Happy Birthday, Albus
Aug. 1st, 2009 08:20 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
stuttermoanJ.K. Rowling has never revealed Albus Dumbledore's birthday. HP Lexicon speculates that it must fall some time in July or August of 1881. In the three years (!) since I've started doing these birthday posts, I have found that character birthdays, when read in The Secret Language of Birthdays by Gary Goldschneider and Joost Elffers are often an obvious match by title alone. Using those two criteria (the speculative date and the title similarity), I am guessing Dumbledore's birthday as August 1.
Leo - August 1 - The Day of Original Style
(From OotP: "You know, Minister... I disagree with Dumbledore on many counts... but you can't deny he's got style."
-- Phineas Nigellus Black's portrait, after Dumbledore pwns Fudge, Umbridge, and two aurors.)
"Strengths - Forceful, Realistic, Visionary
Weaknesses - Difficult, Isolated"
Although Dumbledore's weaknesses are somewhat clouded by how Harry views him in the series, it is fairly clear by his reputation and controversy that he's not always the easiest person to get along with. Also, later in the series, we begin to see how isolating his brilliance, and the enormity of his past mistakes, are.
"Not only are the dominant people born on August 1 highly individual, but determined to bring others around to their point of view no matter what the obstacles. Not content with the knowledge that they are the best in what they do, they must force others to this realization either through the quality of their work or the sheer persuasiveness of their personalities."
From his impressive test performances early on and his ambitious/disastrous plans with Grindelwald, it's clear that Dumbledore was extraordinary early in life. He mentions his own brilliance very few times to Harry, and tactfully when he does, but there's no question that Dumbledore understands and uses his superiority to its full strength in the wizarding world.
"Those born on this day can come across as crusaders, following their particular mission in life with relish and zeal."
Dumbledore literally dies for his cause. His errant visions in youth of 'the greater good' are morphed into a repentant aim of defeating the greatest evil.
"Since they themselves are the only boss they tolerate, they are generally unsuited for jobs where they must work with superiors."
The idea of Dumbledore as Minister of Magic is mentioned, and during Fudge's time as Minister, he is highly threatened by the idea of Dumbledore usurping him. Dumbledore never seeks the highest position in the wizarding world, but due to his reputation and talent, he wouldn't need to in order to prove his worth. Plus, his mission is better suited by the role of headmaster of Hogwarts.
"Those born on August 1 are often caught up in the middle of a swirling world of controversy. No matter what they do, they seem to arouse the interest and sometimes antagonism of others. Indeed, dealing with negativity directed at them can become second nature, as they are highly adept at defending themselves with language."
Rita Skeeter, Fudge, and certain pureblood families, among others, have expressed their negative opinions of Dumbledore throughout the series. His controversial choices, including announcing Voldemort's return, as well as hiring a werewolf and an ex-death eater, keep people talking. Harry only begins to understand the dual nature of Dumbledore's personality after the headmaster's death.
"What they are able to give... in any personal relationship may be circumscribed by their preoccupation with their own work and private world."
We know that Dumbledore does truly care for Harry, but his relationship with Harry is, from the beginning, defined by Harry's use as a trump in the battle against Voldemort.
"One of the greatest strengths of August 1 people is their capacity to view the world in which they live in a crystal clear fashion, without veils or illusions. They themselves may be masters at creating symbols, mysteries and paradoxes of all sorts, but their own clear vision rarely loses sight of the fundamental nature of things."
Through Harry's finite understanding, our view of Voldemort's presence and eventual defeat is highly subjective from book to book. Dumbledore works out the mystery of Voldemort's horcruxes and passes the knowledge on to Harry. At the same time, Dumbledore neglects to mention his own past involvement with what was nearly the same wrong path. Whether on purpose or by accident, Dumbledore is constantly obscuring knowledge, even unto death.
"The 1st card of the Major Arcana is The Magician, who symbolizes intellect, communication, information, as well as magic. Over his head is an infinity symbol, which in some Tarot decks takes the form of a hat, in others a halo."
