Vernon Dursley Character Analysis in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Harry’s uncle, Petunia’s husband, and Dudley’s father. Vernon and Petunia, both Muggles, pride themselves on leading very “normal” lives. Vernon and Petunia treat Harry horribly, while they spoil Dudley completely. Vernon and Petunia are adamant that they don’t want a wizard in the house, and so they withhold information about Harry’s background from him and punish him severely when Harry (unknowingly) makes odd things happen.

Vernon Dursley Quotes in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

The Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone quotes below are all either spoken by Vernon Dursley or refer to Vernon Dursley. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Magic, Difference, and Belonging Theme Icon

Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much. They were the last people you’d expect to be involved in anything strange or mysterious, because they just didn’t hold with such nonsense.

Related Characters: Harry Potter, Vernon Dursley, Dudley Dursley, Petunia Dursley

Page Number and Citation: 1

Explanation and Analysis:

“He’ll be famous—a legend—I wouldn’t be surprised if today was known as Harry Potter Day in the future—there will be books written about Harry—every child in our world will know his name!”

“Exactly,” said Dumbledore, looking very seriously over the top of his half-moon glasses. “It would be enough to turn any boy’s head. Famous before he can walk and talk! Famous tor something he won’t even remember! Can’t you see how much better off he’ll be, growing up away from all that until he’s ready to take it?”

Related Characters: Albus Dumbledore (speaker), Professor McGonagall (speaker), Harry Potter, Lily Potter, James Potter, Vernon Dursley, Petunia Dursley

Related Symbols: The Sorcerer’s Stone

Page Number and Citation: 13

Explanation and Analysis:

The problem was, strange things often happened around Harry and it was just no good telling the Dursleys he didn’t make them happen.

Related Characters: Harry Potter, Vernon Dursley, Dudley Dursley, Petunia Dursley

Page Number and Citation: 24

Explanation and Analysis:

At school, Harry had no one. Everybody knew that Dudley’s gang hated that odd Harry Potter in his baggy old clothes and broken glasses, and nobody liked to disagree with Dudley’s gang.

Related Characters: Harry Potter, Vernon Dursley, Dudley Dursley

Page Number and Citation: 30

Explanation and Analysis:

Vernon Dursley Character Timeline in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

The timeline below shows where the character Vernon Dursley appears in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Mr. and Mrs. Dursley live “perfectly normal” lives. Vernon Dursley is a large, “beefy” man who works at a drilling firm. Petunia Dursley is... (full context)

One day, Vernon starts to notice some strange and mysterious things: an owl fluttering by their window; a... (full context)

When Vernon goes to a bakery on his lunch break, he passes another group of people wearing... (full context)

Petunia, by contrast, has had a “nice, normal day.” Vernon tries to act as though his day has been normal, too. They watch the evening... (full context)

...McGonagall that Harry will be entrusted into the care of his Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon. McGonagall is appalled, saying she has been watching them all day, and that they couldn’t... (full context)

...home is the best place for Harry, and he will leave a letter so that Vernon and Petunia can explain everything to Harry about what’s happened when he’s older. McGonagall wonders... (full context)

...take Harry for the day while the rest of the family celebrate Dudley’s birthday. Petunia, Vernon, and Dudley are all furious. Dudley starts to cry, saying that Harry spoils everything. But... (full context)

Harry promises not to do anything, though he understands why Vernon doesn’t believe him: strange things often happen around Harry. Once, Petunia had cut his hair... (full context)

In the car, Vernon starts to complain about everything around him: Harry, work, the bank, and motorcycles. Harry mentions... (full context)

...doesn’t want when they eat in the restaurant. After lunch, they visit the reptile house. Vernon and Dudley try to get a python to move behind a glass tank, but it... (full context)

...its eyes and winks. Harry thinks that he sees the snake roll its eyes at Vernon and Dudley. Harry tells the snake that it must be annoying, and the snake agrees.... (full context)

...a flat straw hat, and a walking cane. Harry tries to stifle his laughter as Vernon and Petunia beam with pride at their son. The next day, Harry finds Petunia dyeing... (full context)

As the family sits down for breakfast, the mail arrives. Vernon sends Harry to get it, and Harry realizes with excitement and wonder that there is... (full context)

Vernon throws Harry and Dudley out into the hall and slams the door. Harry listens to... (full context)

That evening, Harry again demands to see his letter. Instead, Vernon tells Harry that he’s getting too big for his cupboard, and he and Petunia want... (full context)

The next morning, another letter arrives for Harry, this time addressed to “the smallest bedroom.” Vernon wrestles the letter away from Harry once more. The morning after that, Harry tries to... (full context)

...dozen eggs that the milkman delivered, pelting out of the fireplace. After this final incident, Vernon declares that they’re all leaving for a trip. In the car five minutes later, Vernon... (full context)

Vernon, Petunia, Harry, and Dudley arrive at a gloomy hotel outside of a big city, but... (full context)

Vernon is delighted, even as the storm grows stronger, thinking no one can deliver mail to... (full context)

The knocking continues, and Vernon grabs the rifle that he picked up on the way to the shack. Suddenly, a... (full context)

When Hagrid has finished, Vernon announces that Harry is not going to Hogwarts. Hagrid says that a Muggle is not... (full context)

Vernon counters, saying that while yes, there might be something strange about Harry, a good beating... (full context)

...be with people like him, learning from the best headmaster Hogwarts has had: Albus Dumbledore. Vernon again says that Harry will not be attending, arguing that he won’t pay for some... (full context)

...back to shore, Harry says that he’s worried about affording his tuition and supplies because Vernon won’t pay for it. Hagrid tells Harry that his parents left him money in Gringotts,... (full context)

Harry spends a final month with Vernon, Petunia, and Dudley. They no longer torment Harry, but they have also stopped acknowledging his... (full context)

...where he is meant to take an eleven o’clock train from platform nine and three-quarters. Vernon dumps Harry’s trunk on a cart and helps him roll it to the platforms. Vernon... (full context)

...presents. The first is a wooden flute that Hagrid has whittled. The second is from Vernon and Petunia: fifty pence, which he promptly gives to Ron once he sees how excited... (full context)

...to Harry, and Ron makes Harry and Hermione promise to visit him over the summer. Vernon arrives to take Harry home. Ron and Hermione say goodbye, telling Harry to have a... (full context)