Dumbledore on the Dursleys in OotP/ Dumbledore and Harry in OOP and HBP

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 151174

> > Alla:
> > 
> > Oh, no, no sorry for Dumbledore from me at the end of OOP, and 
his
> > single tear did not move me either, but I think it is very 
telling
> > that JKR tried so hard to rehabilitate him in HBP. She convinced 
me,
> > but I am not surprised that she did not convince all the readers
> > that Dumbledore is an epithome of goodness, because Dumbledore at
> > the end of OOP did not looked like one to me. :)
> 
> 
>    KJ writes:
> 
>      I would have to agree with Alla, particularly since I am one 
of the 
> unconvinced.  I sometimes wonder if JKR wasn't a bit tongue in 
cheek 
> when she referred to DD as "the epitome of goodness". There is 
that 
> expression that the road to Hell is paved with good intentions.  I 
don't 
> even find Dumbledore all that rehabilitated in HBP.  He was 
pressuring 
> Harry to perform, leading him by the nose, letting him know that 
he was 
> choosing to go after Voldemorte, which to my way of thinking was 
pure 
> manipulation. Basically, he was saying that Harry did not *have* 
to go 
> after Voldy, he could *choose* to do so. Like that makes a 
difference? I 
> think DD was betting he could pull off the tower incident and got 
caught 
> in a situation that he allowed to take place.  It wasn't as though 
he 
> wasn't being warned by Harry and Snape.


Alla:

Hehe. I think you would feel that I am doing 180 degree switch here, 
or whatever is the correct idiom to use, but I think you understand 
what I mean.

I WAS convinced in HBP. I did appreciate that Dumbledore got mad at 
Dursleys ( does not get him completely of  the hook), but at least 
Dumbledore who truly believed that Dursleys would treat Harry well 
comes off as naive to me, but totally IC, like the one who gives 
people second chances and believes in their better nature, etc.
I believe that Dumbledore was touched when Harry proclaimed his 
loyalty.

I saw a man, who probably never had children, but for the first time 
truly loved a remarkable child and is doing his best to help this 
child survive the war.

Does it matter that Harry chooses to go after Voldemort? Well, IMO 
it does matter to JKR. Does it matter to me? Probably it does, since 
that puts the choice to Harry and backs away from the 
predetermination of the Prophecy.

And of course "I am not worried, I am with you" was such a sad line 
to me.

So, what am I trying to say? I did not see a man who struggles with 
his feelings for Harry and with his other burdens in that annoying 
speech in OOP.

I saw a self-serving jerk, who was sort of apologising, but not 
REALLY, since even though he blames himself, but makes it not really 
his fault. I wanted DD to be many times more humble than he was in 
that speech.

But again, I bought his transformation in HBP, but I do not find his 
speech and his behaviour in HBP to be very consistent.

I do think that some day JKR may choose to edit that speech.

JMO,

Alla