The coming of age tale experienced by any of the children in the Harry Potter series would make this blog prompt easy to answer, but I feel like taking a less travelled path with my response. For that reason, I am going to talk about the development of Albus Dumbledore.
Obviously Dumbledore begins the series far move developed as a person, but as a character, he remains very much a mystery to the reader. Especially in the first couple of books, Dumbledore is made out to be almost God-like. This observation is even more proficient to in the movies, where Richard Harris gave the character a very mystical demeanor. Earlier on in the series, the language Dumbledore uses makes it seem like he knows everything.
However, as the series progresses, so does the reader’s understanding of Dumbledore’s character. The Goblet of Fire is the first time we see Dumbledore truly not know what to do, and that is when Harry is picked to compete in the Triwizard Tournament. As Harry’s journey becomes more dark and complex, Dumbledore seems to become more vulnerable and less omnipotent.
In the final book of the series, Dumbledore’s life is finally fully explained and we learn of all his flaws. He no longer seems like the perfect man that he is portrayed as early in the series, but instead we see he is just as damaged as any other character. He admits his lust for power is his greatest weakness, which is demonstrated by his guest for the Deathly Hallows, which ultimately led to his cursed hand and eventual death.
One of my favorite chapters in the series is the second to last in the final book, when Harry and Dumbledore meet in a kind of limbo. Dumbledore explains everything to Harry and applauds him for being a greater man than he ever was. Between his talk with Harry, and the meeting with Aberforth, Harry finally learns the details of Dumbledore’s family as well as his relationship with Grindelwald. It is a great chapter because Harry is able to ask all of the questions he regretted not asking during Dumbledore’s life, which allowed Harry to settle any doubts he had about the man he respected above all others.
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