Umbridge's brilliant Hogwarts career, How effective were Umbridge's methods to control Hogwarts students |
 Feb 7 2008, 03:39 AM
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Pretty In Pink  Posts: 47 Joined: 8:37pm May 18, 2006   |
MY BRILLIANT CAREER Girls and boys, and other members of Leaky Lounge! Allow me to introduce myself, as a highly respected member of the Wizengamot, and a high-ranking and highly valued Senior Undersecretary to Cornelius Fudge, himself. Along with the delightful Lucius Malfoy, my Selwyn relatives and other dear friends I have made, I did my best to stop Dumbledore's rot from taking root in the Wizarding World. I passed a law to stop a recurrence of that unfortunate incident involving the employment of a Werewolf as the Hogwarts Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, and have stood valiantly against the employment of other half-breed types, like (hmph) Rubeus Hagrid or the appointment of mad types like Alastor Moody. It was this terrible situation involving the appointment of such types which doubtless caused the unfortunate accident in which Cedric Diggory died during the third Triwizard Cup task. Poor Fudge was so upset.  But I took steps to see that nothing came of the allegations put about by the likes of Dumbledore and that miserable favourite of his. My measures should have silenced  forever, but for practising underage magic in front of a muggle, this miserable half-blood now has a criminal record, which should entitle him to punishment whenever and wherever he is found.  I was appointed the following academic year as Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher to ensure that Hogwarts' precious children are suitably protected against alarmist types like (hmph) Harry Potter, and from practising inappropriate spells. The Ministry considers the education of young wizards and witches of utmost importance, so Educational Decree Number 22 appointed me Hogwarts High Inquisitor. Thereby, I not only had the power to administer detention pens to that undesirable, but also to weed out suspect Hogwarts teachers, in particular, 'Professors' Trelawney and  Hagrid. Educational Decree, Number 28 appointed me as Hogwarts Headmistress when Dumbledore proved he was planning sedition against Cornelius Fudge. Other Educational Decrees, such as Numbers 24, 25 or Number 27 forbade clubs and other similar seditious organisations, allowed me to debar dissenting undesirables from playing in even local sporting teams, and also banned the dissemination of publications which do not meet with Ministry approval. Number 23 authorised me to inspect and sack teachers. Whilst Number 27 and other powers allowed me to assemble a most effective student club, given power to help me counteract 's dangerous resistance to Ministry ideas, as well as inspect Hogwarts mail as it arrives. (Here's a thought! Does Cornelius Fudge rubber-stamp everything put in front of him? Never mind, what he doesn't see won't hurt him.)It has come to my attention that on this site many believe that Voldemort has arisen. I must insist that this information is definitely not true. This is a view put about by those who are in cahoots with Sirius Black. Myself, I don't associate with criminals or werewolves. Do not listen to J.K Rowling who has said she referred to precedents like the Muggle Neville Chamberlain, and his unfortunate career in Twentieth Century history. You are not to believe one word of what the likes of Wagga Wagga Werewolf says! A werewolf has no rights in this society. Didn't I pass a law stopping such nonsense? My good friend Fudge signed it. (Was he actually paying attention when he did?) I've heard rumours that on this site I have been called an incompetent Ministry toadie! I am not to be criticized in any way. How disrespectful of Book Club visitors to suggest I am not a high-ranking Pooh Bah of the Wizengamot and Ministry who can reel off all the laws and bylaws at a moment's notice to the likes of that horrible half-breed centaur herd! How dare they suggest my Ministry approved curriculum is not everything that is needed for students to pass their exams! Now I ask you! Hasn't my career provided an effective educational experience? Did I deserve being hounded out of the Forbidden Forest, not to mention being chased out of Hogwarts, itself? Evaluate my brilliant career, and Ministry methods of bringing Hogwarts under control, I insist! You've heard Professor Umbridge's point of view, and now I've some questions for Dolores Umbridge. Anyone else is also welcome to express their opinions here: 1.How can a sporting competition be a valid competition if there isn't an opposing team to play against? 