publicity? I mean now people are going back and scrutinizing the character's dialogue. It is ALL OVER the news. Isn't the publicity wonderful??? What is your take on this?
2007-10-22 15:04:13 · 6 answers · asked by shallytally 4 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
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
2007-10-23 09:17:37 · answer #1 · answered by WolverLini 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, how much more publicity does JKR really need? Her books are international best sellers and she has made billions of dollars from them. Maybe she is throwing the fans a bone so they can re-read everything...LOL Honestly, though, I do see that JKR had intended for Dumbledore to be a gay character. Also, this has come up recently because in the filming of the sixth movie, the director wanted to make a reference to a girl Dumbledore once loved and JKR had to explain her character better.
2007-10-22 22:17:24 · answer #2 · answered by Melissa L 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
being a non-HP fan i onced teased mysister that dumbledore was gay. so i just find it ironic lol.
It is for publicity i guess. I don't htink there is necessarily something wrong with that. After all JK is in the business of selling books.
I think it's pretty cool that someone is willing to break taboos, Dumbledore is completely unstereotypical, and a good character. so i guess it's pretty good for homosexual community.
2007-10-22 22:09:24 · answer #3 · answered by safe forever 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Here's the thing though, it might be publicity, but not necessarily good publicity. I mean there are people out there who are totally against the gay thing. I'm not one of them but there are people like that.
2007-10-22 22:12:45 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
All I seem to notice is that the gay theme seems to be abused or made fun of a lot and I do not understand how there is no protest to this, when there is immediate protest to any other kind of prejudice.
2007-10-22 22:25:52 · answer #5 · answered by skydancerwi 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It doesn't matter if Dumbledore was gay, straight, bi, transgender, or whatever. He was a good guy, a great wizard/warlock, and an amazing character.
2007-10-22 22:10:19 · answer #6 · answered by Molly T 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