Blog Post #2 Response Albus Dumbledore and Death

Looking back at the Harry Potter books it's easy to see how the teenage characters changed physically, and matured mentally, and how the adults changed in reaction to the politics, and losing or regaining influence, and loved ones, in the war. However one character I never thought would change to great extents was Professor Albus Dumbledore. He starts out as a wise old man; he's a celebrity who appears on the collectible pictures in the chocolate frogs. He’s a sort of madman who even the dark lord himself won’t confront. He doesn’t seek out conflicts or get involved in most affairs. He is distant from most other characters and seems to not have that many close attachments to others, remaining calm in every situation. He serves in most of the books as a sort of narrator who simply appears at the very end to explain how he knew about and planned for everything and simply allowed the students to learn things as they went along. But as the books continue and the danger increases Dumbledore starts to question himself and seems to lack his all knowing quality. He becomes attached to Harry and starts to make mistakes and admit that he has made them. He starts explaining less and less to the students, and starts to investigate and explore like only the students had previously. He loses his once god-like status as he gets fooled, injuried, and misled. Dumbledore becomes a sorcerer with an apprentice who he is desperate to pass along his all knowing and all powerful nature to before he meets his demise. He had once been the place where the buck stopped, but as the books continue he lets more and more go on under his nose. The series major theme of death seems most explored in Dumbledore’s death then any others. It seems to affect everyone. He had been there at the very beginning, and in life had served as the protector of Hogwarts, Harry, and countless other Wizzards and Muggles. The Ministers of Magic had sought him out for advice. But Alas, he had to die so that Harry could complete his mission and stand on his own to feet. Without returning he revealed how those we love can leave behind a legacy and a mission instilled in others (his army) that will help them overcome death without the use of dark magic.