2. How effective was it for Umbridge to ban magazine articles, clubs and all other activities which would criticize her performance? 3. Why did Umbridge want to stop Harry achieving the OWLs results necessary to become an auror? Would she really have behaved differently if he wanted to be something else? 4. Why did it suit Umbridge to deny that Voldemort had returned? 5. What exactly did you think the Toad expect to achieve by setting dementors onto Harry and Dudley Dursley? 6. How successful a DADA teacher, High Inquisitor and Headmistress was Umbridge? (Unlike her toadiness, I won't feed you with Veritaserum-laced tea.) Meanwhile, the first rule of Leaky Lounge is to be nice to others. How and why should Professor Umbridge remember this rule before trumpeting her views here? This post has been edited by WaggaWaggaWerewolf: Feb 8 2008, 01:49 AM
Reason for edit: To ask her Toadiness some pertinent questions
--------------------  A very special thanks to the wonderful KimmyBlair for my avatar |
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Feb 17 2008, 03:49 PM
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Professional Diagon Alley Window Shopper  Posts: 77 Joined: 1:36pm November 11, 2007 Location: Bulgaria |
1.How can a sporting competition be a valid competition if there isn't an opposing team to play against?
"The goal justifies the means". She wants to make Harry, McGonnagal, and all "naughty children" miserable. So let's make sure Slytherin wins. And the competition is valid, even with one team, if she has a decree for that... It kind of reminds me of elections in a totalitarist country. Everyone has to vote, although there is only one party...  2. How effective was it for Umbridge to ban magazine articles, clubs and all other activities which would criticize her performance? Perfectly effective, if she was aiming in creating a rebellion. We can see in history that oppressive methods usually provoke the opposite reaction. And the best way to make teenagers do something is to forbid them to do it. When I was 15, my father let me drink wine and beer with him. Whenn I went to parties with my friends, they drank too much, puked and passed out, just because drinking was forbiddden and therefore interesting, exiting. I never did that. I knew that my dad trusts me and with letting me drink believes I'm responsible enough to do it.So I was. Ok, maybe a bad example. But still, rebelling against authority is an exiting thing. Especially when the authority acts unfairly and is too controling. 3. Why did Umbridge want to stop Harry achieving the OWLs results necessary to become an auror? Would she really have behaved differently if he wanted to be something else? I think she jusrt wanted to make him miserable. If he wanted to be a ballerina, she would've tried to stop him as well, just to make him feel bad. 4. Why did it suit Umbridge to deny that Voldemort had returned? I think that was because that was the ministry's politics. She doesn't care much if he is back or not. She wants to succeed in her career. She wants power, no matter how she will get it and who will give it to her. 6. How successful a DADA teacher, High Inquisitor and Headmistress was Umbridge? (Unlike her toadiness, I won't feed you with Veritaserum-laced tea.) I don't think there is a doubt about that. She was a pathetic Headmistress, made everyone hate and disrespect her, didn't have any authority, Hogwarts was a total mess after DD's escape because of her incapability as a teacher and Headmistress, and her horrible psychotic toadlike sadistic persona.
-------------------- I didn’t know about love, and Harry’s mom did. And she died. And then Harry was all “I am SO living!” and I was all “Oh, you are SO NOT, baby!” and he was all “Oh yeah? Try it!” and I was all “Ok, fine!” and so I did. And then he was all “Yeah, whos what now, bizatch?” and I was all “*deadness*”.
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Feb 17 2008, 04:56 PM
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In Charge of Invisible Books of Invisibility Posts: 1,153 Joined: 12:36am January 18, 2008 Location: Waterloo, ON - getting Butterbeer for Hagrid's "Support Harry Potter" party |
1.How can a sporting competition be a valid competition if there isn't an opposing team to play against?
