Who's Worse: Dudley Dursley or Draco Malfoy in the Wizarding World
In J.K. Rowling's 'Harry Potter' series, the characters of Dudley Dursley and Draco Malfoy are both portrayed as bullies. But is one truly worse than the other?
The question often arises: who is worse, Dudley Dursley or Draco Malfoy? Many readers and fans of the 'Harry Potter' series would argue that Draco Malfoy is the worse of the two due to the difference in scale of bullying and prejudice. Although both Dudley and Draco are bullies encouraged by their parents to be narrow-minded and treat certain people poorly, the scale at which they operate is notably different.
Dudley Dursley: A Product of Overindulgence
Dudley Dursley is the towering, obnoxious, and delusional cousin of Harry Potter. He is the son of Petunia and Vernon Dursley, who utterly indulge him. Instead of a healthy and balanced upbringing, Dudley grows up to be obese and delusional. His bullying stems from a belief that he can get away with it since his guardians do not take it seriously.
The Dursleys brush off Dudley's bullying behavior as harmless 'boisterousness' while his abusive actions towards Harry and other smaller kids reveal a deep-seated prejudice. His contempt for Harry is not just a result of his parents' biases; it also comes from a sense of injustice towards the fact that Harry ended up with a place at Hogwarts, while Dudley didn't. Petunia Dursley's jealous delusion that her sister was a freak because of her magical abilities also contributes to Dudley's prejudiced attitude. However, despite Dudley's actions and words, they can hardly be considered 'egregious' compared to Draco Malfoy's.
Draco Malfoy: Pureblood Puritan
Draco Malfoy, on the other hand, is a product of the Malfoy family, a wealthy and influential pureblood wizarding family. Draco is soaked in the belief of pureblood supremacy, inculcated by his parents, Narcissa and Lucius, who hold the same prejudices.
Draco is not just a bully; he is deeply prejudiced against anyone not of pure blood, especially muggleborns (those with non-magical parents). This prejudice is institutionalized in the wizarding world, where pureblood proponents believe that muggleborns, whom they call 'mudbloods,' are inferior. Draco's behavior is not only dismal but also deeply damaging, targeting both his peers and the muggleborn community as a whole.
Conclusion: Scale, Context, and Impact
While both Dudley and Draco are bullies, the key difference lies in the impact of their behavior. Dudley's bullying is primarily focused on physical violence and small-scale prejudice, while Draco's goes beyond mere bullying to include a wide-ranging and deeply held prejudice that affects the entire wizarding community. Draco's actions and speech reflect a broader systemic issue of inequality and supremacy, which is more egregious and harmful to a larger group of people.
Therefore, when considering who is 'worse,' it becomes clear that Draco Malfoy's actions and attitudes towards others are more harmful and have a more significant impact on the wizarding world. His bullying, prejudice, and his family's influence in the pureblood movement create a more significant segregation and discrimination against muggleborns.
In conclusion, while both characters are morally reprehensible within their own contexts, Draco Malfoy's actions and prejudices have a broader and more damaging effect on the wizarding society and therefore are arguably worse.