Was Dumbledore a good person?

Yes Dumbledore was a good person. He did some foolish things in his youth but he learned from his mistakes. He knew he wasn't to be trusted with power for example and why he turned down the Ministry of Magic post. He learned he was far better teaching others and assisting those that needed it. He did his best to make up for the mistakes he made even though he was still haunted by them. Yes he was willing to sacrifice Harry but he also hoped that because of the protection spell that he would survive the attack. That he hadn't been sure but his guesses were pretty good. He also knew that Voldemort had to be stopped and in order to do that Harry had to face him and possibly die. It had to have been very hard for Dumbledore to know that someone he cared so much for might die in order to save so many. To have to make that choice, even though ultimately it was up to Harry, Dumbledore had to suffer knowing that he was protecting Harry only for so long. That eventually no matter what he did he could not change his destiny. That had to have been a nightmare for him. Dumbledore had his own doubts about whether he was a good person or not. He asked Harry if he wasn't the same as Voldemort. He needed Harry's reassurance. An evil or less then good person wouldn't have cared. He would not have had those doubts. Yes Snape was heroic but I don't know if he was any better. After all the only reason he turned from Voldemort and was willing to be a spy was because of his love for Lilly. He had no true desire to be rid of Voldemort or his ways, he was not repentant or even cared about Harry.

I think that Dumbledore is just human. And I think that they were right (the others who also responded). All of us are not perfect, and so is he. It just proves that the wisest of men could also make mistakes. But he paid for all that, didn't he? He suffered enough in his life, but instead of sulking around, he did the things no one in his life ever dreamed of doing. Besides, it was Rita Skeeter who wrote about him, and lets admit, she's vile and malicious. She doesn't care about people, all she cared about was her career and the dirt she could dish out on everybody. If Dumbledore is a cruel person just like Rita says he was, I think that he would not have been on in the protection of Muggles. Remember what muggles did to Ariana? If he was really cruel, he could have killed them or hurt them when he was of age. But he didn't. Dumbledore did great things. I know it was very hard for him to sacrifice Harry, but he did so gracefully, and no one even knew he was preparing Harry to do what must be done. Snape is heroic and brave, yes, but wounds run deep and still he could not help himself torturing Harry in class.

Very much so. JK Rowling did a wonderful job of giving Albus Dumbledore humanity: he wasn't perfect, he was young once with vanity and pride and ego, just like all of us. In the last couple of books, JK Rowling saved Dumbledore from the fate of a two-dimensional stereotype and breathed life into him. He evolved beyond those early impetuous qualities to the wise mentor that we know and love - and that is what makes him heroic. Dumbledore became my favorite character in the series. I have seen others say that Snape became their favorite in the last book, and you'll notice it's for similiar reasons: they are complex characters, which makes them real.

I haven't read the seventh Harry Potter. But I read six copy remain. I think Albus Dumbledore is a good teacher, a good person but too silent. Always think people talent like him

I think Dumbledore is still a good person. And it's sort difficult seeing Snape as one of the good guys, but I'm glad it was for Harry's Mother. I wish there were more books coming out! It was upseting when I finished it.

I understand the Dumbledore had made many mistakes in the past that would make him basically a dark wizard, but he changed. Quote Hermione "It's as simple as that, he changed." Yes, he willingly sacrificed Harry for the "Greater Good", but keep in mind that he had planned EVERYTHING out. He KNEW that Harry would survive just because he knew Harry would sacrifice himself in order to defeat Voldemort. Dumbledore is a brave and smart old man.

Dumbledore is but human... so he also made a lot of mistakes... especially when he was young... but like most humans... time and pain made him a good person... good enough to sacrifice himself for the greater good of all... it is a good thing that he changed... because if he took the path that Grindelwald did... there wouldn't be a Harry Potter series to read...

Dumbledore all around was a good person. He was human, with all the human frailities - with youth came arrogance. love, betrayal, hurt. Then growth, maturity and wisdom. He learned from his mistakes - most of them - and tried to pass on what Harry needed to defeat a truly evil and self absorbed boy who thought himself a god. So in my opinion, Yes Dumbledore was good.

He was doing what he thought was right but i am so glad about the end because though out the whole serrie I was saying next book you will see Snape is going to be the good guy an my sister in law kept saying face it he is bad

He really was a good person. He was always trying to protect Harry. All humans do mistakes. But I don't think that Snape was a better person than Dumbledore

I think that BECAUSE Dumbledore had that kind of past, thats what made him the wise man he grew to be.... People like that need to have experienced things first hand to gain that kind of knowledge. One does not gain great knowledge from a book.

I think that JK Rowling only wants to portray that not everything in this world were as good nor as bad as you think. After all Dumbledore is only humans, & humans are imperfect, they do create mistake sometimes, especially when you're young. people tend to be impatient, full of ambitions, & narrow minded, since they are lack of experience. The only things that makes you different from a sinner is whether that person is understood that when he made a mistake in the past he is willing to change things & improve themselves, & that is where Dumbledore stood, he already paid his redemption towards his mistake in the past through out his life. While snape on the other hand, do whatever he already did solely in the name of love towards Lily Potter, Harry's mom. so I guess when it comes to conclusion which one is best between the 2 of them, they both heroic in different terms & point of view

[b][u] yes ofcourse the dumble dore was the awesome man but i heard that in the harry potter movie or say series the proffessor dumbledore was the actually gay....

Well to answer that we should define wich options are good and wich evil :P What were his options? 1)Sucrifise one kid in the try to defeat evil and save the rest good or evil? in my opinion it is a logical thing to do so cause the many are allways more important than the one 2)Try in vain to avoid sucrifising him trying to do everything alone and sucrifising himself trying thus letting evil spread, this option may sound more ethical but if you think about it logical it is in favour of the evil 3)Know but do nothing caught in the delima of wich is the right action. That's the weakest option and also one tha favours the evil side. So I think that he just did what he had to even though not wanting to do it. If you have any other options he could choose I would gladly hear them.

hi arjun999...we have similar idea. correct me if I'm wrong but i believe that Dumbledore was using Harry Potter to achieved his long time desire... and i think Snape was a good man..

Yes. Everyone goes through phases were they want power and that can cloud their judgement. If I remember correctly, he did not carry through his plans and made up for his acts through the rest of his life, fighting Voldemort etc.