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"For the Greater Good"
— Gellert Grindelwald's slogan[src]

Gellert Grindelwald (pr. Grindelvald) (c. 1883-1998) was the most infamous Dark Wizard of his time. He was schooled at Durmstrang Institute and later took up a friendship with Albus Dumbledore when he lived in Godric's Hollow for a summer. The two made plans to find the Deathly Hallows and create a world in which Muggles would be subservient to wizards and witches. This partnership fell apart after the two were involved in a three-way duel with Aberforth Dumbledore that resulted in Ariana Dumbledore's death. Grindelwald left England, and soon stole the Elder Wand and built an army, rising to power in continental Europe. In 1945, his former friend Dumbledore confronted him, and defeated him in what became a legendary duel. Grindelwald was subsequently imprisoned in Nurmengard for decades. He was slain there by Lord Voldemort in 1998 when Voldemort was in search of the Elder Wand, which Grindelwald refused to give him any information about.

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Who is the character Gellert Grindelwald in the Harry Potter series? toggle section
Gellert Grindelwald is a prominent character, known as one of the most dangerous Dark wizards of all time. His notoriety is only surpassed by the evil Lord Voldemort. Grindelwald was educated at Durmstrang Institute, but was expelled due to his dangerous tendencies. He is also known for his close relationship with Albus Dumbledore during his youth, with whom he planned to find the Deathly Hallows. Grindelwald also appears in the Fantastic Beasts film series, further expanding his role in the Wizarding World franchise. His character is described by J.K. Rowling as a sociopath.
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What is the relationship between Grindelwald and Dumbledore? toggle section
Gellert Grindelwald and Albus Dumbledore shared a complex relationship. They first met when Dumbledore was seventeen, introduced by Grindelwald's great aunt, Bathilda Bagshot. They quickly became friends, sharing common interests such as the quest for the Deathly Hallows and ideas about a wizard-led society. Their relationship eventually evolved beyond friendship, with Dumbledore falling in love with Grindelwald. This love blinded Dumbledore to Grindelwald's harmful anti-Muggle views and led them to make a blood pact, preventing them from fighting each other. However, Grindelwald revealed himself to be a Dark wizard, causing a rift between them. Despite this, Grindelwald still considered Dumbledore a friend to some extent.
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What role does Grindelwald play in the Fantastic Beasts series? toggle section
Gellert Grindelwald is a central character in the Fantastic Beasts series. He is a powerful dark wizard who seeks to lead a new Wizarding World order. His actions and beliefs form the main conflict in the series, particularly in 'Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald'. His complex relationship with Albus Dumbledore also adds depth to the storyline.
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What happened to Grindelwald in the Harry Potter series? toggle section
Gellert Grindelwald had a fascinating journey. He was a powerful dark wizard who dreamed of a world where wizards ruled over Muggles. Grindelwald was obsessed with the Deathly Hallows and even embarked on an expedition to find them. His journey led him to Godric's Hollow, where he developed a romantic relationship with Albus Dumbledore. Together, they sought to use the Deathly Hallows to achieve their goal. However, Grindelwald was eventually defeated in a duel by Dumbledore and was imprisoned in Nurmengard. In the Deathly Hallows, Grindewald refused to tell Voldemort the location of the Elder Wand. When Voldemort was taunted by Grindelwald telling him to kill him if he wanted because he would not reveal it, he killed Grindelwald with the Killing Curse.
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How does the character of Grindelwald evolve from his younger years to his older years? toggle section
Gellert Grindelwald undergoes a significant transformation from his youth to his older years. As a young man, Grindelwald was described as having golden-blond hair and a 'merry, wild', and 'handsome' face. He had a triumphant trickery about him, which Harry Potter likened to the mischievous Weasley twins, Fred and George. Grindelwald was an extremely talented wizard and a natural born Seer, who had a vision of himself dominating the wizarding world. However, as he aged, his appearance and demeanor changed. His hair turned light blond and then grey, he grew a thin white moustache which he later lost, and his skin became somewhat wrinkled. Despite his aspirations and talents, Grindelwald's path diverged significantly from his youthful dreams, demonstrating the complexity and depth of his character.
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Biography

