Dudley Dursley

[Sarcastic_Joe]

Hey guys.. the usual 'search' thing.. I got four Dudley threads but all different from this topic.

I never understood one thing... why is Dudley so spoiled? I mean look at him, Vernon and Petunia seem literally thankful for having him. Did something happen that almost took him away? or is there a reason that his birthday is so close to Harry's?

Any comments would be appreciated..

[snapes hunnybun]

Hi there! This is a really interesting question. To be honest I never gave much thought to Dudley before. I just assumed he was a spoilt brat and was favoured over Harry as he is their biological son and also 'normal' (non magical)
However I think we may be told more about Aunt Petunia and Lilly's family history which may reveal that Dudley was indeed in danger at some point. Perhaps from Voldemort himself. Hmm it's a bit of a head scratcher...I will need to give it some more thought.

[Prof.Blink]

It does seem really ironic that Vernon can be so heavy-handed with Harry, yet he allows Dudley to get away with allsorts. Maybe Vernon blames Harry for something that may have happened in he past that could have put Dudley in danger, like snapes hunnybun just said. Who knows...?

Then again, maybe they spoil dudley because he is their only son. They shower him with presents because they can afford to and are generally quite materialistic themselves. Vernon has this habit of showing off. He liked the fact that his lawn was going to win a prize and he had a bad attitude towards people who didn't ''look right''. Naturally, he would want to spend money on his child so that Dudley doesn't go without anything. Spoiling him is just their way of showing him they love him as well as keeping his mouth shut.

[Sir Bert Leaman]

I'd bet whatever the reason, it has to do with what he heard when he was close to the Dementors in OotP. Obviously his past is not as happy as we were all lead to believe. I would say that it is quite possible that when Duders was young (too young for him to remember) he could have been in danger from Deatheaters. Harry was living under his Aunt's roof as was Dudley. After the great lord Moldywart's... er... I mean Voldemort's downfall, Deatheaters could have gone looking for Harry in an effort to avange their fallen leader or just to make a name for themselves. They perhaps would not know what Harry looks like but maybe just where he was living. The only problem was Harry's cousine would also be living there and could possibly be mistaken for our young hero. I'll bet whatever the case, we were not made aware that there had been some issues in Dudley's past just for the fun of it. I'll bet this problem revolves around Harry and a possible attack from Deatheaters in the past.

[woop]

i think we're thinking about it too much. he's so spoiled because there needs to be a character that stands in stark contrast to harry. look, harry is this kid that's been orphaned, neglected and abused, and he still turned out allright. dudley's been spoiled his whole life and that has made him a big fat spoiled bully. he's hopeless.

i think he was supposed to be on a diet in oop. maybe he'll become a better person, but i doubt it. in order for it to be believeable that harry, as a character, should really live somewhere else, then his home life has got to be totally awful, at least in terms of the structure of the whole story.

hey, you know what, maybe it's that the deatheaters went after him too. maybe the deatheaters thought they should just get the whole family just to be sure. it makes sense youknow, especially given the fact that petunia knows more about the magic world than we thought she did before oop.

[Chatmandu]

I think with the Dursleys JKR has given us a case of what you see is what you get. Vernon is an insufferable bully who believes the person who dies with the most toys wins, and Petunia agrees with this philosophy. She craves the normalness of material objects. Possibly a backlash to her sister's magical abilities. In the first chapter of the PS/SS we see a very spoiled Dudley, and that was before the murder of the Potters.

UNFOUNDED HYPOTHESIS HERE: Perhaps Vernon did not come from a middle class family and is over compensating with Dudley. Petunia is more than happy to give her only child everything. I have the impression that the Dursley's marriage is a relatively loveless one. Petunia might be more interested in the normality and social position Vernon provides, rather than get involved with that yucky sex stuff. Ewwww!! :p

[Sir Bert Leaman]

Also though, remember that he heard voices when the Dementors were near. You have to think about for a sec but... Dementors leave those close to them with only thier worst memories and feelings. Dudley has had something in his past that was emotionally painfull or alarming. Apparently, he did not recognise these voices and so I'd guess something happened years ago and he's either blocked it out or was too young to remember. I think analysing this bit of info can provide further insight into the past.

