Was Dumbledore the Puppetmaster I Never Suspected He Was?

[entropymail]

--- In the_old_crowd at yahoogroups.com, "Barry Arrowsmith"
<arrowsmithbt at ...> wrote:
> 
> I fear that you have too trusting a nature.
> Not a bad fault to have, but it's just asking to get a smack in the 
> mazzard when confronted with a series swarming with ambiguous 
> characters.<snip> the obvious and possibly not so
> obvious adult manoeuverings, deceptions, hidden agendas and 
> motivations. 


No, not trusting at all; simply overestimated JKR's ability to pull
the wool over our eyes. Thought DD's saintly persona was simply a
twist on the twist. The twist being, we've been taught to expect the
unexpected in nearly every adult wizarding character: Moody, Lupin,
Lockhart, etc. So, naturally, Dumbledore, who is simply too good to be
true, must be suspected of a puppetmaster underbelly. Ah, but the
twist on the twist: if we are taught to expect that everyone has a
hidden yin to the seen yang, and expect one from DD as well -- then,
naturally, he is what he seems to be (no matter that he seems too good
to be true.)

Have I made that clear as mud?


> I don't really see what he needs to be redeemed for, not where Harry is 
> concerned, anyway.
> The mistakes of his youth?
> I doubt he expects or wishes for redemption - nobody blames him 
> more than he blames himself, and himself he will never forgive.
> 

No, DD is quite remorseful. But his tender feelings are limited to his
own missteps. He is quite tormented by his neglectful manner in
minding his sister, feels quite sorry for himself for his dealings
with Grindelwald, and is feeling quite the naughty schoolboy for
giving the ring a whirl when he should have known better. 

But as to Harry's sacrificial pig status? He seems resigned to that.
Even comfortable. Perhaps it's because he's had sixteen years to get
used to the idea of fattening Harry up for the inevitable double
homicide. But I don't think so. Severus' surprise at what would be
Dumbledore's final solution is taken too matter-of-factly by DD; as if
he's shocked that clever old Sevvie hadn't figured it all out long
ago. And amused that Sevvie is the least bit bothered by it.

Poor Harry. Used as a doormat by his wizard-envying auntie. Used as a
pawn by his beloved Dumbledore. Used as penance by his greasy Severus.
  *sigh*

:: Entropy ::