DD as manipulator?/Greater good

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 174551

Maria:
> Unlike Voldemort DD sees those who serve him, at great risk to
> their own lives, as human beings, and this is what causes him pain.
> He has learned, as a result of his experience with the Deathly
> Hallows, to be wary of putting the greater good over individual 
> human beings, and throughout the series we see him questioning his 
> choices because of these conflicting interests. 


Jen: Nice post, Maria.:)  Thanks for gathering up information from 
all the books for consideration.

My impression of Dumbledore's plan is changing while reading DH for 
the second time, especially given how the phrase 'for the greater 
good' is framed as a justification rather than a truth, a 
rationalization for controlling and hurting others.

DD is saying as much in OOTP:  Is it possible for people who love to 
truly put the greater good above those they hold closest to them?  My 
answer - at least for Potterverse- is no, they cannot.  In fact, to 
make the assumption one knows the greater good is in itself a 
fallacy:  Such a belief can only imagined by one seeking the power to 
control others.  Dumbledore, who struggles with power, is more prone 
to fall into the trap of rationalizing his actions as the greater 
good than another might; thus his struggle isn't to keep reminding 
himself to put the greater good above an individual he loves but 
rather *not* to act on such an impulse.  Dumbledore was saved from 
himself in OOTP by his love for Harry just as Grindelwald threatening 
his family turned Dumbledore from his plans for Muggle domination as 
a young adult.

Jen