Comments | hp_essays: On Heroes and Mentors: Why Dumbledore Had to Die

jennjenn724 in hp_essays

On Heroes and Mentors: Why Dumbledore Had to Die

Sep 24, 2005 16:08

We all knew it was coming. Sooner or later, Dumbledore had to die. Although many thought that it would come in the seventh book instead of the sixth, mainly because it seemed impossible to think of Hogwarts without Dumbledore, I think that most people knew that Dumbledore couldn’t live to the end of the series. But how did we know? I think ( Read more... )

other topics:literary theory, characters:dumbledore family:albus, books:half-blood prince, characters:potter family:harry

Comments 12

erinlin September 24 2005, 20:23:46 UTC

Great essay. I've heard the theory before, but never layed out so nicely. Good job!

notmonica September 24 2005, 21:14:00 UTC

Or, as I said to my husband, when he argued that Dumbledore was too pivotal a character to die, "The hero MUST stand alone"-it is world mythology canon.

Of course the basis for this is that long ago, when the king/leader of a tribe became too elderly to protect the group, he was "replaced" by someone younger. There were many ways this was accomplished, depending on the culture, ceremonial suicide or murder, fight to the death etc. But it is that idea that is at the heart of "the hero stands alone" part of myth and fantasy stories.

Nice essay on the subject as it pertains to HP!

jennjenn724 September 26 2005, 00:06:48 UTC

It's always interesting to think of where these standards come from, isn't it?

lotuseyes September 24 2005, 22:35:25 UTC

would be at all possible to hire you as my college report writer? XD or at least my debate partner...?

joking joking. I never really thought to look at dumbledore like that. I mean yes I kne whe guided Harry, but for some reason I just didn't see him as a mentor (mayhap this is because when I think of mentors I think of people who strong in the beginning grow weaker as the story progresses and the hero grows in strength).

jennjenn724 September 26 2005, 00:08:12 UTC

Thanks for stroking my ego, lol. But I'm far to busy obsessing over HP to even get all my own school work done.

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jennjenn724 September 26 2005, 00:11:44 UTC

It's actually been quite a while since I read this one, but I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in this type of thing.

_noesumeragi_ September 25 2005, 11:03:35 UTC

Even if part of this was obvious and known, still you described it very precisely and nicely. I've enjoyed it.