Summary

I ca n’t make up my mind aboutHarry Potter ’s Petunia Dursley . Like many adult characters in J.K. Rowling ’s series , Harry ’s auntie is deeply complicated . For much of the series , she is presented in a special Christ Within , but this shift in the last few chapter ofHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows . Of course , much of this was left out of theHarry Pottermovies , which means many viewers have judged Petunia unfairly . On the other hand , book proofreader often give her too much mire and sympathy .

This confusion when judging thecharacters ofHarry Potter ’s moralityisn’t unusual . The series is fill with equivocal or virtuously complicated characterssince this is a pregnant theme of Harry ’s story . In the case of Petunia Dursley , there is no refuse throughout the series that she is simply awful . There can be no justify her neglect and misuse of her nephew . However , a more complete look at her story reveals why she might have closed her heart and mind off from Harry , perhaps earning Petunia the tiniest sliver of sympathy .

The Harry Potter chronology may be more confusing than you cogitate - so when does it all take place ?

Petunia Dursley

Custom image by Ana Nieves

There’s So Much More To Petunia Dursley Than The Harry Potter Movies Let On

The Harry Potter Books Revealed The Deeper Truth Regarding Petunia’s Character

First , it ’s important to take note that theHarry Pottermovies did n’t provide the full picture . Petunia was a prominent figure inSeverus Snape ’s memory in theHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallowsbook , while the picture show only briefly render her hate for Lily , even at a immature age . On the page , we learn that Petunia , while also a bit of a little terror , had deeply do it Lily when they were child and was heartbroken that her sister was being sent forth to a witching schooling . She wanted so much to quell with Lily that she wrote a varsity letter to Dumbledore begging to be let to attend Hogwarts herself .

Of course , Dumbledore could not permit Petunia to go to Hogwarts , and this rejection by the magical world really stung . To make matters worse , Lily and Snape launch out about Petunia ’s letter of the alphabet , and the shame of it led the two sisters to argue . Petunia state frightful affair to Lily , but , in this shot , it ’s clear that this is just a offend child . It was n’t the same kind of spite and jealousy - fueled moment that Petunia had implied back inHarry Potter and the Philosopher ’s Stone . She didn’treallythink that Lily was a junkie .

Another way theHarry Pottermovies failed Petunia ’s character is the adjustment to her long time . Lily Potter was only 21 year old when Voldemort murdered her , and Petunia was only a year or so older . They were just yr into adulthood , and this detail spotlight the fact thatthe two sisters had n’t been estrange for nearly as long as is often assumed . In fact , Rowling has revealed that Lily and James had attended the Dursleys ' wedding only a couple of year before their deaths , and there is further indication that Lily and Petunia had n’t fully cut one another off .

A collage of Hermione, Harry, and Ron with their wands pointed, and Harry holding his wand for the first time in Harry Potter

Harry Potter is a multimedia franchise about an orphaned boy who enrolls at Hogwarts School of Wizardry, where he learns the truth about himself, his family, and the terrible evil that haunts the magical world. Adapted from the novels, Harry Potter is an eight-episode film saga that follows the journey of Harry Potter and his friends, Hermoine Granger and Ron Weasley, as they navigate the tricky world of growing up, school life, and magic. Starting from year one and moving to their seventh year, the films chronicle the students' time at Hogwarts while unfurling a sinister plot that centers around the unsuspecting Harry. With the return of the dark wizard, Voldemort, the students and professors at Hogwarts will fight to carry on as the world around them may change forever. Harry Potter has expanded beyond the world of its films and novels with several video games, a spin-off film series titled Fantastic Beasts, and even attractions at Universal Studios.

I Think Petunia Might Have Worked Things Out With Her Sister If Lily Hadn’t Died

Petunia & Lily Were Both So Young When They Lost Their Chance To Mend Things

The matter that strikes me the most about Petunia and Lily ’s human relationship is the evidence that they tried to work thing out . Rowling provided a more thorough screen background on the Dursleys onWizarding World , outlining how Petunia and Vernon fulfil and their kinship with the Potters . Petunia was drawn to Vernon because of his normality — after being rejected by the wizarding world , she wanted a life as typical as possible . However , Vernon did n’t mix well with James Potter , soPetunia and Lily ’s attempts to asseverate a relationship always went in the south .

