[HPforGrownups] Did Dumbledore ultimately redeem himself?

[foxmoth at qnet.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 192880

Commenting generally on this thread:
 

Harry recognizes and remembers Dumbledore (and Snape!) as a force for good -- if that's not redemption, what is?  

 But I don't think any of the characters redeem themselves, if you mean the sort of episode where a character who has acted badly suddenly sees the light, proves it by showing up to rescue Our Heroes in the nick of time, and is thereafter  a good guy through and through.
 

 I don't think you can redeem *yourself* in the Potterverse. It takes a higher power, which may come in a guise you find hard to accept and may consider you worth saving for reasons that  appear self-serving. Above all it takes *time*. Snape changed sides and Dumbledore gave up his ambition to dominate the Muggle world, but they hardly seemed redeemed at that moment. 
 

 

 As to whether it was fair to say that Harry was raised like a pig for slaughter, I don't think so. Though it's never explicitly stated, the "gleam of triumph" in Book Four suggests that among Dumbledore's many schemes was a plan to save Harry by nudging Voldemort towards using Harry's blood in his resurrection, thus keeping Lily's protection in place. 
 

 Dumbledore does not show as much courage as Snape, but consider that if he could be overthrown by the likes of Draco Malfoy, then he was in peril every time he did battle for Harry--which he never hesitated to do. 
 

 Pippin
 

 

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