Dumbledore the teacher (was: Umbridge, detention, scars, and plotlines, oh my!.

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 125974


>>Betsy:
>So I don't expect [Dumbledore] to fully fill the shoes of the "wise 
old man" so common in myths and so beautifully illustrated by 
Tolkien.<

>>Phoenixgod: 
>A human's amount of wisdom can be a whole lot. I expect better from 
DD. He's spend (probably) around twelve or thirteen *decades* as a 
teacher or headmaster of people exactly like Harry. And based on 
some of the earlier conversations with Harry (Mirror of Erisod), I 
get the feeling that he was probably a really, really good teacher, 
which speaks of a certain level of insight to the student psyche.<
<snip>

Betsy:
I agree with you that Dumbledore is a very good teacher.  And I 
think in most cases, he knows exactly what his students need and 
makes sure to provide it.  But this thing with Harry is different.

First of all, as per the prophecy, the battle will come down to 
Voldemort and Harry.  Harry will have to stand alone.  Dumbledore 
will have to watch from the sidelines and just *hope* that he's 
taught Harry enough.  Has Dumbledore ever been in this position 
before?  It's one thing to teach your students some wand skills and 
send them into the great wide world.  It's a completely different 
thing to teach your student battle skills he will need to face a 
formidable foe in a battle the student may well not survive, and in 
which you, the teacher, will not be allowed to assist.

Before, Dumbledore the teacher, was *eager* to help his students 
learn.  In this case, I think Dumbledore was very reluctant.  Not 
that he didn't realize Harry would need both skills and 
information.  I just think Dumbledore fell into the "old man's" 
fault of trying to stop time, to not admitting that the young child 
you've known is growing up and needing to take on an adult's burden.

Add to this the fact that Dumbledore taught Tom Riddle, that 
Dumbledore may well feel he's *failed* Tom. He may perhaps have a 
sense of guilt that while he was busy taking down one Dark Lord he 
didn't have the wit and wisdom to keep another Dark Lord from 
forming.  In a sense Dumbledore has to train Harry to get rid of a 
problem he (Dumbledore) created.  (Not that I think Dumbledore 
created Voldemort - just that he'd have a sense of guilt about 
things, a sense that he could have done, should have done, 
*something*.)

Dumbledore has always struck me as very hands-on.  *He* took down 
Gindelwald, *he* formed the Order, *he* wanted to be the Potters' 
secret-keeper, *he* took on the responsibility of seeing to Harry's 
safety after the attack at GH.  It's hugely difficult for someone 
used to doing things himself to stand aside and let someone else do 
a dangerous, difficult, near impossible task.  According to the 
prophecy, this is just what Dumbledore *must* do.  I think it's 
perfectly understandable human nature for Dumbledore to want to put 
that moment off for as long as he can.

>>Phoenixgod:
<snip>
>I cannot fathom that he would ever make the mistake of witholding 
information. I just can't wrap my mind around it. He should just 
know better. <Shrug> But then again I don't understand why he 
doesn't personally tutor Harry, either. That would be first thing I 
would do if I knew what DD does.<

Betsy:
Dumbledore *does* know better.  He *knew* he should have told Harry 
when he first asked him about his relationship to Voldemort in 
PS/SS.  But he was too reluctant to put that burden on Harry.  
Dumbledore loved Harry too much, even that early on.  I have a 
feeling that Dumbledore's love will turn out to be a very good thing 
for Harry (it *is* a major theme in the series, after all) but a 
parent's love for their child can often lead to that parent holding 
their child back.  This is the mistake Dumbledore made.  However, 
because he recognized his mistake, I'm fairly certain he's learned 
from it (something not all parents do) and we will see a much 
different relationship between Harry and Dumbledore in the next two 
books.  (If Dumbledore lives that long of course!)

But I think it made absolute sense for JKR to write Dumbledore in 
this manner.  Otherwise, why would he bother putting Harry through 
Hogwarts at all?  In a totally ruthless plan it would probably have 
made more sense to give Harry very specific lessons in attack and 
defense.  Plus, it adds to the gravity of Harry's place in the 
prophecy.  It makes sure that we, the readers, aren't dismissive of 
the fact that Harry may well need to become a killer in order to 
survive.  This is such a normal part of the hero's journey that I 
think JKR wanted to do something to illustrate the full horror of 
Harry's possible destiny.  Having Dumbledore express this horror was 
one way she went about doing it. IMO anyway.

Betsy