Vernon Dursley - a hero for the Blair generation.

[davywavy]

Chatting to my wench (who has an unhealthy addiction to Harry Potter) the other day, I was struck by the observation of how ill done by the character of Vernon Dursley actually is in the books. When first reading it, one is struck by the observation that he’s a nasty piece of work. However, on further readings it becomes clear that Mr. Dursley is a highly sympathetic character with a great many redeeming qualities; it is the writer who presents him in a negative light and so our opinions are skewed by the authorial voice.

I think that it’s about time that Vernon Dursley was recognised as the decent fellow he actually is, and I’d like to list a few of his more outstanding qualities:

1) He is remarkably brave. Despite his evident fear – if not terror – of the supernatural, he has taken it upon himself to protect his family from the unknown for many years. After it becomes clear that Harry is a wizard, there is a memorable scene in which Vernon refuses to allow Hagrid to take Harry away – this is in spite of Hagrid being described as over nine feet in height and heavily muscled, and capable of shooting gouts of flame from his umbrella.
If you were presented with a flame-shooting giant, would you stand up to them? Would you stand between them and your family? It would take a remarkable feat of bravery to do so. This is clearly a man who loves and cherishes his family, and has been prepared to risk death on at least one occasion in order to protect them

2) He is generous. Not only has he taken in an orphan (to whom he has no moral or legal obligation) who he has fed, clothed, and housed for a dozen years out of his own pocket - despite firmly believing that the child presented an immediate danger to himself and his family - but also he lavishes expensive gifts upon his immediate family as a matter of routine.

3) He is hard working. He gives up his weekends and evenings to his job, entertaining clients in his own home (how many of us would do that?), and in working for a drill manufacturing firm he is positively contributing to Britain’s poor balance of trade in light industry.

4) He is honest; he says what he thinks, and what you see with Mr. Dursley is what you get. The only matter he has ever lied on is the circumstances surrounding the death of Harry’s parents which, although Harrys friends are appalled by this, I can’t help but think that telling a small child that their parents were murdered in cold blood by an evil wizard would be counter-productive to say the least.
Couple this with the fact that the pre-release text from ‘Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix’ indicates the Dumbledore has been keeping much from harry regarding his heritage as well, I fail to see how Dursley can be criticised and Dumbledore praised for what are, in effect, identical actions.


In short it may fairly be demonstrated that Vernon Dursley, far from the ogre as depicted in the books, is a brave hard working family man. HP Lovecraft has written books about people whose sanity is destroyed by the supernatural menace under the stairs; in managing to keep his family together and remain a reliable provider to his nearest and dearest under the same circumstances, Vernon Dursley has shown a bravery, tenacity and spirit that makes him a true hero of the series.

Comments

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

This is remarkably true but only you could have had the idea of looking at Uncle Vernon in this way :o)

[ex-boog351.livejournal.com]

I think you just love doing this sort of thing just so everyone disagrees with you and to be argumentative. And to be funny, of course :)

HP Lovecraft has written books about people whose sanity is destroyed by the supernatural menace under the stairs

Perhaps we could consider some cross-overs?

Harry Potter and the Rats in the Walls

Facts Concerning The Late Ron Weasley And His Family

The Shadow over Hogwarts

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

The Shadow over Hogwarts
Hm, we already know that there is a Kraken in the lake...