Why didn't JKR include this in the Deathly Hallows?

Question

As you most likely know, J.K. Rowling recently revealed that Dumbledore was gay. Why do you think she chose to leave this out of the books, particularly the last one? It seems like there would have been so many opportunities to bring it up in book 7 with Dumbledore's biography being released and Harry digging into his past.

So, what do you think? Maybe there was already too much going on in DH and she couldn't fit it in? Or she was afraid of (more) backlash from conservative parents and the religious right? Or maybe it was just an afterthought?

I think it would have been relevant, as I mentioned, in the part where people were slandering Dumbledore and Harry was discovering more about him.

Answer 1

I'm with the majority here: I just don't think Rowling found it relevant to the stories. A really good author--which Rowling undoubtedly is--always puts the story first.

On a related note, wouldn't it be great if we could get to the point in society where someone's sexual orientation really didn't matter? Maybe Rowling is at that point in her own life.

I don't see that she is stirring things up just to make more money, or that she left Dumbledore's gayness out to make more money -- I mean, the woman already has more money than most countries!

.

Answer 2

I have to agree that Dumbledore's sexual preference did not seem terribly relevant to the story. I think people freaking out about it, had she worked it in, would have taken away from the magic of Deathly Hallows. While it in no way bothers me that Dumbledore is gay, I am glad that she did not include it in book 7 as it would have been out of place. Before this information came to light I did not feel there was a gaping hole in the story which could only be filled with a discussion of Dumbledore's orientation. I really believe that Rowling is a courageous person and author, and if this fact was a key point of the story, she would have included it, religeous right be damned!

Answer 3

I doubt that in seven books JK Rowling was unable to fit in any revelation that Dumbledore is gay. I doubt she is afraid of backlash from conservative parents, since she has said that being on a banned book list put her in the company of some very fine books.
As for an afterthought... more likely. Since I first read the story of her recent revelation it has looked very much like a simple publicity stunt to me... I've said so before and I'll say it again. It's all about publicity. $$$

Answer 4

I don't think that JKR has an agenda, or is seeking more publicity. According to the story I read, she had told the writer of the screenplay for HBP that Dumbledore was gay because there was mention of a female love interest in the screenplay and she had to set them right. Having done that, she might as well have made it public, since it would have eventually come out anyway--she could control when and how it was done. and in any case, this story came out because she was directly asked if Dumbledore loved anyone.

Throughout the series, we know Dumbledore as a tireless and seemingly single-minded fighter against Dark Wizards (at least from Harry's perspective; we do have to remember that Albus is also a great teacher, an alchemist, and important theoretical Wizard--remember the tools and instruments he made himself). But how did Albus become that way?

We learn much about this in DH, with Arianna's story, Aberforth's story and the story of the friendship between Dumbledore and Gellert Grindelwald. In reading DH, it was clear that Grindelwald seduced Dumbledore on a number of levels; intellectually, ideologically, and, by JKR's new revelation, emotionally. We don't know if that seduction was sexual as well, and I'm not sure it is important for us to know.

The revelation completes the picture for us of a man who felt betrayed, injured by one he loved, ashamed at how far he went from rational thought and behavior, how far he really was from what he thought he was.

The up shot is that we now know more completely Dumbledore's motivations for fighting Dark Wizards--his shame at his own tangential contribution to Grindelwald's career, his reluctance to fight him, and, when Voldemort rose, his determination to not to repeat his prior mistake of inaction and to fight Voldemort from the start.

So in summery, It was part of the way JKR viewed Dumbledore and understood him. I don't think it was something that would have come out voluntarily--more likely something that would have made a scholarly article 50 or 60 years from now after she was gone and literary scholar had access to her full notes (assuming she left them to be investigated).

BTW, there is some inkling of this in DH, where Rita Skeeter talks about devoting a chapter in her book about Dumbledore to the Dumbledore/Harry relationship. This is not to say that there was anything improper--but that JKR did put out a hint.

wl

Answer 5

Honestly, I think that she left it out of the books because it just wouldn't have fit well...not because of backlash from society, but because with everything going on in the story, it just wouldn't have flowed well in the book. It's just kind of hard to picture talk of Voldemort's demise and someone, out of nowhere, throwing in, "By the way, Dumbledore's gay!" When you write a book, you want it to flow along with each chapter, so some aspects may be left out if they don't fit the pattern.

Of course, that's not to say that she didn't intend on including that in the beginning, but over the course of seven books, your original plans are going to change in ways.

Answer 6

JKR didn't include it in any of the books because it wasn't relevant to the story. She always saw the character as gay but it just didn't have any place in the story. She only mentioned it now, to stir up a little more interest in the book, and get HP seven back into the headlines. Any publicity is good publicity.

Answer 7

i think that JK always knew that Dumbledore was gay. but think about his personality. Its not like he goes boasting to the world that he is gay, its not like he would have some random hookup in Las Vegas that Harry could find out about. I think that she just didnt put it in, because it would distract from the main message of the story. You wouldnt care as much if Lupin died and than you find out Dumbledore's gay!!


thats just my personal thoughts though...

Answer 8

Is is not information to be thrown around without explaining a lot of background story.

What would it say without going on for another chapter?
"Now that I killed Voldemort, I will put this wand back in Dumbledore's tomb."
Percy says, "I'll take it to him. After all, I was his head boy and know just where to put it."

Answer 9

Well, no one stood up to say they were straight either. Sexual orientation never entered the picture in these books - which since they were aimed (originally) at children was probably for the best. There are so many right wing fundies that won't allow their parishners to read these books anyway, why add fuel to their fire?

Answer 10

I think there should have been a lot more clues, so it was fairly obvious.
The fact that she's revealed it now seems like it's just for publicity.