The Patronus Charm is one of the most memorable spells within theHarry Potterfranchise. When successfully cast, the Patronus will take the form of a silver animal and will act as a powerful defense against evil. A Patronus’ shape is largely determined by the individual personality of the witch or wizard who summons it, which means thata Patronus’ formcan reveal a lot of information about a specific character. Whilst manyHarry Pottercharacters have memorable Patronuses, such as Harry Potter’s iconic stag Patronus, Albus Dumbledore’s Patronus is largely unknown.
Throughout the franchise, Dumbledore is shown to be an incredibly complex character, so much so that he has divided the opinions of many fans. Whilst the Golden Trio’s Patronuses are heavily emphasized, Dumbledore’s Patronus remains largely obscured - so what actually is the Headmaster’s Patronus, and what does it reveal about his incredibly enigmatic character?
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Do Viewers Ever See Dumbledore’s Patronus?
Sadly, Dumbledore’s Patronus is never seen throughout the movies, however it is referenced withinHarry Potter and the Goblet of Fire’sbook. Whilst many otherHarry Pottercharacters typically summon the Patronus Charm to defend themselves against evil, Dumbledore casts the Patronus Charm in a different context.
InHarry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Viktor Krum was Stunnedduring the Triwizard Tournament. In response to this, Harry asks Dumbledore whether he should go and get Madam Pomfrey, Hogwarts’ Matron, but Dumbledore tells Harry to stay put. The Headmaster then summons his Patronus before sending the creature off to Hagrid’s cabin to inform him of the news. Harry manages to catch a brief glimpse of the Patronus before it darts off towards Hagrid – so what actually is Dumbledore’s Patronus?
What Is Dumbledore’s Patronus?
In this same passage, it’s revealed that Dumbledore’s Patronus is a Phoenix. His Patronus is described as a ‘ghostly bird’. Throughout theHarry Potterseries, Dumbledore is shown to be an exceptionally powerful wizard, which is why his Patronus is capable of delivering messages.Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenixshowcases how difficult it is to even summon a Patronus, let alone use it to deliver messages. This means that Dumbledore has one of the most powerful Patronuses in the entire franchise. Dumbledore’s Phoenix Patronus also means that he is the only wizard with a magical creature as his Patronus. Other Harry Potter characters tend to have more commonly known animals as their Patronus, as seen viaRon Weasley’s Jack Russell Terrier Patronus.
As someHarry Potterfans may have realized, Dumbledoreis often accompanied by another Phoenix, Fawkes. Fawkes is a hugely intelligent creature who has a significant presence throughout the series.Harry Potterfans might recall when the creature’s tears were used to heal Harry’s Basilisk injury in theChamber of Secrets. The creature was incredibly loyal and protective, as seen via the numerous instances when he came to Dumbledore’s aid. Fawkes had been Dumbledore’s companion for 59 years beforethe Headmaster’s tragic death. After Dumbledore had been killed, Fawkes was never seen again. Dumbledore’s Patronus represents his affinity with Fawkes, but also provides audiences with an insight into his complex character.
What Does Dumbledore’s Patronus Reveal About His Character?
The Phoenix Patronus is incredibly rare with Dumbledore being the only known caster of this Patronus. Its rare status is representative of a unique personality – something which can definitely be applied to Dumbledore. The character is an enigma. On one hand, Dumbledore can be perceived as Harry’s protector, but he has been frequently criticized forwithholding crucial informationfrom the Chosen One. Dumbledore knew about the Prophecy from the beginning which deemed that Harry would have to die to defeat Voldemort. In Snape’s words, he accuses Dumbeldore of raising the boy “like a pig for slaughter”. As a result, Dumbledore’s character hasdivided the opinion ofHarry Potterfans, with some even dubbing him as the ‘real villain’ of the franchise. Dumbledore’s Patronus is evocative of Dumbledore’s unique, and often divisive, personality, which makes him one of the most memorable characters in the entire franchise.
As indicated by Fawkes, the Phoenix is often a symbol of loyalty. Whilst Dumbledore has been criticized for withholding information from Harry, he was undoubtedly by the young wizard’s side since the very beginning. Dumbledore was a fiercely loyal character and always stands up for what he believes in, which explains why Dumbledore decided to name his resistance group‘The Order of the Phoenix’. Ever since its formation, Dumbledore was a courageous member of the Order of the Phoenix. In the First Wizarding War, the Order of the Phoenix was heavily outnumbered by Death Eaters, but Dumbledore never would’ve even considered switching sides or giving up information to Voldemort’s followers.
The Phoenix is also a symbol of strength and power. The creature is commonly associated with the themes of rebirth and resurrection, hence the phrase ‘like a Phoenix, rising from the ashes’. Even a Phoenix’s tears are shown to possess extreme power through their healing abilities. Dumbledore’s Patronus is representative of his own exceptional powers. He was the only wizard which Voldemort ever feared and is often regarded as the most powerful wizard in the entireHarry Potterfranchise. Dumbledore is the symbol of resilience, as seen when he willingly drank the Emerald Potion in order to obtainone of Voldemort’s Horcruxes. The potion is commonly referred to as the Potion of Despair due to its horrific side effects, which included extreme pain and paranoia. By drinking this horrific Potion, Dumbledore proved his inner strength and determination, aligning himself with his Phoenix Patronus.
Phoenixes are often considered powerful because of their capability to overcome difficulties. Because of this, they are often associated with the theme of transformation. This concept can be applied to Dumbledore. AsHarry Potterfans will know, Dumbledore hada tragic and regretful past, which is explored in greater detail throughout theFantastic Beastsseries. However, Dumbledore was able to overcome these difficulties, becoming a powerful wizard who courageously defied Voldemort. Ultimately, Dumbledore’s Phoenix Patronus is the perfect fit for his resilient and powerful character.
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