Dumbledore as Gandalf the White? (some LOTR spoilers)

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 143553

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "h2so3f" <h2so3f at y...> wrote:

CH3ed:
> I think it is worth noting that LOTR is tied to The Simarilions 
> which has a religious theme (which is one of the reasons I love 
> reading the mostly secular LOTR but not more religious Simarilion). 
> Gandalf (who is like a prophet figure)did die but the ainu(?can't 
> quite recall the word, you know, the god figure) sent him back to 
> fulfill his mission. I don't think JKR would introduce a god-like 
> entity or concept of reincarnation to the HP series. Tho she does 
> write that there is a place you would "move on" to after you die 
> (unless your fear of death causes you to become a ghost).

Geoff:
There is a religious theme underlying all the books; they are more 
obvious in "The Silmarillion" because in the first 
section "Ainulindalë", we see Tolkien setting up the world system for 
his created world.

Eru, The One, created the Ainur. The greatest of these were the Valar 
and each Vala had Maiar, lesser angelic beings, to be their helpers. 
Sauron, for example, was the servant of Melkor/Morgoth. Gandalf was a 
Maia - one of the Istari (Wizards) who took on human form to work in 
Middle-Earth.

CH3ed:
>  I think that DD is really dead and gone is the most consistent 
> conclusion as Harry is due to face his own destiny himself (and I 
> think the appearance of DD's portrait in the Headmaster's Office 
> seals the deal). It is also more consistent with DD's character to 
> have willingly and selflessly died to save others (Malfoy, Snape, 
> Harry), rather than just faking his own death. There may be 
advances 
> in magic toward bringing back life but I don't think DD would go 
for 
> it (like he could have use dark arts but wouldn't, paraphrasing 
> McGonagal's PS/SS comment about DD being too noble to use LV's kind 
> of power).

Geoff:
In a sense, Gandalf didn't die. Maiar are immortal; he had to leave 
his human form after the battle with the Balrog until sent back. 
There is a parallel here with Harry in that, "as Harry is due to face 
his own destiny himself", so is Frodo. He does not know until after 
the Ring is cast into the fire at the Sammath Naur that Gandalf has 
returned to Middle-Earth.

I think I agree with your analysis that Dumbledore will not return 
because I believe that JKR has commented that no one will return from 
the dead. Harry, like Frodo, will have to find other helpers to guide 
him along the way. He will need his own "Sam" and "Faramir" and even 
his own "Gollum"....