Is Dumbledore still useful? Was:Re: Adults "failing" Harry (was: Themes in OotP)

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 119982


Annemehr:
> If there's any "message" here, I guess it would be that when you've
> grown up, you can take what your mentor (or mentors and parents) 
have
> taught you, but then you have to chart your own course. The mentor
> doesn't have to die for this to happen; in fact I like it better 
if he
> doesn't, because it allows Harry to assume responsibility of his 
own
> accord rather than have it merely thrust upon him.
> 
> For the record, I think so far, responsibiliy *has* been thrust 
upon
> Harry.  If Dumbledore begins really teaching Harry in HBP, it'll be
> the first time he's truly fulfilled his role as mentor. Only after
> that, with all the wisdom DD can give him, can Harry really and 
freely
> take responsibility upon himself.


Jen: I'm not sure Dumbledore is truly a mentor in Harry's case. Not 
in the traditional sense of a teacher or a 'trusted counselor or 
guide' as the Webster's says.

He's really done very little guiding, only offered suggested 
interpretations of events after the fact and taken actions behind 
the scenes on Harry's behalf. Dumbledore would most likely *not* be 
a significant part of Harry's life save for hearing the prophecy. 

Since Dumbledore's primary role in Harry's life concerns his 
interpretation of the prophecy and resulting actions to safeguard 
Harry (through 5 books now), it seems a little anticlimactic to then 
make Dumbledore's interpretation wrong in the end. 

That doesn't preclude Harry from realizing the "kill or be killed" 
is metaphorical rather than literal, though. Harry has always chosen 
his own actions; we don't see him ponder what Dumbledore would do in 
in a certain circumstance. If anything he relies on Hermione's 
advice more than Dumbledore (and not often at that).

I'm not really expecting to find out the prophecy is irrelevant, but 
I do expect to see Harry come to his own understanding of it in Book 
6. Didn't JKR say that on her website or in Edinburgh? That Harry 
needs some time to think about the prophecy and will then share it 
with those closest to him.

Jen