[HPforGrownups] Dumbledore on the Dursleys in OotP (was:Re: Old, old problem.)

[Karen]

No: HPFGUIDX 151100


On Apr 18, 2006, at 6:21 PM, horridporrid03 wrote:

>
> So, rather than seeing a Puppetmaster in the OotP speech, I see a
> man admitting that his power is not all that large.  He can keep
> Harry alive; he can't keep Harry in comfort.  And that's in
> contradiction to the more powerful fairytale!Dumbledore, who should
> have been able to do both.
>
> Is this how JKR sees Dumbledore?  I've no idea.  The speech in OotP
> fits in with my flawed!Dumbledore.  As does the venting in HPB.  She
> may well do an interview in which she states that "oh yes,
> Dumbledore meant for Harry to go after the Stone in PS/SS" and throw
> my understanding of the character into shambles.  But until that
> interview happens, the way I see Dumbledore is shaped by my
> understanding of what happened in PS/SS.  And that Dumbledore is no
> Merlin.  Not by a long shot. (Though he does have his moments of
> grace.)

kchuplis:

It's interesting because ( I know, crossover, but bear with me,  
elves), this is apparently why Mike Newell had DD so on edge in GoF.  
I either saw or read (I think I saw an interview, no idea if it's on  
the DVD or elsewhere) with Michael Gambon stating that Newell saw DD  
as being on the edge, of having for the first time [he said] not  
enough power or knowledge, or basically, control of the situation. I  
always wonder how much the director gets to talk to JKR about ideas  
like this. You've been picking that up since PS/SS from the books and  
I really agree, DD is not an "all knowing" Yoda like figure. He's a  
mentor, a guide, generally wise, definitely tends to take the path of  
"let them see how they get on with it". I figure it is that he sees  
it as experience being the best teacher, which, in this case is a  
rather dangerous position to take for Harry, but then again, the WW  
is NOT like the muggle world as far as how much danger is TOO much  
danger for kids, otherwise, they would not play quidditch or ever get  
practical magic lessons.