[HPforGrownups] Re: Toons, Petunia, and the Horrible Vase (WAS: Blame Fryffindor for everything)

[P J]

No: HPFGUIDX 175294





Debbie says:
>The very> existence of the vase tells us that however much Petunia resents Lily and> her magical talent, she cares enough to send Lily a gift. Whether Petunia> has good or bad taste (and I have no doubt that it is bad, because taste> requires self-confidence and Petunia feels her inferiority too keenly) is> beside the point. Lily's comment is belittling to her inferior sister.> Thus, the comment is a jarring moment in what otherwise is a very thoughtful> letter in which Lily thanks Sirius and enlists his help in raising James'> spirits.> > Perhaps I should read the comment as humanizing Lily. She is not perfect,> if she cheerfully makes her Muggle sister the butt of jokes. However, if> JKR means us to find this funny, I don't think it works, at least for me.
PJ:
I read this letter to be the start of when Petunia began giving horrid gifts to people she didn't really want to be associated with.  Her habit of sending Harry a tissue or a used sock for Christmas may have begun with her sending her sister the most horrid vases she could find in the stores...  
 
She is raised to believe she HAS to give a gift, but no one says it has to be a NICE gift... She's being passive/aggressive in her choices.
 
PJ
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