why did jk rowling really have to make dumbledore gay?

Question

now i am not one who is anti at all. really i could care less what one's sexual preference is but how relevent is that to any of the stories? i would totally have understood if it had explained some deep question we all had about the book, but c'mon he helped harry, what he did in his spare time was completely unnecessary

Answer 1

She made him gay because she said, "It's my character and I can say what I want about him."

Now if that's not a hypocritical, selfish, arrogant git, I don't know what is.

The only thing she cares about is her own personal agenda, whatever that is.

Forget about her fans who made her filthy rich. Forget about the really young readers. Forget about spoiling the series.

She's J. K. Rowling and she does what she want to do. In the words of the late, Rick James, "She's rich ----------es!"

Answer 2

No. She isn't searching for extra exposure. She isn't attempting to impression Christians. She became asked a question in an interview and easily spoke back it. In an interview, it stated that she wasn't estimated the reaction of followers. She mentioned that Dumbledore is her character and that she would be able to do regardless of she needs with him and that there've been lots of gay adult adult males who've been very powerful in life. (no longer thoroughly particular:) She got here up with the assumption while writing the 0.5-Blood Prince and despatched a letter to the director pointing out that Dumbledore became gay.

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

The whole Dumbledore-is-gay revelation is nothing more than a clever publicity stunt. It'll only be offensive to the social conservatives who already disapprove of the Harry Potter stories, and it doesn't add or detract anything from the stories - although now a lot of people will probably reread them looking for clues.

Answer 5

She did not have to reveal it. She had written in a very close friendship with Grindelwald that his brother objected to. If she had left it at that, it would have been good.

Oh, and she also made references to Dumbledore's unhealthy interest in Potter. Knowing that Dumbledore was gay did make that more understandable. Obviously others in the wizarding world knew, but didn't object.

Of course, there's no indication that he was involved with anyone after Grindelwald so....

Hmmm. Ok, here's an interesting thought. By making him involved with Grindelwald, she made him an extremely strong character who would face down even his lover if necessary. The death of his sister just underlined the reason he would stand for what was right.

I am beginning to agree with her decision to make him gay. In doing that, she defined his price. You see, every character (and every person) has a price and a line they won't cross. For instance, you might do something you don't want to do to save your family. That's very common. Turning your lover in or fighting your lover is not. I can't think of a single documented case where that has happened except in fiction.

She did not have to reveal it to readers, but I understand now why she made Dumbledore gay.

Answer 6

People take Rowlings books VERY seriously... -& She's smart enough to understand that the more HUMAN she makes her Characters- the MORE people will enjoy & relate to them. Sexuality is VERY much a part of our Everyday Lives (Yes, EVEN for Children...) -And we ALL know that Homosexuality is "out there"- too (Many of us know someone who is Gay). So by making one of Her main Characters "Gay", she's adding a dose of "Reality" to her Stories- and thus furthering their Popularity... [Something which YOU just "proved" by asking this Question!!! :) ]. Rowling's a VERY Sharp Woman...& she knows EXACTLY what she's doing... :)

Answer 7

Rowling didn't have to "make Dumbledore gay" at all, just as she has not had to say another word about her seven books. They should stand as they are and be enjoyed for what they are. I've believed since I first read it that it was a stunt; that for some unknown reason JK felt she wasn't in the public's eye enough, so she did this 'outing' and added a few more lines about other people's characters, just to make her bid for more ??? I just don't know!

Answer 8

since there are strong signs daniel radcliffe may be gay, and there's NO WAY she could have HARRY be gay outing Dumbeldore may have been a nod to Radcliffe and sign of respect if she knows the truth.

then again as long as there's nothing with kids who gives a damn??? Alec Guiness was gay but that doesn't make me love star wars or ben kenobi any less.the malfroy's ignorance is the real offense.

Answer 9

yes I saw on CNN that she had released that he was gay. My belief is to show the anti parents that a gay man can be in close contact with a child without being a predator.

Answer 10

you are right, and i have the exact same views as you (i am not anti gay, i just dont care about what people's preferences are, as long as they r happy whatev. ) the only part that is relavent to the story is that it helps explain why dumbledore still went along with Grindewald plans for so long before he realized that he was evil... he was in love with grindewald. or she was promoting acceptance? idk. other than that, i dont have any more idea as to why she made him that way as you do. i think putting that in a book where a lot of kids are reading was not right, kids should be introduced to that stuff when their parents think they r ready, not by their fave author! hmm still wondering .... idk!