Dumbledore not corrupted (was Re: Rowling and Philosophy)

[spikespiegelfletch]

No: HPFGUIDX 53662

Ok, I want to add some quick thoughts here.  First off, the whole 
Voldemort being too inhuman as a foil to Harry's "knight," is kind 
of what I think Rowling is going for.  I've read numerous interviews 
with her, and she keep comparing Voldemort to Hitler.  And if I may 
say so, Hitler is probably one of the most inhuman and unfathomable 
figures in recent history.  She does give Lord V a past, a reason he 
may have become the way he is (i.e. his father leaving his mother, 
growing up in an orphange).  But she also always emphasizes the 
point that it is our choices that make us who we are.  Lord V 
definitely chose the wrong path.  And I'll agree that he can be very 
cliche-evil, but according to Rowling, he is supposed to be the 
embodiment of what she sees as evil.  He is the force behind 
characters (whom I personally hate) such as Pettigrew and Crouch 
Jr.  If Voldemort is destroyed, metaphorically wise, then it sets 
evil back quite a bit.  

Harry is also not perfect and unflawed.  The kid does have a certain 
amount of pride, and he can anger quickly (depending on who is 
provoking him, i.e. Snape/Malfoy).  He also doesn't always do the 
smart thing - in book two, if he had told Dumbledore everything from 
the beginning (hearing the voice, etc.), a lot may have been 
prevented.  But in the end, Harry was the only one who could face 
Tom Riddle, being the only other Parseltongue, but he has 
Dumbledore's help in the form of Fawkes.  But Harry is also pure, 
because if you read Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, it 
states that a phoenix's song lends courage to those pure of heart.  
In book two and four, Fawkes's song strengthens Harry, so we are led 
to believe that Harry is uncorrupted.  Through books one through 
four, Harry is still growing up and learning.  Except of course, 
until the end of book four, where he just seems a heck of a lot 
older.  But he is still the foil to Voldemort's character.

And here's where I get to Dumbledore.  I too believe Dumbledore is 
not corrupted, is meant to be the "embodiment of good" that Harry 
strives for.  He is Harry's "guardian angel" if you will, the all-
knowing protector.  But Dumbledore doesn't seem as perfect in book 
four as he does in say Philospher's Stone, he doesn't know 
everything.  Harry has to do some things on his own.  And that's why 
I believe Dumbledore will eventually die - it will leave Harry 
utterly alone to face Voldemort himself.  And as for Harry, compared 
to Dumbledore, Harry doesn't realize his own self-worth, his own 
amazing goodness.  Look at what he does in the second task, and in 
Chamber of Secrets when he saves Ginny, and what he does for 
Sirius.  He's completely selfless when he needs to be, but he still 
doubts himself.  Dumbledore is Harry's example, but Harry is the one 
meant to defeat Voldemort.  He just hasn't grown into his own yet.

And I still think the gleam in Dumbledore's eyes is for the fact 
that Voldemort can now be killed.  All his experiments won't mean 
anything anymore with his new body.  He's completely mortal.

Brittany