Significance of the Wizard Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter Book Series

At first glance, Professor Albus Dumbledore - the headmaster of the school of magic that is Harry Potter's stomping grounds - is just another in a long line of Merlinesque old magic-makers. Perhaps responding to the grandfatherly familiarity of his long white beard and twinkling blue eyes, we take comfort in his presence as we traverse with Harry the strange and exciting world of magic that author J.K. Rowling sets forth.

But the benevolent old man is much more than he first appears to be. Such a character invites questions as time passes. At the moment, in this space between the last two books, he is inviting a spot of controversy. Many fans, saddened at his death in Book 6, are experiencing the same steps in the grief process that they might experience at the death of a flesh-and-blood loved ones, and one of those is denial. Even in spite of Rowling's assurances that it won't happen, they are convinced Dumbledore will pull a Gandalf and resurrect himself in Book 7. The most popular "evidence" of this is simply the old wizard's magical pet - a phoenix, the mythical bird who periodically bursts into flames and is then reborn from its own ashes.

What elation we would feel to see old Dumbledore stroll into the room as though returning from a longer-than-usual nap! What simultaneous disappointment at Rowling's lack of courage. At Dumbledore's funeral, I cried alongside the denizens of Hogwarts, but I understand the necessity of painful casualties if there is to be a sense of reality in a story. Perhaps such an admission belies my own age and experience, but Albus Dumbledore was my favorite Harry Potter character.

But what was his role in the story? He played the archetype, of course. As patriarch of a respected school of magic, he played the role of archetypal wizard. But what was he, on a deeper level? What did Rowling intend his significance to be? And more importantly, what did he intend his significance to be?

Some Potter scholars speculate - both on a literal and figurative level - that Dumbledore is actually Harry himself. Some of the wilder theories have been that Dumbledore is actually Harry's future self come back to guide the youth on his quest. After all, he does possess the ability to travel in time. And he and Potter are the only major characters that wear glasses. (A seemingly unimportant detail, to be sure, until one considers the crafty nature of writers, who love nothing more than to deconstruct and construct a puzzle.)

However, I am convinced that such a device would be much too convenient a crutch for Rowling, given her track record of surprises. I think perhaps there is some significance in the two wizards' need for spectacles, but on a more symbolic - even spiritual - level. (There is too much mythical and religious symbolism in the books to discount a certain level of spiritual significance, even if it isn't something Rowling herself intended.)

In short, Dumbledore and Harry are the characters with the ability to see. While everyone else goes about his day-to-day tasks, perhaps aware that something sinister is brewing but mostly unaware of the details, these two characters are very close to the workings of the dark machine. This is due, in part, to things that have happened to them through no fault of their own - Dumbledore's happening across young Tom Riddle and Harry's being Riddle's target. But it is also due to their curious, questioning natures. Perhaps it is for different reasons, but both of them are willing to look at things closely and see what is actually there.

In fact, Harry's position on his ball team is that of Seeker, which is packed with Eastern philosophical significance. So in a sense, perhaps, Dumbledore is a representation of what Harry Potter - currently so full of anger, fear and resentment - is destined to become should he survive his ordeal with Tom Riddle-cum-Voldemort. And that is, simply, an enlightened man.

On the deepest level, that is Dumbledore's role in the series. While Harry is there to give our childish, frightened, selfish, potential-filled selves someone with which to identify, Dumbledore is there to show us what Harry - and what we ourselves - might become. Harry is destined to become the Great and Shining Hero of the Book, of course. That's evident from the beginning. But Dumbledore is a representation of something even more special. Should Harry survive his ordeal, he will then discover what a hollow thing glory actually is, and perhaps he will then strive to be merely happy.

That is what enlightenment is, after all - the ability to fully experience, and by extension enjoy - the moment. That's why Dumbledore's dominant vibe is one of benevolence. At first glance, he is an eccentric, harmless old man with a somewhat cockeyed perspective. Not everyone has a very good opinion of him, because not everyone values benevolence. Those people value a brutal, or at the very least rude, show of power. Dumbledore, however, doesn't care to impress these people. He possesses more powerful magic than most wizards, but has no need to flaunt it. Instead, he flaunts his love of lemon drops and hums as he walks the halls of his beloved Hogwarts. And when Harry vandalizes his office in a fit of adolescent rage, he tells the young man to feel free to destroy his possessions, assuring them that he has way too many.

That moment is probably more telling than any other moment in which we observe the old professor. It is a profound moment, as it exists in direct contrast to the manner in which most people would have behaved under similar circumstances. Most people would have been offended if someone dared such disrespect. It could very well have caused an irreparable rift between two people who were very important to each other. But Dumbledore realized how unimportant Harry's outburst was. Such an outburst was no threat to Dumbledore's sense of self, nor was the loss of his toys. He was more concerned - and genuinely so - about Harry.

Dumbledore, in short, is a personification of wisdom. Harry's future wisdom, perhaps. Rowling's wisdom certainly. But, more importantly, the wisdom and happiness we are all capable of.