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It make out as a surprise to no one thatHarry Potter’stime with theDursley’swas truly detestable . They treated the poor boy like filth and seemed to revel in making him as wretched as possible . Many devotee conceive that Dudley was the boy self-aggrandising teaser growing up , but in this article , we want to step back and look atDudley’sactions from a more compassionate slant .
venerate not dear Potter fans of the internet , we are not excusing the actions of the young Dudley Dursley . However , in this article , we will be assume a look at them from a more empathetic place and judge to understand what could have lead to such things . And who hump ? peradventure along the way we might discover a possible redemption arc hold back in the mud .
He Didn’t Realize The Impact He Was Having
It could be very well possible that Dudley had no idea that he was truly hurting his cousin-german . There are a turn of intellect for this ( several of which will be search in greater detail further down in this list . ) The first being the fact that ill-treat others was all he ever knew as it was the only example given to him by his parent .
Or perhaps he thought it was a turn of a secret plan that he and his cousin were play growing up . Or maybe he but was too vague - witted to recognize that his legal action had effect as he was taught to see other people ( peculiarly Harry ) as things and not people . And , by consequence , did not realize that Harry even had feelings that could be suffer until the Dementor attack made him see his cousin-german as a existent individual .
He Tried To Make Up For It
Though his intimidation is rather inexcusable , it is significant to observe that it come to an immediate destruction following the Dementor attack in the 5th book / film . This incident induce Dudley to question his kinship with Harry , his own actions , and whether or not the things that his parents had instruct him about how to treat others were actually the right ways of navigating the earth .
Other lineament who committed standardized offenses in their early days are often granted redemption arc by the fandom , but Dudley is often left out of such things .
He Would Have Been Punished Otherwise
Though we are not apologise Dudley ’s behaviour , it is important to remark that it is very likely that doing so was his only selection . The Dursley ’s were so set on treat Harry like a festering lot of food waste that Dudley ’s later effort at kindness were done in a rather tightlipped and sneaky matter .
It is quite possible that Dudley tried befriending his cousin at a lowly age but that conduct was quickly correct and he was taught that this boy was beneath him and a friendly relationship between them would not be tolerated due to the concern of Harry ’s filth ( Petunia ’s sentiments , not ours ) rubbing off on her ickle Diddy - kins .
He Was Dealing With His Own Issues
Every bullied child in the world was told , at some full point in their puerility , that child are mean because they are insecure . They are simply projecting their own pain onto you and their Word rarely have anything to do with you at all .
The book tell us that Dudley is a very big child with an obsessive mother and parents that verbally abuse all that wander onto their dimension . It is quite potential that Dudley himself could have been the target of similar levels of pitilessness had he not gotten ahead of the game and become the perpetrator rather than the dupe .
He Didn’t Know What Was Going On
Now , it is important to note that people should be kind to each other ; irrespective of what is blend on in their lives . One does not get a free pass to be intend just because someone has a rather good animation and one should not avoid being a saccade just because someone is have a bad day- they should avoid being a jerk because it was ill-timed .
However , Dudley had no idea the extent of wretchedness that Harry was struggling with . He did not know anything beyond what his parents secernate him . And his parents told him that Harry was a lousy monster that deserve to be plow like dirt .
He Was Rather Dim-Witted
Now , there is nothing wrong with being rather dim - witted . Intelligence does not make a person superior to another . However , it is worth noting that Dudley was a rather dim - witted gent and it is quite possible that he did not understand the true moment of his actions .
reckon at it this way . His parent rewarded his cruelty , they were cruel themselves , and his friend advance his sour deportment . This taught Dudley that being mean was a good matter and that other people were punchlines ( and nothing more . ) Being rather dim - witted , he in all probability never questioned the ethics of his actions .
Simply put , Dudley was raised by two of the biggest bully around . He watched them treat Harry ( and the rest of the world ) with nothing but out-and-out contempt and absorbed such thing into his own arise personality .
It is also worth take down that he was rewarded for being roughshod to Harry . When arouse a small child , it is important to never express joy at a behaviour that you do not need to encourage in the child . For if they get a laugh for doing so , they are going to desire to reiterate the activity as much as possible to receive that positive support . When a young Dudley was cruel to his cousin , his father encouraged this by applauding such thing . Teaching him that this was the way to do by others .
Draco Got A Redemption Arc
Draco and Dudley are not that unlike ( though a young Draco would be very diss if he discover himself being liken to a muggle ) if one really start down to it . Both of them are young boys who were raised by men who consider them to be superscript to other people and that Harry is an acceptable target ( in fact , they are even promote to go after the male child ! )
If we can forgive Draco ’s joke as him not knowing any better and simply spouting off the same hateful grandiloquence that he absorbed at home , then for sure we can afford Dudley the same forgivingness as both boys , once they realized the mistake of their way and that they wanted to be nothing like their fathers , did their estimable to make amends with Harry .
There Are Far Bigger Villains In The Series
Though all injuries do leave fool , even the small ones , it is important to note that , within the setting of the Harry Potter canon , there are bigger fish to electrocute . Now , that does not signify that we amply excuse everything that Dudley did .
However , some fan have put his childish actions on equation with that of Lord Voldemort and , the true be enjoin , that is a routine unjust . specially deliberate the redemption bow we have given both Draco Malfoy and James Potter for like conduct .
He Was Just A Kid
In the same way of life that we have write off the oafish behaviour and actions of Mr James Potter due to his age , it is only average that we consider showing Dudley Dursley the same kindness . Yes , he rightfully did torment Harry whilst they were growing up together . However , he was just a Thomas Kid and once he was old enough to understand the consequences that his actions were having , he reduce that nonsense out rather quickly .
baby do not inherently have empathy , it is something that is taught . And without any convinced example of such , it can be difficult for children to develop such things on their own ( especially when their poor demeanor is in a flash encouraged . ) But once Dudley began to understand what Harry was going through and began to see Harry as a person , he did make an effort to become a better person . And that maturation is something that should be acknowledged .
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