Dumbledore the teacher (was: Umbridge, detention, scars, and plotlines, oh m

[Mel]

No: HPFGUIDX 126122


Lupinlore Said:


> So, in the end I think we are going to see Dumbledore as 
incompetent
> more than outright manipulative.  Indeed, most of his 
manipulativeness
> in JKR's mind would seem to consists of him 1) enabling Harry's
> decisions, and 2) letting some people like the Malfoy clique (and
> maybe Snape) act like jerks even though he would really rather 
punish
> Malfoy and his cronies and tell Snape to keep his mouth shut.
> 
> So, why does DD show such lapses of competence?  


I've wondered about this too.  I got stuck on one thing.  First, if 
he is incompetent at what is he incompetent?  Being a puppetmaster.  
He runs the school (which is his job) just fine.  Dumbledore can 
appear incompetent because we expect him to know everything.  If he 
cannot predict the future or see through polyjuice potion, he is 
incompetent. This is only because we think he should have known, 
something no one could know.   Maybe he's just a 150 year old man.  
Pretty smart, but also fallible.  

Mel