Petunia and Lily (was why do people dislike this scene)

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 158076

> Steven1965aaa:
> 
> I agree with Steve, as usual.  Dumbledore was NOT uninvited --- 
> Harry, who lives in that house and is (well, at least kind of) a 
> member of the family, invited him by replying "YES" by Owl. It's 
not 
> Dumbldore's fault that Harry forgot to inform the Dursleys that he 
> was coming.
<SNIP>


Alla:

You know, I have to agree and withdraw my objection to Steve's 
argument, because my memory failed me. :) For some reason I forgot 
that Harry indeed replied to an Owl.

Yes, minimal hospitality **was** owed IMO. Despite Dursleys keeping 
Harry without visitors, he indeed has a right to accept Headmaster 
of his school in the house where he lives.

My bad :)



> Ceridwen:
<SNIP>
> We can't physically see the Dursleys in the books.  So what one 
reader 
> brings away as anger and abuse, another reader brings away as 
utter 
> fear.  It depends on our own experiences, I think, personal 
experiences 
> and knowledge of the experiences of others, rather than age.


Alla:

I have no argument with **different age groups see things 
differently** to some extent, as long as you are not arguing that 
that really means that Harry was not abused by Dursleys. JKR as much 
as said that he was. That is why irregardless whether Petunia is 
angry or terrified and as I said I am sure she was terrified too, 
but for the reasons I fail to find sympathetic as of today. IMO of 
course

Ceridwen: 
> Fear and anger can play against one another in a character, so 
fear 
> will make a person hateful, anger can lead to fear since anger is 
> illogical and can make a person do things without good judgement 
of the 
> outcome - a frightening scenario once the anger has subsided.

Alla:

Indeed and that fear and/or anger lead them to do things to Harry 
that Sherry described and as she said **none** of them was his 
fault. None. I am sure that we can find plenty of reasons explaining 
Petunia's behaviour. It is just I cannot find any, which justify it. 
IMO.

I want to nodd to Magpie's words here and agree that if JKR chooses 
to portray Petunia's jealousy as real not as cartoonish and that she 
may be loved Lily before Hogwarts, that could be cool and **maybe** 
in book 7 Petunia will acknowledge it. I just completely disagree 
that she was **not** jealous, when she says as such, I just disagree 
that fear alone is what drives Petunia. ( that is not replying to 
Magpie, this sentence - but in general)

JMO,

Alla