What do you guys think of Dumbledore being gay?

Question

I was extremely shocked at this.
I don't know what to think.
I need some opinions.

Tell me what you think and why you think that.
Thanks!!

Answer 1

I think it is meaningless. J.K. was constantly be hit with these questions about Dumbledore's love life, which is never even hinted at in the books. I think she was just saying it to point out it is irrelevant to the books. It is just no one wants the series to end, but it has.

Answer 2

Well, if you read between the lines like J. K. Rowling wants us to do, there are several things to take notice of.

Not only was Dumbledore gay as outed by J. K. Rowling's verbal announcement, but he was also a pedophile, as written by her through the eyes of Rita Skeeter. Rita says that Dumbledore's affections towards Harry was inappropriate.

Dumbledore also secretly loved Snape. Because how else could you explain his explicit trust in such a vile man? Simple: He "loved" him.

And his brother Alberforth and his close, personal friend, Hagrid? Well if we read between the lines, they both were into bestiality. Alberforth, with his goats, and Hagrid, with love for his magical creatures.

And let's not forget all the Hogwarts teachers who never married. Snape, McGonagall, Mr. Filch (maybe he was into bestiality also because he "loved" his cat, Mrs. Norris), etc. The lot of them were either gay or lesbian.

So based on J. K. Rowling's theory of writing story lines after the facts, anything goes. All we have to do is re-read the books, read between the lines, and voila! The entire HP series changes!!!! Isn't that grand?

Answer 3

I don't think that JKR has an agenda, or is seeking more publicity. I think it speaks to the popularity of the series and the amount of emotional energy that fans have put into the books, that it became a big story.

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

http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/books/10.

Answer 4

I was schocked about this as well; I think everyone was. But, I'm alright with it. I think J.K. Rowling knew that Dumbledore was gay all along--it's known that she planned everything for the series out before she started writing it. I think this is one of those details that she always knew, but didn't make their way into the books because it was irrelevent to the plot. I guess it did come out of the blue, but the detail was irrevelent to the books, so why would she waste time hinting at it? Well, I guess that's my opinion! XD

Answer 5

I think its okay. Dumbledore is still awesome gay. He is still my #3! Right after Draco and Snape! ; )

Answer 6

It doesn't bother me at all. At one point the author hinted that there was a question she was surprised nobody had asked her. That must have been what she meant, and somebody finally asked it.

Answer 7

it's not in the books. it has nothing to do with the story. it doesn't matter.

Answer 8

i think it was kinda obvious