In Defense of DD (was Re: DD's dilemma)

[someoneofsomeplace]

No: HPFGUIDX 126597



Lupinlore:
> True, I suppose, but nevertheless rather beside the point.  The 
> point is that JKR is trying to sell a particular image of 
> Dumbledore, and it just isn't getting across.  If he is 
> indeed "compassionate/sympathetic" then we need to see much 
greater 
> evidence of that than we have received to this point.


John: 
I suppose it's with some hesitation that I limber up for another 
round, but oh well; going into bat for DD truly is one of my chief 
delights

This statement about JKR's image of DD not getting across as 
intended is, of course, just the opinion of you and many others. I 
would venture to say that there are also many, like me, who *have* 
bought the image. Perhaps we just have different, but by no means 
better or worse, ideals of goodness and compassion and so forth? 


Lupinlore:
>  You say that 
> JKR can't remold his character just to please readers.  I suppose 
> that is true.  However, if sympathy/compassion ARE part of his 
> character presumably they can be revealed in a relatively clear 
> fashion.  At this time, to many of us, postulating a cold and 
> manipulative Dumbledore simply fits the evidence better than a 
> sympathetic/compassionate Dumbledore who for some reason behaves 
in 
> bizarre ways not very consistent with sympathy or compassion.


John:
Well, when I said "character" I was referring specifically to the 
public front/façade projected by DD (my fault there).


Lupinlore: 
> 
> <SNIP> 
> 
> I really am curious what evidence you see, John, for Dumbledore 
> having any remorse for Harry's suffering?  I'm not trying to be a 
> smart-a**, I'm really curious.  I grant that he seems sorry for 
his 
> mistakes of Harry's fifth year, but I see no evidence at all that 
he 
> has any remorse for the pain his decisions have inflicted on Harry 
> over the last fifteen years. And absence evidence of such sorrow,
and a much better explanation of his decisions, then I and others
simply don't see him the way JKR wishes us to.



John:
Well, I'll assume for the purposes of this response that DD *ought 
to have* shown remorse for Harry's suffering. I'm by no means that 
way inclined *at present*, but what the heck

I concede that there's no direct, *concrete* evidence of this (that 
I can directly recall) but, frankly, I don't really need any. It 
seems to follow logically that if DD can feel remorse for his 
actions in OOTP, he can, and does, also feel remorse for his 
decision 15 years earlier. That issue was, however, only very 
briefly touched upon at the end of OOTP; the main issue at hand was 
the fiasco that had just occurred at the DoM. DD, in cutting across 
Harry, was merely defending Petunia for having accepted the burden 
foisted upon her. 

If you need it spelled out clearly for you that DD feels true 
remorse and sympathy; or that he's really-sorry-but-had-no-choice-
but-to-leave-Harry-at-the-Dursleys, well that's entirely reasonable. 
(Perhaps we *will* get that type of explanation at some stage). But 
I'm perfectly comfortable with JKR's portrayal of DD's character and 
supposed goodness, without "evidence", thank you very much, and 
that's that. 

John.