Unless I'm much mistaken, it was only Gryffindor that Umbridge was holding back wasn't it? Still, a three-team tournament is not nearly as interesting as a four-team one - especially if you eliminate the most talented team  .2. How effective was it for Umbridge to ban magazine articles, clubs and all other activities which would criticize her performance? Enough said. 3. Why did Umbridge want to stop Harry achieving the OWLs results necessary to become an auror? Would she really have behaved differently if he wanted to be something else? Not too much differently. I think she realizes that Harry would make a great Auror, and would have a lot of influence in the Ministry one day. Not only did she want to make him miserable, she wanted him as far away from her place of employment as possible, knowing that Karma would bite her in the behind when Harry came in. 4. Why did it suit Umbridge to deny that Voldemort had returned? By supporting Fudge's ideas, she was allowing herself to stay close with the one who is currently able to give her power (rather like Wormtail sides with LV). I don't think she has a set of morals herself - she just puts on a front for whoever can give her power. 5. What exactly did you think the Toad expect to achieve by setting dementors onto Harry and Dudley Dursley? Either a) Harry would get Kissed, or b) Harry would be expelled for using magic against the Dementors. 6. How successful a DADA teacher, High Inquisitor and Headmistress was Umbridge? (Unlike her toadiness, I won't feed you with Veritaserum-laced tea.) I guess it would depend on who's perspective your looking at, cause the Slytherins and Filch really liked having her in power, but from an objective outsider's perspective, knowing everything she did with her power, she's without a doubt the worst Hogwarts staff member ever (except for perhaps the Carrows ).
-------------------- "Tell me why, why must we fight?
And why must we kill in the name of what we think is right? No more! No war! 'Cause how do you know?" -- P.O.D. - from their new album When Angels and Serpents Dance -- |
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Feb 17 2008, 06:51 PM
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Just Through the Brick Wall Posts: 13 Joined: 2:24pm January 30, 2008 Location: New York, NY |
Umbridge is one nasty piece of work who wants total control of Hogwarts and the Ministry. She is very particular in how she wants things done in her way/methods. I do NOT like Umbridge's methods during her tenure as DADA teacher as she prefers theory rather than practice. Her punishments of detention are vile, cruel and brutal to students as she attempted one of the 3 unforgiveable curses. How about her detention with special quills of "I must NOT tell lies" which was scratched into students' hands a million times? That's almost as equal to children who misbehaved in school and were recently handcuffed in the news.
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Feb 17 2008, 07:01 PM
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Newest Housekeeper at The Leaky Cauldron  Posts: 715 Joined: 6:51pm November 1, 2005 Location: The Rare Books section in the Hogwarts library |
QUOTE(chmpgnrose @ Feb 17 2008, 06:51 PM)  Umbridge is one nasty piece of work who wants total control of Hogwarts and the Ministry. She is very particular in how she wants things done in her way/methods. I do NOT like Umbridge's methods during her tenure as DADA teacher as she prefers theory rather than practice. Her punishments of detention are vile, cruel and brutal to students as she attempted one of the 3 unforgiveable curses. How about her detention with special quills of "I must NOT tell lies" which was scratched into students' hands a million times? That's almost as equal to children who misbehaved in school and were recently handcuffed in the news. "Almost" in that handcuffs do not, as a rule, cause actual physical injury. But Umbridge's special quills, as you say, actually cut words into students' hands, leaving long-lasting scars in at least one case (Harry Potter). So her tactic of detention with those magical quills was a couple of steps lower. -------------------- Avatar by tonksgirl |
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Feb 17 2008, 07:46 PM
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Saucy Sorceress of the Shrinking Solution Posts: 708 Joined: 3:03pm January 11, 2008 Location: New Jersey |
Oh my, Umbridge has to be one of the worst people in the Potter universe....To send the dementors after Harry (I think it was to silence him, either by the kiss or the use of magic outside of school). I cheered during th film when she got carried off by the centaurs and when she got hers in the book too.....Urgh she was so agrivating to me....Ickky!!!! And the worst was there is nothing redeming about her...I mean, Snape, OK turned out he wasnt all bad after all, and Draco, well he had a death eater for a dad and Bellatrix for an aunt so what was he going to be like, but we are not given anything about Umbridge to redeem her even a little....I think that Umbridge was attracted to power, both the having of it for herself and being close to those with it (Fudge).
