Albus Dumbledore (character sketch)

[meboriqua at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 14193

Hi!

Excellent post about Albus Dumbledore!  Of course, I have my own 
thoughts on the matter, as I have spent many an hour thinking about 
Dumbdedore...
> 

> 
> 1. We all remember the chilling scene in GoF, when Barty Crouch Jr. 
> explains to Harry how each of his actions as Moody was coldly 
> calculated to advance Voldemort's agenda.  Will there someday be a 
> parallel scene where Dumbledore will explain his own coldly 
> calculated behind-the-scenes maneuverings to Harry?

Gosh, I just don't see Dumbledore that way at all.  Besides, aren't we 
making asumptions by describing him as cold and calculating?  I am a 
strong supporter of Dumbledore, but I don't think he knows everything!  
I believe that Dumbledore likes to give people the chance to learn on 
their own whenever possible, and Harry, more than anyone, can 
capitalize on that.  So far, he is one of Dumbledore's biggest success 
stories. 
> 

> 
> 3.Will Dumbledore survive the series? Will he hang in there until 
> Book Seven, or perish earlier? Will be die with harness on his back, 
> like good king Macbeth, or peacefully in his bed?

Well, Macbeth (in my opinion) sure wasn't good by the time he died, 
but I don't see Dumbledore as insane either.  Yes, unfortunately, I 
think he will die.  Harry notices in GoF that Dumbledore is looking 
quite old - JKR wouldn't make a comment like that if she didn't want 
us to notice... and get worried.  I think that Harry will (if he 
doesn't now) rival Dumbledore's powers.  There may be no need for 
Dumbledore to stay alive forever...
> 
> 
> 5. Voldy loves nothing more than to talk about himself (see Chapters 
> 32-34 in GoF).   By contrast, most of what we know of Dumbledore's 
> past was on the back of a trading card.  What is the significance of 
> Dumbledore's consistent refusal to talk about himself?

I suppose Dumbledore is as humble (just listen to the sound of his 
name) as Voldie is self centered.  He is also a seemingly private 
person - he certainly doesn't have a big mouth.  I kind of like the 
mystery surrounding him, you know?
> 
> 
> 7. In the passage describing his physical appearance, it is said 
that 
> Dumbledore's  nose looks to have broken twice. Did Dumbledore play 
> Quidditch as a younger man?

Should I care about that?  Because I don't.  
> 
> 8. Did Dumbledore really forget to shut the door on the Pensive? Or 
> did he mean for Harry to find it?  Does the flashback to the Crouch 
> trial suggest that Dumbledore was considering the possibility that 
> Crouch might be lurking about?

Good one!  I didn't think about that until now.  Dumbledore, while not 
perfect, does not seem particularly forgetful.  I think he 
deliberately left the cloak for Harry, and already seemed to know 
about Buckbeak, even though he didn't yet hint to H & H about how to 
rescue him.  I think Dumbledore suspects everyone and no one at the 
same time, if that makes sense. 
> 
> 
> 10. Dumbledore tells Harry that the one thing Voldemort cannot 
> understand is love.  Does Dumbledore understand love?  How does he 
> demonstrate (or fail to demonstrate) it?

Sure, he understands love.  I think, in a way, he IS love.  He is the 
driving force behind Harry's survival, supports Hagrid in his time of 
need and isolation, gives Lupin a chance to prove what an excellent 
teacher he really is, and believes children (gasp!) when no one else 
would.  Dumbledore to me is the personification of GOOD and that, to 
me, is love. 
> 
> 11. Does Dumbledore really have a brother Aberforth? And how does 
> cast an inappropriate charm on a goat? (And please remember this a 
> family-oriented chat group).

I sure hope he has a brother like that!