Albus Dumbledore (character sketch)

[Caius Marcius]

No: HPFGUIDX 14190

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., naama_gat at h... wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Caius Marcius" <coriolan at w...> wrote:
> > Questions

> > 
> I disagree completely with this interpretation of Dumbledore. 
Unlike 
> Voldemort he does not view his fellow human beings as chess pawns. 
I 
> do not think he views Harry as an insturment at all. He may have 
> inklings as to Harry's destiny, he obviously has knowledge and 
wisdom 
> that he doesn't share, but that doesn't make him "coldly 
> calculating". I see his secrecy as arising from the same kind of 
> logic regarding traveling back in time. You have to be very careful 
> with what you know to avoid changing what shouldn't be changed. 
> 
I don't mean to advance a "moral equivalency" argument suggesting 
that there is no real difference between Dumbledore and Voldy. Voldy 
works for his own selfish advantages while Dumbledore works for the 
good of the greater community. And I believe that he feels a genuine 
love for Harry and the other denizens of Hogwarts.

At the same time, there is a calculating, ruthless side to Dumbledore 
that I think is best illuminated at the beginning of the story, when 
he chooses not to reveal why Harry must be raised by the cruel and 
petty Dursleys. Dumbledore strongly downplays their Muggleness, not 
sharing with either McGonagall or Hagrid the true nature of that 
family. When Hagrid finally meets Harry, he is clearly shocked - he 
expected Harry to be at least somewhat informed on his wizard 
heritage (and just who was responsible for not informing him 
accurately?)

 At Clinton Rossiter wrote in his study on Tne American Presidency, 
deviousness is not a quality we openly admire, and too much of it is 
likely to backfire, but it is nevertheless an indispensable quality 
for any successful political (not necessarily spiritual) leader. 

   - CMC