-------------------- Maybe if you ate more comfort food, you wouldn't have to go around shooting people. ~Hurley
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Feb 18 2008, 09:21 AM
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Dumbledore's Personal Secretary  Posts: 4,977 Joined: 10:28am December 31, 2006 Location: At a violin concert with my boss. |
QUOTE(harrypottergeek2 @ Feb 17 2008, 05:56 PM) Not too much differently. I think she realizes that Harry would make a great Auror, and would have a lot of influence in the Ministry one day. Not only did she want to make him miserable, she wanted him as far away from her place of employment as possible, knowing that Karma would bite her in the behind when Harry came in. harrypottergeek2, you made my day ! *I totally agree with you. Umbridge would have seen that Harry had a lot of talent and guts and would make it big in any field, especially the Auror office, and wanted to stop him ab initio. But I think she would have objected to Harry thinking of going into vegetable growing on principle too.  1. Umbridge, being partial to Slytherin, wouldn't have cared how Slytherin won. And like harrypottergeek2 said, there were still Ravenclaw and Huflepuff for Slytherin to play against. 2. Like Hermione said, all Umbridge did by banning the magazines was to ensure that each and every student read it. It would have been better if she had left well alone IMO. 3. *See above. 4. Umbridge was just a ministry toadie and didn't have any agenda of her own, except for succeeding in her line of carreer. If the ministry took a particular line, she took it, that's all. She would have done just the opposit thing then if it had suited her. But I do think she was sadistic and enjoyed tormenting people who were under her power. That gave her added pleasure to torture Harry when he resisted the ministry. 5. By sending the Dementors after Harry, Umbridge was angling for a win-win outcome. Either Harry lost his soul, or the ministry got to expel him. Both would have suited her fine. It just happened that Harry prevented the first with his knowledge and will power and Dumbledore prevented the second by bunging a spanner into the works, that's all. 6. As a DADA teacher for the majority of the students, she was a total loss. But, as far as the trio and the DA are concerned, she was the best thing that could have happened. The only better thing would have been having Remus teaching them IMO. Harry, Ron, Hermione and the gang would never have learnt all they did if it hadn't been for Umbridge's refusal to teach them anything remotely helpful in a crisis. They were all goaded to learn as much as they could in the lne of defending themselves because of Umbridge's determination to see that they didn't learn anything of the sort. --------------------  L O V E |
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Feb 23 2008, 11:12 AM
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Perusing the Magical Menagerie Posts: 92 Joined: 5:24pm May 14, 2007 Location: lurking around outside the Room of Requirement |
QUOTE(rowena r @ Feb 18 2008, 03:21 PM) QUOTE(harrypottergeek2 @ Feb 17 2008, 05:56 PM) Not too much differently. I think she realizes that Harry would make a great Auror, and would have a lot of influence in the Ministry one day. Not only did she want to make him miserable, she wanted him as far away from her place of employment as possible, knowing that Karma would bite her in the behind when Harry came in. harrypottergeek2, you made my day ! *I totally agree with you. Umbridge would have seen that Harry had a lot of talent and guts and would make it big in any field, especially the Auror office, and wanted to stop him ab initio. But I think she would have objected to Harry thinking of going into vegetable growing on principle too. 1. Umbridge, being partial to Slytherin, wouldn't have cared how Slytherin won. And like harrypottergeek2 said, there were still Ravenclaw and Huflepuff for Slytherin to play against. 2. Like Hermione said, all Umbridge did by banning the magazines was to ensure that each and every student read it. It would have been better if she had left well alone IMO. 3. *See above. 4. Umbridge was just a ministry toadie and didn't have any agenda of her own, except for succeeding in her line of carreer. If the ministry took a particular line, she took it, that's all. She would have done just the opposit thing then if it had suited her. But I do think she was sadistic and enjoyed tormenting people who were under her power. That gave her added pleasure to torture Harry when he resisted the ministry. 5. By sending the Dementors after Harry, Umbridge was angling for a win-win outcome. Either Harry lost his soul, or the ministry got to expel him. Both would have suited her fine. It just happened that Harry prevented the first with his knowledge and will power and Dumbledore prevented the second by bunging a spanner into the works, that's all. 6. As a DADA teacher for the majority of the students, she was a total loss. But, as far as the trio and the DA are concerned, she was the best thing that could have happened. The only better thing would have been having Remus teaching them IMO. Harry, Ron, Hermione and the gang would never have learnt all they did if it hadn't been for Umbridge's refusal to teach them anything remotely helpful in a crisis. They were all goaded to learn as much as they could in the lne of defending themselves because of Umbridge's determination to see that they didn't learn anything of the sort. I have to agree with rowena r. Umbridge is power-hungry and doesn't have any morals herself. She simply follows the party line. Add to that her sadistic streak and it's no surprise if she uses extreme measures to discredit Harry and DD and to "weed out" undesirable views at Hogwarts. 1. Umbridge has two goals: Making sure Slytherin wins and making Harry miserable. She succeeds at both. 2. As mentioned before, teenagers have the tendency to do exactly those things that are forbidden, especially if they want to spite the one doing the forbidding. Not one of her brightest moves, but then, she is desperate to keep Harry's view from being publicized. 3. As was said before, Umbridge would probably have opposed any career Harry chose, although a career as an auror probably seemed especially dangerous to her. 4. Umbridge follows the party line without thought. Although she probably thrived especially well in this climate of suspicion and denunciation. 5. Setting the Dementors on Harry seemed like a win/win situation. Either way she would have expected Harry to be silenced. Dudley probably could be headed under "collateral damage". So what? He's only a Muggle anyway... 6. Depends on how you look at it... She more or less reached her goal as a DADA teacher. Apart from the DA nobody learned anything useful for a whole year, which was exactly what she set out to achieve. As High Inquisitor she more or less managed to implement any changes the Ministry deemed necessary and feed information to the Ministry about "subversive elements", although not 100% successfully. As a Headmistress one could say she was almost a complete failure. The school was in turmoil from the moment DD left, She didn't have the respect or support of the other teachers and didn't manage to stay in control. But still, her efforts seem to have been enough to keep her in good graces with the Ministry... The one thing I was wondering is why on earth she would take on a job that takes her so far away from the Ministry. OK, so she has the chance to prove herself as a leader and as a good Ministry toadie, but what about her obligations at the MoM? Is someone else filling in for her? I Don't think she would want to give anyone the chance to usurp her position there... Is she hoping that by succeeding at Hogwarts she will gain more power? If that, then how? Is her ultimate agenda to get the top job? -------------------- "I will only truly have left this school when none here are loyal to me."
"It is our choices, Harry, that show what we really are, far more than our abilities." |
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Feb 23 2008, 10:44 PM
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Slug and Jiggers' Apothecary Apprentice Posts: 1,407 Joined: 9:09am July 15, 2005 Location: behind one of the revolving doors |
QUOTE 1.How can a sporting competition be a valid competition if there isn't an opposing team to play against? I don't think Umbridge saw it as a competition. She was more concerned with showing favoritism to some students with the understanding that other students would not have a choice in the matter. It was her way of controlling the situation or so she thought. Umbridge wasn't trying to be fair and thus was surprised when DD gaver permission over her head for other groups. QUOTE 2. How effective was it for Umbridge to ban magazine articles, clubs and all other activities which would criticize her performance? It depends on the meaning of effectiveness here. IF effectiveness means everyone will read it behind her back then she was very effective. I don' think this is any different than student newspapers who are told they can't print something and all the students get behind it. They have a common goal to work towards. Even if you liked Umbridge banning an article will make you curious. There's a fine line between curiousity and going ahead with it anyway and curiousity and knowing when to stop. These are teen agers away from their parents. When in Rome do as the Romans do. When in Hogwarts do as teen agers do without parents around. QUOTE 3. Why did Umbridge want to stop Harry achieving the OWLs results necessary to become an auror? Would she really have behaved differently if he wanted to be something else? I think Umbridge just wanted to stop Harry at something. It seems he was able to get around many of her decrees. He didn't stop talking about Voldemort, he still ran the da, he got to play quidditch, he got an article published and everyone reading it. I think this was one way she felt she had control and nothing he could do would stop her from giving him a certain grade. I also don't think Delores was aware of the jinx on the DADA position. I imagine she thought she would be around for quite awhile and this would be one way she would have control over students. QUOTE 4. Why did it suit Umbridge to deny that Voldemort had returned? It shows that she supports the ministry through and through. IF that was the official line then Umbridge was going along with that. Also, if she admitted Voldemort returned then she admitted Harry was right all along and she saw herself as smarter and more knowledgeable than him. Finally, if she admitted he returned then the students would demand she teach something else to help them. She wouldn't have the ability to do that. QUOTE 5. What exactly did you think the Toad expect to achieve by setting dementors onto Harry and Dudley Dursley? I think she was really trying to get rid of Harry in a more literal sense. She wanted to stop him talking and having his soul sucked out would certainly have done that. She was not thinking ahead of what that would mean and the questions people may have asked had that actually happened. Umbridge is not a big picture person and only deals with what she thinks should be done immediately and this made sense to her. QUOTE 6. How successful a DADA teacher, High Inquisitor and Headmistress was Umbridge? (Unlike her toadiness, I won't feed you with Veritaserum-laced tea.) Sometimes we learn what not to do and that can be a lot. Students realized this is not what a mentor was about. So I would say she was successful in helping others know what not to do. --------------------  Thanks Mokey |
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Feb 24 2008, 02:26 PM
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Stocking Snitches at Quality Quidditch Supplies Posts: 673 Joined: 6:25am December 9, 2007 Location: Canada |
QUOTE2. How effective was it for Umbridge to ban magazine articles, clubs and all other activities which would criticize her performance?
It depends on the meaning of effectiveness here. IF effectiveness means everyone will read it behind her back then she was very effective. I don' think this is any different than student newspapers who are told they can't print something and all the students get behind it. They have a common goal to work towards. Even if you liked Umbridge banning an article will make you curious. There's a fine line between curiousity and going ahead with it anyway and curiousity and knowing when to stop. These are teen agers away from their parents. When in Rome do as the Romans do. When in Hogwarts do as teen agers do without parents around." - phoenix42 Umbridge's purpose in banning the reading of The Quibbler in school was to prevent the students - and staff - from seeing Rita Skeeter's article which proved that which Umbridge had been denying all year -- - that Lord Voldemort had been reborn and that he had gathered his troops (DEs) together in the graveyard in June 1995; - that Harry Potter had, in fact, witnessed the event; - that Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore had been telling the truth about this; - that the Ministry of Magic had been lying to the WW (through the Daily Prophet) from June 1995 on. Of course, as every professional writer knows - as everyone involved in the creator industries knows -, the greatest gift the gods can give one is to have one's work be banned somewhere. (Heh, heh) Hermoine knew this. That is why she was so delighted at what Umbridge had done. Kids - and teachers - who wouldn't think twice of reading a questionable mag like The Quibbler couldn't wait to get their hands on that issue. Putting up signs all around Hogwarts which announced, "By Order of the High Inquisitor of Hogwarts: Any student found in possession of the magazine The Quibbler will be expelled." in March 1996 was probably the only good thing Dolores Umbridge ever did in her whole adult life. Laura |
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