A Question of Character: Kingsley Shacklebolt
Next up in our occasional series of character discussions:
Kingsley Shacklebolt
According to his Wikia entry, he is a pureblood wizard with a history of political activity. A former Auror, he joined the second Order of the Phoenix and worked undercover at the Ministry and on Potterwatch before becoming Minister of Magic himself. He is skilled at espionage, subterfuge, and disguise, passing easily for a Muggle when he was working in the Prime Minister's office. He actively fought in the Battle of Hogwarts and exhibited a talent for leadership and strategy as well as being a formidable dueller. He is said to be calm and controlled, with a commanding presence and a deep voice. He is also described as physically imposting, tall and broad-shouldered, bald, and wearing a single golden hoop earring.
Wow, pretty much the perfect package! What more can we add? Hopefully a lot! Here are some topics that might be interesting to discuss:
- Name. J.K. Rowling took great care in naming her characters, choosing names that would ring up certain associations in the reader's mind. What does Kingsley Shacklebolt's name suggest to you?
- Age. How old do you think Kingsley is meant to be in the books? Is he a contemporary of Sirius, Remus, and James? Of Dumbledore and McGonagall? Tonks? Or somewhere in between?
- House. We are never told which Hogwarts House Kingsley was affiliated with when he was a student (the Wikia entry says it is certain that he attended Hogwarts, though). Where would you Sort him?
- Heritage. Perhaps connected to the question of his name, Kingsley is one of the few characters of color for whom we have basically no information on his background or family. What are some possibilities for his heritage?
- Patronus. Kingsley's Patronus takes the form of a lynx in the Deathly Hallows. What associations do you have with the lynx? What do you think it is meant to show us about Kingsley?
- Gary Stu? Kingsley is basically perfect in every way. Do you get a Gary Stu vibe from him? Is he too perfect? What makes him remain grounded and human, as a character?
Feel free to bring up any other topics or questions concerning Kingsley in the comments.
P.S. Past discussions on Blaise Zabini and Padma Patil are still (and always) open!