The Isolated Headmaster: Implications for Snape and Harry

[lupinlore]

No: HPFGUIDX 163660

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "dumbledore11214" 
<dumbledore11214 at ...> wrote:
>

> 
> Alla:
> 
> Nope, for me it **is** precisely a question of Dumbledore having 
too 
> many hats, way too many. It is a question of Dumbledore as Head of 
> the order taking the precedent over Dumbledore the Headmaster for 
me.
> 
<SNIP>
> 
> Like if Snape is DD!M, for Harry being able to trust him instead of 
> feeling such a rage towards him, it is also a question of the 
> possibility that Harry's hatred of Snape may stop him from tapping 
> into love power, whatever it is going to manifest itself as.
> 
> And yeah, I think this is in many ways thanks to Dumbledore.
> 


Exactly.  Dumbledore allows Snape to abuse Harry, thus setting up the 
catastrophe of HBP -- and contributing to the catastrophe of OOTP.  
The Isolated!Dumbledore syndrome definitely seems at work in this.  
Or perhaps we might want to call it PlotDevice!Dumbledore, as this 
seems to be a symptom of the problems Dumbledore has as he weaves 
back and forth between plot device and actual character.  A similar 
problem is evident in DD's abominable failure to intervene at the 
Dursleys.

DD is not alone in this, to be fair.  Other characters seem to slip 
in and out of Plot Device mode as needed.  The primary culprit (or 
victim, depending on your viewpoint) other than DD is Lupin, who has 
been parked in Plot Device mode -- indeed, in Place Holder mode -- 
for two books now.  If one wants to talk about a gun on the wall, we 
have a werewolf on the couch.


Lupinlore