioned. That's actionable.
>Should be for both kids really. Not letting  a kid out of his room other than
>for bathroom breaks could also be  considered abusive. What's most
>compelling though, is the way Harry  reacts to Vernon. Keeps out of his way,
>due to his temper and his reach.  That's not good.
 
Nikkalmati
 
BTW we have talked about DD placing Harry with the Dursleys and what  
authority he had or did not have to do that.  What about Harry's  position in the 
Muggle world?  Who authorized the Dursleys to take him and  who arranged it?  Was 
he adopted or given out as a foster child?   In that case, wouldn't he have a 
case worker?  You can't just take in a  child without formalities.  
Especially when he goes to school, the  authorities are going to say: wait a minute, 
who are you and  who is  this child? 
Nikkalmati
 
 
>Pippin
<snip>
>When he bullies we don't see him taking pleasure in scaring or hurting  
>people the way Draco does -- Dudley does it to impress his gang and keep  
>them entertained. Maybe that was the point of naming the victim Evans?  
>It could be Dudley's not as different from James as you might  think.


Nikkalmati
 
I certainly felt some sympathy for Petunia when she revealed her feelings  
about her sister because she was obviously someone who had suffered as a  child. 
 It is so often true that poor parenting is passed  down more frequently than 
an inheritance.  She doesn't know how  to parent Duddley and he is suffering 
as a result ( she also made a poor choice  of marriage partner <g>).  We have 
not seen any good qualities in  Duddley, so it is hard to have feelings for 
him, unlike Draco whom we have seen  suffer and who has love for his family.  
Duddley has shown no feelings for  his parents and hasn't any self-awareness.  
Maybe he will thank  Harry  for saving him from the Dementors some day, but 
until then I  can't identify with his situation.  As for James, I was appalled at 
his  behavior in the Pensieve and I don't believe it was intended by JKR to 
be an  exaggeration.  OTOH there was probably more to James than the spoiled, 
rich  bully revealed in that scene.  He did work for the Order and DD seemed to 
 like him.
 
.Nancy
<big snip> 
>.So... what baggage are the adults all carrying? Snapes past eludes me.  
Also.. DE... >I .really can't grasp how
>they work, why they become DE  etc.

Nikkalmati
 
I think JKR has given us a hint in the Pensieve scenes why Snape went to  LV. 
 He apparently came from a poor home and maybe an abusive one.  He  was 
bullied at school  and we have seen in RL that bullying can result  in violent 
acting out.  That may be all we ever get to know. 
Nikkalmati 
 


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