[woop]

well analyse away sir bert!

[Sophie Patil]

Also though, remember that he heard voices when the Dementors were near. You have to think about for a sec but... Dementors leave those close to them with only thier worst memories and feelings. Dudley has had something in his past that was emotionally painfull or alarming. Apparently, he did not recognise these voices and so I'd guess something happened years ago and he's either blocked it out or was too young to remember. I think analysing this bit of info can provide further insight into the past.

We can figure that if Dudley would have been harmed, or very much endangered (so that it would be one of the most horrible memories in his whole life) because of Harry living there, or Deatheaters mistaking Dudley for Harry or something similar, and Vernon would have known about it - we can be sure that he would have kicked harry out immediately. I mean, he TOTALLY FREAKED in OotP - and really, can we blame him for it...? So if we imply that something like that happened and everyone's memories of this event have been erased with a spell, we need to ask; if your memory of a certain -very cruel- event has been removed by a spell - are you still able to remember it when the attack of a dementor occurs... I wouldn't thnk so, really..
There must be something in Dudleys Past that we don't know about, because we just know him as this self-centered, spoiled kid, who always does what he wants.. what would be his worst memory? being out of potatoe chips when his fave show is on?
no, there must be something else.
But I don't think it has anything to so with his mom and dad being so overprotective. I think it has to do with the fact that he is an only child and also -in petunia's case- the feeling that her child should have it better than she did. She's also getting back at her sister and her parents by treating Harry the way she does. I always had the impression she felt like she wasn't loved as much by her parents because she wasn't a witch. I always felt like she was incredibly jealous of Lily. and not only of her abilities, but also of the extra attention she was probably getting from her parents...
That would be a reasoning of why Petunia is treating Dudley the way she is. And Vernon... hm, well apart from the only child and the fact that he's a boy (men and their sons, eh;)) I'm still trying to figure that one out...

[red_fairy]

I never thought about anything like you are suggesting. I always thought he was thrown in to be a Character foil to Harry, though maybe not since Draco is a character foil to Harry. Actually Draco is more of a character foil to Ron. I wonder what he did see in OOtP when the Dementors went to Little Whinging.

[MagicMuggle]

Hey guys.. the usual 'search' thing.. I got four Dudley threads but all different from this topic.

I never understood one thing... why is Dudley so spoiled? I mean look at him, Vernon and Petunia seem literally thankful for having him. Did something happen that almost took him away? or is there a reason that his birthday is so close to Harry's?

Any comments would be appreciated..

Welcome to Cos Sarcastic Joe! :welcome:

I personally think Dudley is spoiled because he did 'the temper tantrum throwing' thing and Petiuna wanted to stop it as fast and easy as possible, not because he tried to be taken away from the Dursleys. As a character through, I think his purpouse is to emphasize what Harry has to deal with out of school.

Well that my opinion...Have fun with it! ;)

[woop]

I never thought about anything like you are suggesting. I always thought he was thrown in to be a Character foil to Harry, though maybe not since Draco is a character foil to Harry. Actually Draco is more of a character foil to Ron. I wonder what he did see in OOtP when the Dementors went to Little Whinging.

i'm with you red fairy.

[SquibOnline]

Probably because they want to make sure that he gets rewarded for not doing strange things like Harry. But that is a good question

[Sarcastic_Joe]

The funny thing is that.. we also don't know how old Petunia and Vernon are.. (atleast I don't).. what if they couldn't have a child due to some weird reason.. and *magically* get Dudley.. think about it.. one of the possibilities..

[irony_in_blue]

I estimate that Petunia is around 40-45, and Vernon is 45.

I've been thinking about this for a long time. JKR said that someone would be able to do magic "later on in life". This most likely means that we thought that they were a Muggle, but then they do magic. Could Dudley's worst memory have been a certain letter from Hogwarts on his 11th birthday?

