This is the tale of Dudley Dursley, Harry Potter‘s spoiled cousin, whose story has been overshadowed by the exciting adventures of wizards and dark magic. Interestingly, his character undergoes a transformation by the end of the series.
Though he remained a cruel and insensitive bully initially, life after Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows had many unexpected surprises for Dudley.
Dudley’s Change Of Heart At The End Of ‘Harry Potter’
Dudley Dursley throughout the series is portrayed as a selfish, overweight bully who terrorizes Harry. He was brought up in an environment that gave much consideration to materialism and cruelty and had very little care for other people. However, a significant turning point for Dudley occurs at the end of the final book. Following the Battle of Hogwarts, Harry saves Dudley from a group of Death Eaters. In this rare susceptible moment, Dudley thanked Harry and even proclaimed a tiny glimpse of sympathy towards his cousin. Still, this marked only the beginning of a subtle but powerful change in his personality.
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In the last interaction between Dudley and Harry, Dudley ends by saying “I don’t think you’re a waste of space,” this is a message that shows that he is beginning to understand Harry’s value and maybe his flaws.
A New Life And Family
Life did seem to get better for Dudley after the events of Deathly Hallows. According to J.K. Rowling, it seems that, after that, he marries and becomes a father himself, taking much better care of his own family. Though his bond with Vernon and Petunia never improves, he does seem to distance himself from their particular myopic worldview. But, cruelty and neglect are thrown out of Dursley’s legacy; in fact, personal growth hints that he may eventually want a life that is more fulfilling and compassionate.
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Dudley’s life after Harry Potter isn’t delved into throughout the books, but his subtle character development shows potential in the future to love and treat others with respect leaving behind the cruel, materialistic tastes he once hurled so much energy at as a youngster.