According to Rowling , Petunia and Vernon went on a twofold escort with Lily and James , but James misbehaved , do Vernon to storm out and Petunia to fall out . Lily was left in bust .

At some point after her wedding party , Petunia decided to end all contact with Lily and devote herself totally to her very ordinary life on Privet Drive . However , givenher young eld and the hints throughoutHarry Potterthat she still bear suppressed love for Lily , I ca n’t help but feel that this would n’t have lasted forever . Prior to their dying , James had forebode Lily that he would influence matter out with the Dursleys , and it ’s even revealed inDeathly Hallowsthat Petunia had beam Lily an horrible vase as a Christmas present . However , Lily ’s slaying , something Petunia could n’t have envision , made a resoluteness impossible .

Aunt Petunia with a young version of herself and sister Lily on a field from Harry Potter

Petunia Dursley Doesn’t Deserve Redemption (But I’m Still Sympathetic Toward Her)

My Conflicted Feelings About Petunia Are Precisely The Point

Looking at things from Petunia ’s view , I can sympathise why she would have despised conjuring trick and anything out of the ordinary . By no pick of her own , she was vastly ordinary , and this fact had separated her from the charming sister she loved . Vernon Dursley loved her for being normal , so Petunia would have gone to any length to cut tie with the wizardly world . Good riddance , really , sinceher sister ’s worldly concern had reject heranyway . To make matter worse , the wizarding worldkilled Lily Potter — all the proof Petunia needed that deception was bad and dangerous .

The characters ofHarry Potterchallenge the idea that any one mortal is all unfit or all good , and Petunia Dursley is further proof that no one is ever that simple .

I can understand and sympathize with all of this . Rowling constructed a subtle but impactful story for Petunia , which resonates greatly with me . However , it does n’t excuse the fact that Petunia Dursley was downright opprobrious toward her nephew . Her despair to be have it away by Vernon meant that she provide him to treat Harry cruelly , and her fear of the wizarding cosmos lead her to reject the male child herself . All of this leaves me conflicted , but this is entirely the power point . The character ofHarry Potterchallenge the idea that any one person is all bad or all proficient , and Petunia Dursley is further proof that no one is ever that simple .

Petunia Dursley (Fiona Shaw) looking shocked in Harry Potter

Harry Potter is a multimedia enfranchisement about an orphaned boy who enrolls at Hogwarts School of Wizardry , where he learns the truth about himself , his family , and the terrible evil that stalk the magical existence . Adapted from the novel , Harry Potter is an eight - sequence motion picture saga that follows the journey of Harry Potter and his acquaintance , Hermoine Granger and Ron Weasley , as they pilot the tricky world of arise up , school life , and magic . Starting from yr one and moving to their seventh year , the films chronicle the students ' metre at Hogwarts while unroll a sinister plot that focus around the unsuspecting Harry . With the return of the dark wizard , Voldemort , the student and professors at Hogwarts will fight to carry on as the world around them may change forever . Harry Potter has boom beyond the reality of its film and novels with several telecasting games , a twirl - off film series title Fantastic Beasts , and even attractions at Universal Studios .

Harry Potter Franchise Poster

Harry Potter is a multimedia franchise about an orphaned boy who enrolls at Hogwarts School of Wizardry, where he learns the truth about himself, his family, and the terrible evil that haunts the magical world. Adapted from the novels, Harry Potter is an eight-episode film saga that follows the journey of Harry Potter and his friends, Hermoine Granger and Ron Weasley, as they navigate the tricky world of growing up, school life, and magic. Starting from year one and moving to their seventh year, the films chronicle the students' time at Hogwarts while unfurling a sinister plot that centers around the unsuspecting Harry. With the return of the dark wizard, Voldemort, the students and professors at Hogwarts will fight to carry on as the world around them may change forever. Harry Potter has expanded beyond the world of its films and novels with several video games, a spin-off film series titled Fantastic Beasts, and even attractions at Universal Studios.

Harry Potter