Dumbledore As A Hero In Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone

J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is written about an 11 year old boy, Harry Potter; a wizard who learns and grows into his position as a hero in the wizarding world, all while fighting against his enemy, and the wizarding world’s enemy, Voldemort. Harry’s character is set against a major feat throughout the novel in his effort to meet the expectations of the wizarding world as their hero. Harry is humble, and adventurous but lacks guidance in his role as a hero, a wizard, and a young boy. Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, has a strong role in supporting Harry as the guide and protector he does not have. Dumbledore’s role in Harry’s life is essential to the growth of Harry’s character

After the death of his parents Harry becomes an orphaned baby and Dumbledore’s first concern, as Harry’s protector, is to ensure the safety of Harry. Dumbledore decides to leave Harry with his only living relatives, the Dursleys, because he believes “it’s the best place for [Harry]” (15). This decision by Dumbledore proves that he is taking steps to keep Harry safe from danger as well as safe from his fame and future; as he explains to Professor McGonagall “how much better off [Harry] will be, growing up away from all that until he’s ready to take it” (16). To ensure that Harry has an opportunity to prepare for his future Dumbledore leaves a letter for the Dursleys, so that “Harry’s aunt and uncle will be able to explain everything to [Harry] when he is older” (15), about his parents, himself, and the wizarding world. Dumbledore is unaware that the Dursleys despise the wizarding world and when Harry is older they do not tell him about his family or what he is. Despite Dumbledore’s efforts to prepare Harry for his future in the wizarding world by entrusting Harry to the care of his Aunt and Uncle, Harry is unable to prepare himself for the idea of being a wizard, let alone a famous wizard. Even though Harry was not aware of the fact that he is a famous wizard Dumbledore’s actions helped Harry prepare as a normal boy before he became a wizard; which was essential to

Harry is faced with his first true test of heroic action. Harry, along with his friends Ron and Hermione, risks his life to protect the Philosophers Stone. In his fight against the villain’s, Professor Quirrell and Voldemort, Harry is faced, for the first time, with the different forms of adversity that come with the hero role such as watching his friends risk their lives to help, and fully understanding why his role as the hero is important. Dumbledore returns to his role of protector and “arrived just in time to pull Quirrell off of [Harry]” (215). Dumbledore and Harry then progress their relationship through the conversation in the hospital after Harry gains consciousness. Dumbledore takes the next steps in his role of Harry’s protector through the conversation by being honest with Harry, proving his trust in Harry as a boy, a wizard, and a hero. Dumbledore begins the conversation by telling Harry that “truth… is a beautiful and terrible thing” (Rowling 216) but that “[he] shall not, of course, lie” (Rowling 216). Dumbledore does not shy away from explaining that Quirrell could not touch Harry’s skin because “love as powerful as [Harry’s] mother’s for [Harry] leaves its own mark” (Rowling 216). He answered Harry’s questions about the invisibility cloak, and Voldemort; also explaining