Another thought related to this. Nowhere in the books does it say that Petunia didn't get a letter, just that Lily did. I'm starting to think that this is a strong possibility. The way JKR writes, it makes it very obvious that Petunia is very heavily associated with wizards.

[Sarcastic_Joe]

I estimate that Petunia is around 40-45, and Vernon is 45.

I've been thinking about this for a long time. JKR said that someone would be able to do magic "later on in life". This most likely means that we thought that they were a Muggle, but then they do magic. Could Dudley's worst memory have been a certain letter from Hogwarts on his 11th birthday?

Another thought related to this. Nowhere in the books does it say that Petunia didn't get a letter, just that Lily did. I'm starting to think that this is a strong possibility. The way JKR writes, it makes it very obvious that Petunia is very heavily associated with wizards.

but in her interview, she said that petunia is not a squib.. but we are close.. maybe Dudley is magically gifted..

[Rae_G]

The way JKR writes, it makes it very obvious that Petunia is very heavily associated with wizards.

That's what I noticed. In every book we find that she knows more about the wizarding world then she wants to let on. The fact that she knew what Azkaban prison was. Plus the fact that she always brings up answers to questions you'd think only Harry would know the answer to.

I believe there is a lot more to Petunia then meets the eye. Judging by the way she acts toward her sister, I'd think she didn't sit down and have chats with her to learn about the world.

Not to say she wouldn't know some things, but she obviously knows more then the normal muggle would know.

So I believe that something happened in her past, as well as Dudley's to make them act in the way they do. Where as said before Dudley was probably to young, and has surpressed the memory of what happened, yet in a way is still tortured by it (dementors).

[ramones]

I have to point out something: Dudley was spoiled even before Harry came in the picture.
Remember the day when the wizarding world was celebrating Voldemort's 'death'? He was throwing food at Petunia and making a real mess. She just let him do it though.

Maybe there isn't more to Dudley and the reason he freaked out was because everything went cold, he felt like his sould was being sucked out of him, for no apparent reason. At least wizards knows what's going on.
Dementors affect everyone, even people like Dudley, who are pretty dumb and stupid.

What kind of name is Dudley???!?! Has anyone ever heard it before?

[Sir Bert Leaman]

Originally posted by ramones:
Maybe there isn't more to Dudley and the reason he freaked out was because everything went cold, he felt like his sould was being sucked out of him, for no apparent reason. At least wizards knows what's going on.

It is true that Dementors affect everyone but when Dudley was losing it he mentioned something about hearing voices. I am currious about what he heard. If all Dementors leave people with is the most negative thoughts/feelings, I wonder what happened to him that was so negative.

[dorcasderr]

Maybe someone at school told him the truth about himself...and, by the way, dudley is a perfectly respectable English name. I even know 2 people with that name...one as a last name and one as a first name.

[irony_in_blue]

I believe there is a lot more to Petunia then meets the eye. Judging by the way she acts toward her sister, I'd think she didn't sit down and have chats with her to learn about the world.

Or maybe she just doesn't want her husband and child to know about it?

[Sarcastic_Joe]

Dudley might've been a ridiculusly spoilt child forever.. my original question still stays.. WHY do his parents allow it.. why is he so special.. they are still pretty strict..

[Barbara Kennedy]

Hey guys.. the usual 'search' thing.. I got four Dudley threads but all different from this topic.

I never understood one thing... why is Dudley so spoiled? I mean look at him, Vernon and Petunia seem literally thankful for having him. Did something happen that almost took him away? or is there a reason that his birthday is so close to Harry's?

Any comments would be appreciated..


Check these threads for some answers.

Dudley’s birthday (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=30870)
Petunia Dursley aka There’s Something About Aunt Petunia (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=20243)
Will the Dursleys ever redeem themselves? (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=27807)
Petunia and Dudley –a spell? (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=21590)

[Sarcastic_Joe]

Check these threads for some answers.