Early Life

Gellert Grindelwald was born around 1883 and was educated at the wizarding school of Durmstrang Institute, but was expelled when he stubbornly pursued experiments in Dark magic. He was particularly interested in learning about the Deathly Hallows. His research led him to Godric's Hollow, England, where Ignotus Peverell, said to be the rightful keeper of Death's Invisibility Cloak, had been laid to rest. There, he stayed with his great-aunt, Bathilda Bagshot.[2]

It was in Godric's Hollow that Grindelwald met and befriended Albus Dumbledore, a young wizard as talented and brilliant as he. The two teenage boys became united by their ambitions for glory and "a new world order" in which wizards would rule over Muggles.[3] The two became extremely close, even to the point of romantic attraction on Dumbledore's part[4]. It is unknown whether or not Grindelwald ever returned his friend's deeper affections, although it seems likely that he at least cared for Dumbledore at one point, as he later gave his life to protect Dumbledore's tomb from Voldemort.

"He didn't like that. Grindelwald didn't like that at all. He got angry. He told me what a stupid little boy I was, trying to stand in the way of him and my brilliant brother . . . Didn't I understand, my poor sister wouldn't have to be hidden once they'd changed the world, and led the wizards out of hiding, and taught the Muggles their place? And there was an argument . . . and I pulled my wand, and he pulled out his..."
Aberforth Dumbledore to Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley[src]

Aberforth Dumbledore became aware of the pair's research, and opposed them. He attempted to persuade them against their plans, setting Grindelwald on the defensive. He inflicted the Cruciatus Curse on Aberforth, which resulted in a three-way duel in which Ariana Dumbledore, Albus and Aberforth's younger sister who had difficulty controlling her magic, was killed. The two Dumbledores were devastated. Albus ended his friendship with Grindelwald, who fled the country, not wanting to be associated with the death.[5]

Rise to Dark Power

"In a list of Most Dangerous Dark Wizards of All Time, he'd miss out on the top spot only because You-Know-Who arrived, a generation later, to steal his crown."
— a line from The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore about Grindelwald[src]

Working on his own from that point forward, Grindelwald delved into his research of the Deathly Hallows, and uncovered the location of Death's Elder Wand. He broke into the workshop of the renowned wandsmith Gregorovitch and stole the wand from him[6], as is evidenced by Lord Voldemort using Legilimency to investigate Gregorovitch's mind decades later; he saw a memory of Grindelwald leaping merrily out of a window with his prize. This same image haunted Harry Potter as he was working on finding the identity of the youth.[7].

Over the years, Grindelwald raised an army and began a reign of terror that spread through several European countries. He never tried to become powerful in Britain because he feared Albus Dumbledore, who was "a shade more skillful" than him.[8] During his reign of terror, Grindelwald murdered many people, including Viktor Krum's grandfather[9]. He also built a prison to hold his opponents that was called Nurmengard. Throughout all this, he continued to claim that everything he was doing was being done "for the greater good."

"...while I busied myself with the training of young wizards, Grindelwald was raising an army. They say he feared me, and perhaps he did, but less, I think, than I feared him... It was the truth I feared. You see, I never knew which of us, in that last, horrific fight, had actually cast the curse that killed my sister... I think he knew it, I think he knew what frightened me. I delayed meeting him until finally, it would have been too shameful to resist any longer. People were dying and he seemed unstoppable, and I had to do what I could."
Albus Dumbledore[src]

He was finally confronted, due to the cries of the public, by his old friend Albus Dumbledore, who bested him in a duel. Eye-witnesses have stated that it was the greatest duel ever fought between wizards. Dumbledore then became the master of the Elder Wand. Grindelwald was sent back to his homeland and put in the top most cell of Nurmengard.[8]

Later Life

"Kill me, then. Voldemort, I welcome death! But my death will not bring you what you seek… There is so much you do not understand…"
— Grindelwald to Voldemort shortly before his death[src]

Fifty-three years after his defeat, Grindelwald was slain in his prison cell by Lord Voldemort, who was searching for the Elder Wand for himself. It was only during the confrontation in the jail cell that Voldemort learned it was Dumbledore who had claimed the wand long ago. Grindelwald showed no fear during this confrontation, even taunting and laughing at Voldemort's desire for the wand. Voldemort ended his life with the Killing Curse in the spring of 1998.[10]

Physical appearance

As a young man, Grindelwald had golden blond hair and a "merry, wild" face. Harry Potter thought he had "a Fred and George-ish air of triumphant trickery about him". He was considered to be handsome.[7]

