How did you feel finding out Dumbledore is gay?

Question

Please answer with serious answers only.

Personally I don't think it matters either way, it didn't detract from the story at all, but I don't think it's a big deal either.

What do you think?

Answer 1

it didn't bother me. I was rather surprised at how easily people wanted to think the worse of JKR. 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 2

It is totally irrelevant. It has no bearing on the plot whatsoever, just another one of those little trivia questions you throw around with friends just so you can go "Aha! Got you there!"
Even if Rowling had come out and admitted Dumbledore was interested in women, it would not have made any difference whatsoever to anybody's appreciation of the Harry Potter series. Well, at least not plot-wise. And therefore, I don't think it's that big a deal.

Answer 3

Yeah, I fully agree with the people who said it's completely irrelevant to the story.

However: Rowling has said a great many times that she knows her characters back ways and front ways, and has a lot of notebooks full of descriptions for her characters (well, that part I read in an interview). So, Dumbeldore really could have been gay for all we know. I just don't think it matters.

Answer 4

Dumbledores sexuality is completely irrelevant to the story so it doesn't make the blindest of difference. A persons sexuality in a book or film should only be important if it's relevant to the plot. In Harry Potter its not relevant so its not an issue.
There are many characters in the Harry Potter universe and we aren't told their sexuality either, its just not important.

Answer 5

For one thing, I suspected for a long time, so it wasn't a surprise to me. It doesn't really change his role in the story, so I didn't have much of a reaction. I will mention that one aspect of Dumbledore's character that I always appreciated is the one Harry gains a new understanding of over the course of book seven: Dumbledore kept his private life private, and had the wisdom and discipline to fully embody his core beliefs and spend his life making his actions count without heed to lesser people's ignorance and uninvited opinions.

Answer 6

I was like ROCK ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In this day of age it is important to have lots of diversity, and as so many people read Harry Potter JK Rowling serviced the world by making Dumbledore gay.

Answer 7

about the same as when I found out my second grade teacher had been divorced.... a little puzzled about why it matters and it seemed to have no impact on my life whatsoever.

Answer 8

It doesn't really make a diffference, but I think its a good way to prove that gay people are normal and ok, and that being gay isn't a bad thing.

Answer 9

I feel it was robbery and want the money I spent on this line of books and products back. This was all un-necessary and just a major publicity stunt by the author.

Answer 10

I think it was completely unnecessary for Rowling to say that. The books are out and done so what purpose does it serve other then for her to try and push some agenda. I think it was ridiculous.