DD at the Dursleys: Why do people dislike the scene?

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 158026

> Magpie:
> I said they were two different questions, so "I didn't enjoy this 
scene" 
> can't be answered with "But don't you remember what the Dursleys 
did?"  I 
> know all the facts, and they don't match up the same way for me to 
give me 
> the same emotional response, as happens with many scenes in canon 
that break 
> down along similar lines. As a response to years of abuse, albeit 
years 
> before, it seems a rather odd kind of response. I think it's very 
important 
> to be able to separate the two.  Otherwise it's easy to just sort 
people 
> into "people who can not be done wrong to" and "people who can not 
do 
> wrong."

Alla:

I completely disagree. I think two are inseparable in this scene, and 
in fact they should not be separated, because without Dursleys years 
of abuse Dumbledore would not have come and would not have acted as 
he did IMO.

I mean, as I mentioned to me that had read that Dumbledore hoped that 
Dursleys would not have abused Harry when he placed him here. Was it 
naive? Sure it was. Do I think it takes Dumbledore off the hook? Not 
quite, but at least that sort of helps me to forget the character I 
wanted to slap at the end of OOP, not forget completely but at least 
soften the blow.

I mean, I am not sure at all that this scene can be analysed on its 
own without taking the reasons for it into consideration.


> Magpie:
> That's pretty much how I feel, I think.  It's not even that I don't 
*want* 
> to be a witch, but that I'm not, and I wouldn't grovel about it. 
<SNIP>

Alla:

Well, yeah, because we cannot be, but would you have not taken the 
opportunity if you could? I mean as I said earlier I would not want 
to live in Potterverse, but it is not like I hate it either, it is 
just not an escapism world for me, but a reflection of our world as I 
mentioned in the past. 

But would I want to do magic if I could? Sure, if for nothing else 
then to treat diseases we cannot. I would have grasped the 
opportunity.

Magpie:
 That's the 
> thing--I'm not. I don't really know how people can always identify 
with 
> wizards.  As characters, sure.

Alla:

Huh? Yes, of course as characters, how else we can identify with 
them? I don't follow you. I identify with wizards I see as **good 
characters" or **sympathetic characters" as human beings.


Magpie:
  But it's not like "we" as readers don't have 
> a place in that world.  Why would anyone assume that s/he would be 
a wizard 
> if this were all real?  We can't do magic, we go to regular 
schools, we get 
> stitches and talk on the telephone. 

Alla:

I don't follow you at all. Are you asking what would be the 
advantages of being wizard if it was all real? Well, see above, 
possibility to treat the diseases we cannot is first and foremost, 
longer life span too ( Nooo, I am not talking about immortality, 
hehe, but if my loved ones and myself could live say hundred and 
fifty and be healthy enough, I would **love** that)

JMO,

Alla