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

katrinalisa2002 katrinalisa2002 at yahoo.com.au
Tue Oct 17 13:18:57 UTC 2006


No: HPFGUIDX 159842

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Beatrice23" <beatrice23 at ...>
wrote:

BEATRICE:
> I agree with Dumbledore (although, I didn't care for this scene as
> it seemed a bit out of character -more like JKR's agenda than a
> scene that came "organically" from the characters).
>
> I have always seen both Harry and Dudley as horribly abused.  In
> different ways certainly, but while Harry may be more sympathetic, I
> think that Dudley deserves more pity than Harry.  >


Katrina: I have to agree with you. I actually liked Dumbledore's
scene because I didn't feel it came from nowhere. It seemed to me,
that apart from the first few books which were obviously far less
sophisticated, Dudley was someone Dumbledore would feel sorry for.
I think Mr. Weasley's reaction to Dudley (kindly pity) in Book 4 was
another indicator of how we should feel for Dudley. Of course, Book 6
also reveals that Dudley has become an abuser like his father, whilst
simultaneuosly showing us that Dudley has a terrible fear that causes
him to react similarly to how Harry does to Dementors...and I don't
believe this is unintentional. I'm not sure what it means yet, but I
don't think it's nothing.

I think he's someone Dumbledore would feel sorry for, in the same way
he feels sorry for Draco. Both spoiled children, but both lacking in
the kind of love Mrs. Weasley gives her children, or the love that
Lily presumably gave Harry.

Although I would argue that Petunia is just as likely to sacrifice
herself for Dudley as Lily was for Harry.

JMO

without wax,
Katrina







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