Dumbledore "failing" Harry (was: Adults "failing" Harry (was: Themes in OotP)

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 119957


> Betsy:
> In the first place, Snape *does* explain to Harry why the lessons 
are important. "The important point is that the Dark Lord is now 
aware that you are gaining access to his thoughts and feelings.  He 
has also deduced that the process is likely to work in reverse; that 
is to say he might be able to access your thoughts and feelings in 
return --"
"And he might try to make me do things?" asked Harry. [...]
"He might," said Snape..." (OotP, pg 533, US hardback ed.)



Alla:

Oh, but Snape does not say nearly enough, at least IMO. I argued 
earlier that it is NOT possible from this quote to deduce that 
Voldemort will send Harry false visions. Harry IS aware about the 
connection between himself and Voldemort at least since GoF. Nothing 
new here. So, connection got stronger, not a good thing, but nothing 
extraordinary. Just one more bad news from Harry's everyday life, 
IMO at least. :o)

Snape does not say that Voldemort may send Harry false visions. I 
would say that "make me do things" is much easier to interpret as 
try to put Harry under Imperio and he fought it off previously.



Betsy;

I agree with you completely.  Dumbledore really, really messed up.  
But not in an out-of-character way, IMO.  And his mistake provided 
the catalyst for a really good story and some major character 
unfoldment and/or growth.  For the sake of Harry, I wish Dumbledore 
had not made the choices he made.  For the sake of the story...  
well, it made a sad kind of sense to me, and threw an interesting 
light on past events.  Bring on Book 6, I say!


Alla:

This part of your post I completely agree with. Yes, I also argued 
earlier  that Dumbledore's screw ups were perfectly in character. he 
showed an unfortunate pattern of hiding information from harry since 
book 1, IMO and  at the end of OOP we have "road to hell is covered 
with good intentions", IMO.

I agree that it made for great read, but when we look at the 
characters within story, sure we want to tell them what they did 
wrong, right? :)