The Harry Potter Beloved Character Study Part 2: Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall

Posted by Jen on Sunday, September 18th, 2011 @ 10:00 am

I’ve started these little character mini-studies of my favorite characters from Harry Potter, to examine what makes them great and what makes them so beloved to so many people around the world. Last, I talked about Harry himself and Hermione. Now, onto Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall!

Professor Dumbledore

Professor Dumbledore

Alright, people. How can you not love Dumbledore?

From the very start, he’s the ever-present rock that everyone can count on. He hits the ground running even in chapter one as someone who is definitely one of the good guys.

Yes, he has his flaws, most of which aren’t revealed until the end of the series. He made some pretty nasty mistakes in his past, he kept too many things from Harry over the years, he initially used Harry, and frankly, continued to do so up until the end because he thought it was the best way to handle things. Maybe he was right. Maybe he wasn’t. Maybe Harry should have known all along.

Truth be told, I was glad Rowling showed his faults and his troubled background because for awhile he seemed almost a little too perfect.

And, despite all that, his good qualities far outweigh the bad. He’s kind, generous, caring. He truly tries to help Harry and ends up caring for him almost as if he let himself become a father figure. He’s the most powerful wizard, in my opinion, ever to have lived. He commands respect and gives it. He’s humble.

Oh, and when it comes down to it, he sacrifices himself for the greater good. There’s nothing that can really top that.

Professor McGonagall

Professor McGonagall

Sometimes I think Professor McGonagall might be my favorite character.

Yes, she’s stern. Yes, she’s serious. Yes, she’s often cranky. No, she won’t let her students get away with anything. If Harry does something wrong, she makes sure he knows it and fulfills the punishment that goes along with it.

Those same things are what makes her awesome. Because when Dolores Umbridge comes tearing through Hogwarts, Minerva McGonagall will not stand for it and she makes sure “hem hem Umbridge” knows it. She’s fierce.

She stands up for Harry, supports Harry and will do whatever is necessary to make sure he succeeds.

And, in the last book, she really shines. She fiercely duels Snape when trying to protect Harry. She leads the Hogwarts resistance against Lord Voldemort. She won’t let the castle go down without a fight, and she’s first in line to stop anyone from breaching the walls.

As Harry said in the first book when he very first saw her: You don’t want to get on her bad side. But, if you’re someone who is very much on her good side, she will turn that stern gaze on whatever or whoever is threatening you. And win.

Alright, that’s my little mini-study of Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall. Next up will be Part 3: Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood!