Desiring the Dangerous

"It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live" - Albus Dumbledore

I made the above statement my Facebook status not too long ago. Much of what Dumbledore says is "pin-worthy" or "tweetable." However, this very quote seems to have quite an effect on me. When I first read it,  the quote seemed to be self-critical of the fantasy genre. After all, is that not the criticism of this genre? Only dreaming children, 40 year old college dropouts, and absentminded professors like this kind of stuff? It is almost as if good old Albus is projecting his fatherly patronus to what society calls "losers" and asking them to mature. If you put this quote in a modern tone it would be, "stop playing your video games and get a job!"

But it is outrageous to think that the fatherly (I'm gonna say it) God-like Dumbledore would ever be so condescending. No, that is not what Dumbledore meant when he said it (or at least I hope). No I think Dumbledore is deeper than that. I think he was asking Harry to really dig deep into his identity. He wants Harry to take his desires captive, not the other way around. 

What does that even mean? I'm not really sure. It's got some theological impact though. 

In the story, Mirror of Erised reflects desire and it reveals that learning what to want is pivotal in character formation. Throughout the novel excessive desire is condemned from Dudley’s spoiled whining for more presents to the power-hungry desires of Lord Voldemort. Excessive desire can strip you of your humanity so that all your left with is to hunt more of that desire, which is how the Dark Lord gains his power. 

Desire is not innately bad or wrong.  In fact, Harry’s desire to see his parents alive is both moving and noble.What Dumbledore warns against is overblown desire, which is dangerous because it causes a person to lose perspective on life. He further emphasizes the point when he informs us that all he desires is a pair of warm socks. This virtue of temperance is cardinal in Harry’s character development. 

Harry is not the only one who needs the Dumbledore speech. Tristran desires Victoria Forester so much that he suppresses himself to "win her love." He denies who he is, shackles a star to himself, and goes on this ridiculous quest to bring this bratty girl a shinier rock than Humphrey. I could also go into the desires of the witches and of Septimus, but I'll stay up all night. Besides, it is only Tristran who can see this flaw and is able to pivot away from it. As my Organic Chemistry professor would say, Tristran "can't see the forest for the trees." If I didn't know any better, I'm sure the author made a play on that old saying with Victoria's last name. Afterall, it takes the Evening star, (that shines the brightest) for Tristran to see what true love really is.