[HPforGrownups] Re: CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Prisoner of Azkaban Chapter 2: Aunt Marge's Big Mistake

[Bart Lidofsky]

No: HPFGUIDX 189400

  On 6/30/2010 10:23 PM, dzturtleshell wrote:
> 1. Seriously - what is wrong with Aunt Marge? What kind of person hits a 5-year old in the shins?
>
> dzturtleshell: I think we should be asking what Marge could have against Harry. She treats him like he somehow ruined her life, and it seems as though she has felt that way since he was an infant.

Bart:
     Now that you mention it, I have seen something which would serve to 
explain (other than over the top writing) Aunt Marge's attitude.

     I had two relatives who were sisters. They lived in the same old 
age home. The son of one of them removed his mother, and transferred her 
to another home. This appeared to be very cruel, especially to his aunt. 
What the family later found out was that the sister who was removed was 
a complainer. Every time her son spoke to her or visited her, the main 
topic of conversation on her part was complaints about her sister. The 
son pretty much thought he was doing the right thing by separating the 
two; his mother's complaints made him think that her sister was making 
her life miserable.

     Now, consider that Marge is Vernon's sister. It would not be 
surprising, and certainly in character, for Vernon to blame Harry for 
everything that is not perfect for him, in his communications with his 
sister. Regardless of reality, especially if Marge is herself annoyed by 
Vernon's complaints, it would actually make emotional sense for Marge 
to, in combined defense of her brother and annoyance at her brother's 
continual complaints, let out her hostility at Harry.

     Bart