Dudley’s birthday (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=30870)
Petunia Dursley aka There’s Something About Aunt Petunia (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=20243)
Will the Dursleys ever redeem themselves? (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=27807)
Petunia and Dudley –a spell? (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=21590)


Thanks for posting some reference threads..

[inuyasha]

i simply think that dudley is spoiled --simply because he is. :p
He is his parents' only child, and they might overdo it just to make harry jealous.
other than that i agree with the others---j.k. just needed someone opposite of harry.

inuyasha

[MadMagic]

I think Dudley is spoiled just because thats the way Vernon and Petunia are.
They are overly proud parent with one child to lavish all their attention on. Harry is mearly a burden to them, a small bump in the road on their Dudley spoiling ways. They don't have anything better to do with their money, so they buy Dudley things he doesn't need.
I don't think there's anything deep behind it.

[The Gurg]

This is only a theory, but do you think Dudley is a wizard, and because Vernon and Petunia are anti-wizards, they did not allow him to leave the so-called 'normal world'. Only a theory, but I agree that there is something up with Dudley being spoilt.

[rotsiepots]

I think Dudley acts as a foil to Harry. Technically both Harry and Dudley are only children, but Dudley's "have" existence contrasts starkly with Harry's "have not". Why is he spoiled? Well, often only children are spoiled because they have no one to compete with, no hand-me-downs to deal with, and are more used to having "yes, dear" said to them than "no".

I think the fact that Dudley's birthday is close to Harry's only serves to highlight the contrasts further.

[antiQueen]

I agree with many of the comments that have been posted. Dudley serves as the character in contrast to Harry. He is spoiled due to several reasons I believe, one of the most obvious being how Petunia and Vernon simply love putting Harry down. He is the son of a wizard and witch, and a wizard himself after all. So they spoil Dudley even more to vindictively put Harry down further.

However I also believe (and this is a theory of mine, so if you don't agree that's fine :)) that this shows one similiarity between Lily Potter and Petunia. Now I can see all of you going: How on earth can she say that?? They're nothing alike!

True. But hear me out.

Lily and Petunia are nothing alike. Lily seems to have been a kind, loving woman. A witch. Petunia is a muggle who hates anything unusual and an overall insufferable snob. But there is one thing they have in common as sisters: Their devotion to their families. We know Lily gave up her life to save her son and that's devotion and love on the deepest level. Now as much as I dislike her, Petunia also devotes her life to her (close) family, i.e. Vernon and Dudley. She just takes it to extremes by spoiling Dudley rotten and being blind to the bully he is.

But essentially Lily and Petunia shared this one trait - their devotion to their family.

[emily105]

I guess Dudley is spoiled because, since Vernon and Petunia knew that Lily was a witch and had a son, they wanted Dudley to feel like he was ten times better than Harry, and they eventually convinced themselves to believe that Dudley was better than Harry. You must remember that in the first book, Petunia had said that when she and Lily found out that Lily was a witch, Petunia had said that she saw Lily as a freak, so you can see that when Petunia and Lily were younger, Petunia wanted to be the best because of the fact that she was "normal". Petunia probably thought that Lily was some kind of disease that she should stay far away from.

[anabel]

Doesn't anyone else feel sorry for Duddykins??? He is horrible because he has totally irresponsibe and ill-judging parents. And he obviously has an eating disorder. Yes, of course we all hate him but he could have turned out differently with a decent upbringing. Look at the way they treat him - no wonder he's horrible!
What would have happened if he was left on James and Lily's doorstep?

Actually, I use him as an example for my kids when I won't let them have what they want - They don't want to end up like him so they get the message!

[rotsiepots]

Dudley has an eating disorder? :huh: I think it's more likely that Dudley lacks self-control.

I don't feel sorry for him, really. He grew up in the same setting as Harry, but look at how markedly different they are. It's all about choice (there's that theme again).

[BloodyBlackRose]

It could be a number of different things. I think that maybe it could be something wrong with Petunia and she is spoiling her child because when she was younger she never really got attention or she was just plain jealous of Lily and since she felt "rejected" by her parents maybe she spoils Dudley because it's like the childhood she never had and that's why she treats Harry like dirt. Plus it's a part of Lily. Ya know.

