Dumbledore's actions again. WAS: Re: Snape and the "Chosen One" /JKR listening

[lupinlore]

No: HPFGUIDX 153847

Rebecca:
> I'm not sure it is inconsistency of character or a gaping plot
> hole, myself. Dumbledore, like great men our world history, makes
> mistakes and admits he does in both OoP and HBP. Whether the
> mistake is one that the reader can accept or not is purely a matter
> of the reader's personal preference, values, and morality.


Well, and once again we are to the point of JKR putting her foot in
her mouth.  The "epitome of goodness" statement comes back to bite
again and again.

If JKR had said, "Dumbledore is a great man but he occasionally
makes horrible mistakes for the best of reasons," then I think that
would fit.  If she said "Dumbledore is generally good but very
manipulative and willing to cold-bloodedly sacrifice people for
greater ends," that would fit.  But no, she came out with "epitome
of goodness," which, when matched with "greatest wizard in the
world," does lead, IMO, to severe contradictions of character and
gaping plot holes.

I am reminded of a Howard Cosell/Don Meredith exchange from the
great days of Monday Night Football.  When Cosell severely
criticized a receiver, Meredith defended him saying "All receivers
make mistakes," to which Cosell replied "Not all receivers are
constantly spoken of as potential MVPs.  When somebody is talked
about as MVP, I expect him to do better than that."  Meredith
said, "But you couldn't do better."  Cosell said, "I'm not a
potential MVP, never have been."

Same thing.  For a foolish old man without magical powers, DD's
actions might be understandable.  For the "epitome of goodness" who
is "very wise" and "the greatest wizard in the world," they are, I
think, a major contradiction of character and a gaping plot hole.
And once again, I think the idea that "It had to be that way for the
story to go forward/Harry to have challenges, etc." is no excuse
whatsoever.


Lupinlore