As far as Dumbledore as a new age hippy, I like the angle, but let's face it, Dumbledore has a couple things most hippies don't, namely a sense of responsibility and right and wrong.Way to stereotype hippies as lacking morals.
Way to stereotype hippies as lacking morals.I'm not attacking hippies as having no morals, I'm highlighting the fact that they tend to be less judgmental about right and wrong and personal behavior, which you may consider a very good quality. But that is more of Voldemort's philosophy, "There is no Good or Evil, there is only power." As in, there is no absolute truth and morality is relative. I think it would be fair to say that most hippies agree with that statement, and Dumbledore clearly does not.
J.K. speaks her own morality through Dumbledore more than any other character, in fact you could argue it is through him that she is speaking to her own children. And the denoument of each film and book focuses on rewarding the moral fortitude and personal achievement of specific students, an exercise in Greek virtue ethics more than anything. It takes a judgmental leader to reward and highlight personal behavior.
Now when Dumbdledore cancelled exams, now THAT WAS very laid back of him
there is no absolute truth and morality is relativeWould we agree that most hippies and "New Agists" agree with the above statement?
If we agree, then logic dictates that the above statement is not simply a moral perspective differing from my own, but the very definition of the ABSENCE of ANY morality. If one believes that there are no absolutes and that morality is simply "created" by those in power, then one by definition has NO morals, and any ethical behavior is simply determined by the constraints of one's own power, ala Voldemort's statement.
Voldemort's statement, "there is no good or evil; there is only power," is the very definition of the political and ethical philosophy of Post Modernism, a philosophy championed by "hippies" everywhere. Granted, they are often protesting elitist forms of power in the name of a populist movement, but the philosophy that morality is relative to power dictates that there are no universal moral maxims. Ask yourself why Rowling made Voldemort, the central villain and metaphysical embodiement of evil, a moral relativist.
By virtue of the above belief statement, I think it is a safe observation (or "stereotype") to note that hippies value themselves on being non-judgmental and "accepting" of all behaviors. However, Dumbledore clearly DOES apply judgments about personal behavior, hence his singling out of a handful of brave children at the end of each film, and his direct opposition to Voldemort in the narrative.
Again, aside from his laid-back nature, there really is no comparison between Dumbledore as written or filmed and any representation of the term, hippy as defined quite accurately above. And for all the above reasons, I think it is safe to assume that Rowling believes in absolute truth and absolute morality. And if good and evil is simply relative, ask yourself, why is it important that Harry win, other than to provide a good story?