[steph_HPfan]

Hmmmm... very interesting topic. Ok, well, for the most part, I agree with BloodyBlackRose (interesting name by the way) because I also think that Petunia didn't get all the attention she wanted, so it would make sense if that was why she spoiled Dudely. But, I think it's much more interesting to believe that Petunia and Vernon spoil Dudely because they almost lost him, and that theory also fits with the theory that Dudely's great bad memory (that the dementors made him think about) was of him being in deadly trouble. But then, Dudely was spoiled since the day he could talk (his first word was "Wont!"). So, very interesdting... :)

[morgiana]

Poor Dudley! No body likes him and with good reason. He's mean! He is the muggle equivalent of Draco. The only difference is Dudley over consumes. I'm not sure why JKR made him fat. Vernon is fat and Dudley takes after him. Maybe the difference lies in their fathers. Lucius has a certain amount of moxie. He is rich and powerful. Vernon is middle class but wants to appear more affluent. This is maybe why he gives Dudley so much and in the beginning Dudley may have eaten to please his dad. Dudley may also over consume because it points out to Harry that he is loved and Harry is Not.

[anabel]

I don't feel sorry for him, really. He grew up in the same setting as Harry, but look at how markedly different they are. It's all about choice (there's that theme again).

In the same setting????? Look at the way they're treated!!!!!!

[Kimmetje]

Posted by anabel
In the same setting????? Look at the way they're treated!!!!!!

I think that with setting rotsiepots means in the same neighbourhood and house. Anyhow, I agree that it has to do with choices as Dudley could've simply shared with HP, but he's got that snobbish side of his which he ofcourse inherited from Uncle Vernon and inherited probably his lack of being friendly as Dudders is anything, but friendly. I must say that Dudley choose to be like that.

[tracer]

I kinda felt sorry for Dudley when Harry threatened him in the alley.. also he gets the fuzzy end of the lollipop every year... demented.. pig-tailed.. tongue-spelled.. and many more..

Very good topic though.. It will be interesting to know what everyone thinks about the famous Dudleykins..

[Tane]

I wonder why Petunia spoils Dudley so much and Vernon come to that, perhaps this ties in with the jealously towards Lily and James. I get the feeling that Petunia felt left out of things, was not aloud for example a wand or magic books, this in turn may have made a young child feel less needed or wanted, second best even if Petunia's parents never really thought about her any less than Lily. This might explain why Dudley and Vernon get what they want, Petunia does not want them to feel left out of her life and feels the only way to gain there respect is through spoiling them in the same way she probably thought Lily was.

Dudley though really needs to be taught the values of life more and actually I wonder if life debts extend between wizards and muggles because if they do then Dudley owes Harry a life debt after being saved from the dementors by him.

I'm pretty certain Dudley has gone too far for turning and befriending Harry regardless of whether or not he saved his life. I would love to see Dudley turn wizard and be the late bloomer because that debt might actually hold if he is a wizard after all.

[GryffindorGr]

I kinda felt sorry for Dudley when Harry threatened him in the alley.. also he gets the fuzzy end of the lollipop every year... demented.. pig-tailed.. tongue-spelled.. and many more..

Very good topic though.. It will be interesting to know what everyone thinks about the famous Dudleykins..
In a way I do too but only because he's "stuck" with the family he has. You can't choose your family. Plus, because of Petunia's and Vernon's inherited "weaknesses", how can a child like him get out of that way of life? He's been "loved" and "coddled" so much in the spoilt way that he thinks this is better than being treated than Harry. But it is when he is maturing with a mind of his own (if that's possible) that he doesn't have best friends, and all the things that Harry has. I think then that his jealousy will become the self same weakness that Petunia harbors for Lily.

