Identifying with Muggles - The Dursley and 'Terrifying' Abuse
horridporrid03
horridporrid03 at yahoo.com
Tue Sep 12 21:49:03 UTC 2006
No: HPFGUIDX 158207
> >>bboyminn:
> > OH MY GOD! Dumbledore annoyed the Dusleys, he should
> > be shot!
> > <snip>
> >>Betsy Hp:
> > Goodness, Steve, no one's suggesting shooting Dumbledore.
> > I'm merely expressing a bit of disappointment that he
> > released his anger (as understandable as that anger was)
> > in such a petty and childish fashion. I mean, let's keep
> > things in perspective. <eg>
> >>bboyminn:
> Well, I'm going to assume you understand that statement
> as sarcasm. I understand that you didn't like the scene
> and that's OK; some do, some don't, that's life.
Betsy Hp:
You are correct, sir. Hence my <evil grin>. I was cleverly (IMO),
and with devilish glee, turning your own words against you. (I was
especially proud of the keeping things in perspective bit.) And I
was doing so with tongue firmly in cheek. It was all meant in good
fun. (It might help to picture me giggling like a maniac as I typed
my reply. <g>)
> >>bboyminn:
> But, as many people state their objections, they are inflaming the
> scene beyond reason.
Betsy Hp:
At that time in the discussion I don't think they had. Though,
since you and I are veterans of wars past, I think we both realized
it was only a matter of time before hyperbole took it's honored
place. I was just thrilled that the other "side" was the first to
introduce it this time around. (At least, that's how I recalled it
happening - I could well be wrong being somewhat less sensitive to
hyperbole used by my "side".)
> >>bboyminn:
> Some make it sound like Dumbledore is engages in this horrible and
> terrifying abuse of the Dursleys when in fact he merely
> annoyed them.
> <snip>
> Dumbledore is polite, never hostile or threatening, he
> greets Vernon, he greets Harry, he introduces himself,
> and certainly once he introduced himself and made them
> aware of who he was and why he was there, the most basic
> and minimal courtesy should have been observed.
> <snip>
Betsy Hp: (with a more serious hat on at this time)
I think there are two things going on in this scene, which is why
poster's points of view can become confusing. We have the Dursleys'
actions, and we have Dumbledore's actions.
I don't think anyone has argued that the Dursleys behave well.
(When do they ever?) Certainly they exhibit no grace under
pressure. And frankly, I'm not sure they exhibit grace when under
no pressure at all. Emily Post would not be pleased.
But I don't think she'd be all that pleased with Dumbledore either.
If we're talking simple rules of etiquette, Dumbledore may have been
pleasant, but he wasn't polite.
And I think that was okay. He's in a difficult situation dealing
with difficult people. He started off fairly pleasant and seemed to
be dealing with the difficult issues as well and as graciously as he
could have, IMO.
However, he chose to bring magic into the picture. And he used it
against the Muggles in that home. All of them. Including the child
he identifies as having been abused. True, he's not swelling
organs, or sending them into near fatal depression. But he's using
magic. In a manner designed to make the Muggles uncomfortable. I
find little to praise in it. And it shifts my sympathies to the
Muggles, as badly behaved as they are.
I *do* think Dumbledore was both hostile and threatening. Just, in
a very low key sort of way. He uses his magic to put the Dursleys
(including the child he's labeled as abused) in a place he wants
them to be. That's an intimidation technique. I think too highly
of Dumbledore's intelligence to think him stupid enough to not get
that.
I think Dumbledore does this on purpose. He's angry at the
Dursleys, he's dying (I think), and this is all he can do. Is it
human? Sure. Is it well behaved? No. Could Dumbledore have done
better? Of course. One need only look to the Tower to see
Dumbledore at his most powerful and (not surprisingly) most
gracious. This was Dumbledore at a weak moment, I think. And the
cracks showed.
Betsy Hp
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