Personality and Traits

Harry Potter: "Grindelwald tried to stop Voldemort going after the wand. He lied, you know, pretended he had never had it."
Albus Dumbledore: "They say he showed remorse in later years, alone in his cell at Nurmengard. I hope that is true. I would like to think that he did feel the horror and shame of what he had done. Perhaps that lie to Voldemort was his attempt to make amends . . . to prevent Voldemort from taking the Hallow . . ."
Harry Potter: ". . .or maybe from breaking into your tomb?"
Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore discussing Grindelwald after his death[src]

Grindelwald was a charming and brilliant young wizard, but even as a teenager he was fascinated by the Dark Arts and dangerously powerful and ambitious[2]. He was highly intelligent, magically talented, and ruthless, with a vicious temper; for example, when Aberforth Dumbledore challenged his plans and tried to convince his older brother to abandon them, Grindelwald "lost control" and used the Cruciatus Curse on Aberforth[8]. Grindelwald is considered the most powerful Dark wizard in history, aside from Lord Voldemort[2].

Grindelwald apparently did not know fear, or at least did not show it. Even face-to-face with the only Dark wizard to ever be considered more dangerous than himself, wandless, Grindelwald was openly defiant and even mocking, goading his attacker into killing him. He claimed during this moment that, unlike Voldemort, he had no fear of death[10].

It is unknown if Grindelwald ever felt remorse for all he had done. He does seem to have shown some scruples, as he felt the need to justify his atrocities by claiming that they were "for the greater good"[2], and seemed to genuinely care about Albus Dumbledore, though it is not known if he ever returned Dumbledore's romantic feelings. He valued their friendship when they were young and respected Dumbledore's abilities; like Voldemort, he seemed to be afraid of no one except Dumbledore. Part of his motivation for refusing to give Voldemort any information about the Elder Wand may have been a desire to prevent Dumbledore's tomb from being desecrated[8].

Etymology

  • Gellert is the Hungarian version of Gerard, which comes from the Germanic ger, "spear", and hard, "brave, hardy". Saint Gellert was an Italian-born missionary and martyr who worked in Hungary.[11]
  • Grindel is old German for "bolt," and is also similar to the mythic monster Grendel who was defeated by Beowulf. Wald is German for "forest". Grindelwald is also the name of a ski resort in Switzerland.
  • It is of interesting but purely speculative note that the name Gellert is very close to the name Gelert, the name of a legendary dog of cultural, but little historical, significance to Northern Wales. According to local mythology, Gelert was the most faithful companion of Prince Llewelyn, mistaken for the assailant of the prince's infant heir. His "grave" is a site in Beddgelert (literally Gelert's Grave), Gwynedd, and the legend is popular in the area.

Behind the scenes

  • The date of Grindelwald's duel with Dumbledore incidentally coincided with the downfall of Nazi Germany. What's more, the prison Nurmengard coincidentally shares a similar name to the Bavarian city of Nuremberg, where war criminal trials of former Nazis were held.
  • In the world of FanFiction, Grindelwald is often portrayed as an ally of, or has place an Imperious curse upon Adolf Hitler. No Canon evidence to support this theory, aside from the 1945 duel between Dumbledore and Grindelwald, exists.
  • It was revealed by J. K. Rowling during a tour in 2007 that Albus Dumbledore was gay, and harbored romantic feelings for Grindelwald[4]. She did not, however, comment on Grindelwald's sexuality, and the true status of his relationship with Dumbledore remains to this date unknown.
  • It has been confirmed that Jamie Campbell Bower will play Grindelwald in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.[12]

Appearances

See also

Notes and references

  1. Based on the fact that Durmstrang does not admit Muggle-born students.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Ch. 18
  3. Deathly Hallows, letter from Albus to Gellert, Ch. 18.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Leaky Cauldron: J.K. Rowling's Comments at Carnegie Hall 20 October 2008
  5. Deathly Hallows, Ch. 28
  6. Deathly Hallows, Ch. 24
  7. 7.0 7.1 Deathly Hallows, Ch. 14
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Deathly Hallows, Ch. 35
  9. Deathly Hallows, Ch. 8
  10. 10.0 10.1 Deathly Hallows, Ch. 23
  11. Behind the Name: Gellert
  12. Jamie's a bachelor of (dark) arts
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