Dumbledore & Dursleys Once More With Feeling

[jdl3811220]

No: HPFGUIDX 165003

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "va32h" <va32h at ...> wrote:
>
> From time to time we've discussed why Dumbledore had to leave Harry 
> with the Dursleys - blood protection being the excuse for what is 
> otherwise an act of cruelty and so on. 
> 
> I thought of that thread this evening as I was looking for some 
> material for an essay I am working on about the literary tradition 
of 
> close male friendships (working title: Guy Love: From the Epic of 
> Gilgamesh to NBC's Scrubs, the Importance of the Male Bond in 
> Literature.) 
> 
> I was looking for The Chosen - because of the friendship between 
> Danny and Reuven. And I came across the part where Dannys' father 
> explains why he raised his son in silence. 
> 
> Danny's father, Reb Saunders, fears his son's brilliant and 
> analytical mind will render him soulless. He chooses to raise him 
in 
> silence - he never speaks to the boy except during Talmud classes - 
> as a way to force Danny into intropection, and develop a sense of 
his 
> soul, and empathy for others. Reb Saunders wants Danny to "learn[s] 
> of the pain of others by suffering one's own pain 
 by turning 
inside 
> oneself. . . . It makes us aware of how frail and tiny we are and 
of 
> how much we must depend upon the Master of the Universe."
> 
> The hope was that Danny would follow his father's footsteps, and be 
a 
> Rabbi and a tzadik - a completely righteous individual -  to his 
> congregation, but Danny wants to study psychology - and when Reb 
> Saunders realizes this, he can instead be a tzadik for the world.
> 
> I can't believe I never saw the similarities before - is that not 
> what Harry is - a completely righteous individual for the wizarding 
> world? And Duh! Harry is called the Chosen One. I feel like an 
idiot 
> for not seeing this sooner. 
> 
> Anyway - this raising a child in silence business is *not* given a 
> free pass by anyone in the book. Danny suffers, Danny's friend 
Reuven 
> considers it cruel as does Reuven's father. Repeatedly the 
characters 
> are shown discussing whether the result of this method is worth its 
> costs. Reb Saunders even acknowledges that he has given up a 
certain 
> relationship with his son, in order to give him this compassion, 
this 
> silence. 
> 
> It's certainly no endorsement of the practice...and yet by the end 
of 
> the book you see why Saunders did it - and Danny does as well, and 
he 
> is at peace with it and even appreciates it. 
> 
> I still understand the irritation readers feel with Dumbledore - 
but 
> I'm so much more content in my own mind, now that I've made this 
> connection. 
> 
> And even if you don't buy the connection -  read The Chosen, if you 
> haven't. It's such a wonderful book!
> 
> va32h

Jenni from Alabama responds:

Who is the author of The Chosen? I want to pick up that book the next 
time I'm at the library. Thanks!

I can't help but hate the Dursleys. They weren't just silent to 
Harry, they were downright cruel. However, Dumbledore did what he 
felt was best for Harry. He loved Harry as a grandson and Harry 
adored him. I think Harry IS at peace with he & Dumbledore's 
relationship. The only thing Harry isn't at peace about is 
Dumbledore's trust in Snape - which brings us back to whether Snape 
is evil or not. And round and round we go. I'm still reserving 
judgement where Snape is regarded. My head tells me something isn't 
fitting right there. My heart is screaming for the murdering scumbag 
to be taken out. Regardless of Snape's 'state of being', Deathly 
Hallows is going to be an awesome read! I can't wait!

Jenni