The number of the day is incidental, but I thought that was an interesting detail.
"The choice rests with the August 1 person whether to use his or her charismatic qualities for moral or immoral ends."
Imagine how screwed the world would have been if Dumbledore had never realized how wrong Grindelwald was.
Leo - August 1 - The Day of Original Style
(From OotP: "You know, Minister... I disagree with Dumbledore on many counts... but you can't deny he's got style."
-- Phineas Nigellus Black's portrait, after Dumbledore pwns Fudge, Umbridge, and two aurors.)
"Strengths - Forceful, Realistic, Visionary
Weaknesses - Difficult, Isolated"
Although Dumbledore's weaknesses are somewhat clouded by how Harry views him in the series, it is fairly clear by his reputation and controversy that he's not always the easiest person to get along with. Also, later in the series, we begin to see how isolating his brilliance, and the enormity of his past mistakes, are.
"Not only are the dominant people born on August 1 highly individual, but determined to bring others around to their point of view no matter what the obstacles. Not content with the knowledge that they are the best in what they do, they must force others to this realization either through the quality of their work or the sheer persuasiveness of their personalities."
From his impressive test performances early on and his ambitious/disastrous plans with Grindelwald, it's clear that Dumbledore was extraordinary early in life. He mentions his own brilliance very few times to Harry, and tactfully when he does, but there's no question that Dumbledore understands and uses his superiority to its full strength in the wizarding world.
"Those born on this day can come across as crusaders, following their particular mission in life with relish and zeal."
Dumbledore literally dies for his cause. His errant visions in youth of 'the greater good' are morphed into a repentant aim of defeating the greatest evil.
"Since they themselves are the only boss they tolerate, they are generally unsuited for jobs where they must work with superiors."
The idea of Dumbledore as Minister of Magic is mentioned, and during Fudge's time as Minister, he is highly threatened by the idea of Dumbledore usurping him. Dumbledore never seeks the highest position in the wizarding world, but due to his reputation and talent, he wouldn't need to in order to prove his worth. Plus, his mission is better suited by the role of headmaster of Hogwarts.
"Those born on August 1 are often caught up in the middle of a swirling world of controversy. No matter what they do, they seem to arouse the interest and sometimes antagonism of others. Indeed, dealing with negativity directed at them can become second nature, as they are highly adept at defending themselves with language."
Rita Skeeter, Fudge, and certain pureblood families, among others, have expressed their negative opinions of Dumbledore throughout the series. His controversial choices, including announcing Voldemort's return, as well as hiring a werewolf and an ex-death eater, keep people talking. Harry only begins to understand the dual nature of Dumbledore's personality after the headmaster's death.
"What they are able to give... in any personal relationship may be circumscribed by their preoccupation with their own work and private world."
We know that Dumbledore does truly care for Harry, but his relationship with Harry is, from the beginning, defined by Harry's use as a trump in the battle against Voldemort.
"One of the greatest strengths of August 1 people is their capacity to view the world in which they live in a crystal clear fashion, without veils or illusions. They themselves may be masters at creating symbols, mysteries and paradoxes of all sorts, but their own clear vision rarely loses sight of the fundamental nature of things."
Through Harry's finite understanding, our view of Voldemort's presence and eventual defeat is highly subjective from book to book. Dumbledore works out the mystery of Voldemort's horcruxes and passes the knowledge on to Harry. At the same time, Dumbledore neglects to mention his own past involvement with what was nearly the same wrong path. Whether on purpose or by accident, Dumbledore is constantly obscuring knowledge, even unto death.
"The 1st card of the Major Arcana is The Magician, who symbolizes intellect, communication, information, as well as magic. Over his head is an infinity symbol, which in some Tarot decks takes the form of a hat, in others a halo."
The number of the day is incidental, but I thought that was an interesting detail.
"The choice rests with the August 1 person whether to use his or her charismatic qualities for moral or immoral ends."
Imagine how screwed the world would have been if Dumbledore had never realized how wrong Grindelwald was.
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