CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Chapter 27, The Centaur and the Sneak

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 114011

> > Jen: In fact, along with the Phoenix imagery around him, I'd 
even say 
> > this isn't Dumbledore's first and only lifetime. I don't know if 
> > JKR 
> > wants to get into reincarnation exactly, but within the context 
> > of a fantasy world Dumbledore could be a 'being' who spans 
> > lifetimes. 

Naama:
> But wouldn't that make all his pronouncements about death 
> hypocritical? If he reincarnates, how is it fair for him to tell 
> Voldemort that death isn't the worst thing? Or telling Harry 
> that "to the well regulated mind, death is but the next great 
> adventure"? And more importantly, how will it reflect on JKR's 
> message regarding life, death and morality? 
 <snip>
> DD represents the true and full acceptance of death, and this does 
> agrees with what he has said. To me that means he must be fully 
> human, fully mortal. It would cheapen him and the morality he 
> stands for if it turns out he's immortal in some physical, earthy 
> way. Any immortatliy that is hinted at, is achieved (again, think 
> Christianity) through and beyond true death.

Jen: Ah well, all you say is true! And truthfully, Dumbledore's 
thoughts on death in Book 1 contributed to my reading the whole 
series, because I took what he said to heart. I was musing aloud in 
my previous post, trying to understand the symbolism in the story, 
but took it too far. Your imagery of DD representing "true and full 
acceptance of death" is actually a really beautiful thought, and 
more in line with how JKR appears to be depicting the character.

Part of what fuels my speculation on Dumbledore is his story seems 
incomplete to me. I keep thinking, "what information is missing 
here?" The answer may be nothing's missing, that "what you see is 
what you get." Meaning Dumbledore truly is just a wise old man, who 
happened to be at the Hog's Head that fateful night and attempted to 
act on the information he received there. And within the context of 
the story Dumbledore is simply the mentor to Harry's student, the 
one who ties up all the loose ends and makes sense of complex 
events. That just seems unsatisfying! I want there to be a twist 
here, some reason in particular DD is involved in this story besides 
the information we have so far. 

Jen Reese