Dolores Umbridge

Dolores Jane Umbridge is a fictional character in the Harry Potter series of novels by J.K. Rowling.

Career and role

When Umbridge first appears in the books in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix she holds the position of Senior Undersecretary to Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge, and acts as one of Harry's interrogators in the Wizengamot, a wizard's court, when he is tried on charges of breaking the ban on underage sorcery. (It is later revealed that Umbridge herself ordered the Dementors to attack Harry, causing him to use magic for self-protection.)

Related Topics:
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - Minister of Magic - Cornelius Fudge - Harry's - Wizengamot - Dementor

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Umbridge is installed at Hogwarts as the new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor by order of the Ministry of Magic, teaching according to the Ministry's highly restricted and pared-down curriculum.

Related Topics:
Hogwarts - Defence Against the Dark Arts

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Her power gradually increases as she is soon appointed the first ever "Hogwarts High Inquisitor", in which position she is given extraordinary powers over the students, teachers and curriculum. Umbridge creates an Inquisitorial Squad, which rewards some students for reporting on others and sanctions them to act as enforcers of Umbridge's rules. She uses a very cruel and unusual punishment on Harry, forcing him to write magically with his own blood from the back of his hand. She probably got the idea for this didactic torture from the story "In the Penal Colony" by Franz Kafka.

Related Topics:
Inquisitorial Squad - In the Penal Colony - Franz Kafka

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

After Dumbledore leaves Hogwarts, Umbridge is placed there as Headmistress. However, the Headmaster's office refuses to open for her, and her time as Headmistress is characterized by both active and passive rebellion on behalf of most of the student body and the professors alike.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Umbridge is severely injured and traumatised at the end of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, when she is tricked into entering the Forbidden Forest where she insults a group of Centaurs, calling them "filthy half-breeds", and is nearly killed. Very soon afterwards, Dumbledore is reinstated in his position as Headmaster and Umbridge is seen fleeing the school, pursued by Peeves the Poltergeist.

Related Topics:
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - Forbidden Forest - Centaur - Peeves

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince it is revealed that Umbridge still holds a position at the Ministry of Magic under the new Minister for Magic Rufus Scrimgeour, but the nature of the position is not revealed.

Related Topics:
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - Rufus Scrimgeour

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It is rumored that British actress Imelda Staunton will portray Umbridge, though it has yet to be publicly confirmed. Some fans have also suggested comedienne Patricia Routledge for the role.

Related Topics:
Imelda Staunton - Patricia Routledge

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~