[Tane]

In a way I do too but only because he's "stuck" with the family he has. You can't choose your family. Plus, because of Petunia's and Vernon's inherited "weaknesses", how can a child like him get out of that way of life? He's been "loved" and "coddled" so much in the spoilt way that he thinks this is better than being treated than Harry. But it is when he is maturing with a mind of his own (if that's possible) that he doesn't have best friends, and all the things that Harry has. I think then that his jealousy will become the self same weakness that Petunia harbors for Lily.Exactly Petunia is projecting her anger over the way she was treated and compared with to Lily all onto Harry through Dudley by giving Dudley everything just as Petunia believes Lily had everything she ever wanted.

Petunia is placing Harry in her own position.

[prongz]

Kind of ironic that Dudley is spoiled and overweight, and Harry is neglected and emmaciated - every spare cent is going to Dudley and nothing, not even the basics, to Harry.

Dudley is a blond haired boy in the books - he's dark haired in the movies. that's about the only detail in the movies wrong that bothers me.

[MagicMuggle]

Kind of ironic that Dudley is spoiled and overweight, and Harry is neglected and emmaciated - every spare cent is going to Dudley and nothing, not even the basics, to Harry.

Dudley is a blond haired boy in the books - he's dark haired in the movies. that's about the only detail in the movies wrong that bothers me.


Let's not even go there with the movies...There are so many details that are wrong, I could write an entire book! ;) I can see it now...Harry Potter and the Movie Mistakes I'd make millions! :lol: hehehehe

[aggiefan1206]

I dont really feel bad for Dudley at all. He is a spoiled brat that gets away with everything. He is just a big bully he dosent have to be that way. He likes to beat up people for fun. The way he is written he gets no sympahty from me. It may be his parents fault he is spoiled but he could choose to act liek a more civilized person

[Spirit]

I think Dudley is spoiled because the Dursley's think that he is better than everyone else. All parents naturally think that their children are special, but I think that the Dursley's think this more, which is one of the reasons why they spoil him. I'm sure in the beginning things started innocently enough -- letting Dudley get more then Harry, shrugging off the same mistakes Dudley made that they punished Harry for, letting Dudley hit Harry once or twice, etc. But that's when Dudley began to whine when he did not get what he wanted. I'm sure that they did not know what to do to get him to stop, so they gave him what he wanted. They didn't know how to unspoil what they started.

I don't think that it's any deeper then this, but you never know what JK Rowling might have planned.

[hermionefan01]

I think Dudley is a 'pampered prince' and that he is having his powers repressed by his anti-magic parents. It'd be great if some of Harry's ultra-muggle family got right into the midst of things!

[Widdershins]

Could there be a connection between Dudley eating a lot of witches and wizards gauging themselves at the feasts or during breakfast and dinner. Witches and wizards seem to need more food than normal muggles and Dudley seems to consume the same quantity, could there be some sort of connection there.

[anabel]

I do wonder about Petunia. jrk says she's NOT a squib but there is something about her. I don't think her parents treated her badly - it's just that she was so jealous of Lily, as sisters often are jealous of each other and think the other is favouritised. She has obviously spent some time with James and Lily since she knows about dementors. Is it possible she met other wizards? Did she fall in love with one?? If so, who? Sirius and Remus don't seem to know her. Was it Pettigrew? What other friends did Lily take home? That could be the reason she hates all wizards, especially Harry.
Probably Dudley is extra spoiled as a way of abusing Harry. And the fact that Harry turned out so well is a tribute to his character and the power he has of which the Dark Lord knows not.

[emily105]

Exactly Petunia is projecting her anger over the way she was treated and compared with to Lily all onto Harry through Dudley by giving Dudley everything just as Petunia believes Lily had everything she ever wanted.

Petunia is placing Harry in her own position.

I totally agree with you. Petunia is upset that Lily became a witch and she didn't, that Lily was treated differently than she was, that Lily got to do all these interesting things and learn all these different things at school that she didn't get to when she was in school. Petunia wants to give Dudley the things and the attention that she never really received from her parents and from Lily, and I guess she's also trying to make Dudley feel like he's better than Harry and all the other kids in the country, even though he has a weight problem and everything.