[HPforGrownups] Respecting the Dursleys( was:Re: Hi everyone -- banning the books)

[Janette]

No: HPFGUIDX 159778

>
> montims wrote:
> > see, I don't really understand this problem with the Dursleys at
> all.  Until Harry is thrown into the mix, they are a family whose
> members are happy and secure with each other, and "normal, thank you
> very much".  If Harry had never arrived, they woiuld have continued,
> content in their lifestyle -Petunia happy at home raising Dudley and
> entertaining for Vernon's business - Vernon doing well at work, and
> pleasing the clients enough to get a holiday home in Majorca, as well
> as other perks.  So they're not great parents?  At least they all love
> each other.  It was throwing Harry in the mix that upset things.  And
> if he had been chubby, and instinctively went along with their
> mindset, and if his hair had conformed, and he hadn't shown any
> magical ability, they might still have rubbed along fine together.
> But he was the grain of sand in their oyster shell...
>
> Carol responds:
>
> The Dursleys a normal, happy family? McGonagall may be judging them
> prematurely as "the worst sort of Muggles," but her judgment is based
> on sixteen-month-old Dudley kicking his mother and demanding sweets.
> He's also just learned a new word, "won't," and he hasn't even reached
> the "terrible two's." Clearly, he's already indulged, if not spoiled,
> and he's less than a year and a half old. And Mr. Dursley apparently
> abuses his underlings at work, yelling at five different people on the
> second page of SS/PS. Granted, Petunia and Vernon love each other in
> their way, and they love Dudley (as shown by their reaction to the
> on-tongue toffee incident), but they're afraid of their own child,
> catering to his every whim for fear that he'll throw a tantrum.


montims:
And yet, exaggerated as they are, this is normal behaviour, even these
days.  I lived in South Yorkshire for 5 years with my husband, and we were
surrounded by this sort of family, and worse.  I think when people talk
about the way families *should* interact, that is exaggerated and unreal.
But then, my family was disfunctional, and however happy families appear,
when I get to know members of it, I see that they are disfunctional also.
Maybe I mix with the wrong people, but I have only seen these perfect people
in books or on American sitcoms...


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