Is My Family Relationship Like that of Harry Potter and Professor Dumbledore?

Harry Potter’s Professor Dumbledore is an iconic character in the novel by J. K. Rowling as well as on the silver screen. Who is Dumbledore in relation to us in real life? This article serves to investigate the various facets of this character and to bind it with the growing character of Harry Potter. Though the silver screen is of Hollywood, and of the world of imagination, we should strive to find specks of real truth about human relationships out of the worthy films of this relatively new medium of movies.

Ever since Professor Dumbledore cradled the infant Harry Potter in the first movie, The Sorcerer’s Stone, he has played the part of a surrogate father to the boy. With only the seed of a faint memory of his parents Harry had little support in fostering loyalty. The household of his aunt and uncle were in the least oppressive toward Potter. Professor Dumbledore became that rock for him as the professor offered his house, Hogwarts, to Harry and to his destiny’s education. From that forged relationship Harry has been an unwavering loyal “son” of Hogwarts and Professor Dumbledore. A prime example of loyalty resides in the second film, The Chamber of Secrets, as Harry drove the sword into the basilisk defending Hogwarts from both the creature and also Tom Marvolo Riddle. His loyalty became his hallmark in the novel.

Dumbledore was a friend of Harry Potter. Knowing the darkness of Lord Voldemort Dumbledore made great strides to protect Harry and to gain his trust. In the film “Goblet of Fire” Dumbledore showed in a scene the frustration he had in bringing to light the tragedies brought on by Voldemort and his Death Eaters. Expressing disdain, as a friend, was a revealing side of his character. This side of friendship was vital to Potter’s maturity toward the climax of the series. Disdain brought a more human nature to the Dumbledore’s character. Right to the end Dumbledore was Potter’s mentor and teacher.

According to the Center for Disease Control close to 90% of youth with behavioral problems originate in fatherless homes. This is a startling discovery. The role model of a father instills in a young mind the foundation of proper social interaction and self identity. Aggressiveness is less apt to be destructive, the boundaries of compassion are expanded and they are much more confident in their own abilities. Together this is the mixture necessary for a happy and prosperous future for most any young man or woman. The role of Albus Dumbledore is most assuredly connected to the growth of Harry Potter.

According to Morse, Jennifer Roback, “Parents or Prisons,” Policy Review, 2003 fatherless daughters are almost 720% more likely to fall into the trap of teen pregnancy. Absolutely amazing! They are also 165% more likely to engage in that pregnancy birth prior to marriage and are even about 95% likely, or certain, to get divorced themselves. Whatever popular modern reasoning dictates nothing can compare to fatherhood.

The relationship with the father is equally important. According to the same review children are 70% more likely to engage in substance abuse if their relationship is at risk with their father. Do we see a pattern between these numbers and modern society? Though substance abuse is not a part of the Harry Potter character there is depiction of strained communication between Professor Albus Dumbledore and Harry Potter. In the fourth movie, Order of the Phoenix, Dumbledore purposely ignores Potter throughout the film for Potter’s own protection. This helped lead Harry to a short temper and an intense sense of loneliness. Absolute and true correlation can be made to the real-life family relationship.

The J. K. Rowling novel “Harry Potter” is a cinematic and literary achievement. Though scorned by many for it’s association with magic stark human realities can be identified that everyone can relate to. Aside from the magic, which is really the power of faith on the silver screen through a child’s imaginative eyes, this storyline is very revealing into the structure of the family not only in America but also around the globe. Is it possible that this close correlation can be attributed, at least in part, to the immense success of the Harry Potter franchise? Though not widely admitted this author enters the thought for consideration.

A mother, a father and child(ren) constitute the family. No matter what legislation takes place to appease the wants of influential people the family is central to life itself. Just as we cannot bring gravity to trial for the descent of a plane there are absolute laws which should not be challenged. The mere statistics bear out the wholesome nature of the family. Children are infinitely more likely to grow and develop into happy, limitless and productive citizens as well as mothers and fathers themselves. If you are uneasy in starting a serious discussion with your child then go and together watch a Harry Potter movie. Together - sit down and discuss the varied relationships viewed and relate them to yourselves. We must begin to open the lines of communication that the chasms of self uncertainty may be over hurled into the green fields of prosperity.