Characterizations: Rowling vs. Steele

[Jim Flanagan]

No: HPFGUIDX 8061

In response to my original statement (below) that Dumbledore seems 
like a 1-dimensional character in certain respects, Caius Marcius 
(CMC) makes the point that Dumbledore has some very interesting 
dimensions, such as his odd sense of humor, and the fact that he has 
manipulated Harry and placed him (and his friends) into some very 
dangerous situations.

On the latter point, Caius Marcus gives examples (below) of 
D's apparent willingness to put Harry's life in danger in order to 
defeat Evil. There is an interesting elaboration of this point
that I'd like to suggest:

Let's assume that both Dumbledore and Fudge are privy to Trelawny's 
First Prediction, which (I assume) is that Harry will be the downfall 
of Lord V. Fudge thinks it very important to safeguard Harry so 
that he can carry out his preordained mission, and repeatedly 
displays great concern for Harry's personal safety.

However, Dumbledore puts a different spin on the prediction than 
Fudge does, and comes to the conclusion that *Harry is invulnerable* 
until he accomplishes this ultimate mission.  At worst, Harry's death 
will somehow bring about the fall of Voldemort; however, Harry 
*cannot* die on a "mission" (e.g., closing the Chamber of Secrets, 
freeing Sirius, or participating in the TriWizard tourney) unless it 
*also* brings about V's downfall. 

Dumbledore thus feels free to put Harry's life at risk with 
impunity.  The fact that others might be hurt or killed in the 
process is probably of secondary importance to him. This is War, 
after all.

Coming back to the question of Dumbledore's character, I think this 
new interpretation gives me a much better appreciation for what 
*might* be going on underneath the hood. He must have more in common 
with a samurai warrior than a schoolmaster. A fitting role for 
Richard Harris.

-JF


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JF:  Dumbledore, for me, remains one-dimensional in his role of 
providing the polar "good" in the story, just as Voldemort provides 
the polar "evil." Dumbledore is quirky and he makes mistakes, but he 
has *no* vices....
   

CMC: I think you fail to do Dumbledore justice...

CMC: ...There is a certain feeling I get that he   
is manipulating Harry like a chess-piece in his renewed campaign 
against Voldemort - that he is using Harry in a just cause, a cause 
that Harry willingly aligns himself with, makes it no less 
manipulative...

CMC: Note how Dumbledore uses Harry to get back the Philosopher's 
Stone  
  - or how the Invisibility Cloak just "happens" to fall into Harry's 
hands   
  - or how he all but forces Hermione to reveal her secret time-
turner to Ron and Harry, and then send them out with it on an 
extraordinarily dangerous mission... 

CMC: ...The marvelously subversive passage in GoF Chap. 36, in which 
Harry notes the gleam of triumph in Dumbledore's eyes surely does not 
mean that Dumbledore is a hidden ally of Evil  - but, just as 
disturbingly, it may mean that as an agent of Good, he must be 
willing to sacrifice others he truly cares about in order to achieve 
Evil's defeat...