If there is an author who knows evil in all its facets, it is undoubtedly Stephen King. He is known for his masterpieces like It
, The Dark Tower
, and Carrie
. The horror legend believes that a professor from Harry Potter deserves the title of the best villain in a long time.
Who is being talked about? It is about Dolores Jane Umbridge. In “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,” she is sent to Hogwarts by the Ministry of Magic as a professor for the Defense Against the Dark Arts
to strengthen the Ministry of Magic’s influence on Hogwarts. Later, she is appointed High Inquisitor and takes almost unrestricted power over the school.
Umbridge embodies evil in a particularly subtle and insidious way. She is known for her strict adherence to rules and order, her sadistic punishment methods, and her hypocritical righteousness.
She does not hesitate to take authoritarian measures to consolidate her power and suppress others. Among fans, this makes her one of the most hated characters – and King considers her the best villain character since Hannibal Lecter
.
The best villain character since Hannibal Lecter
What does Stephen King say about her? In a novel review for Entertainment Weekly (in 2009), Stephen King praised J.K. Rowling’s character Dolores Umbridge.
Here is what he said about Umbridge:
The gently smiling Dolores Umbridge, with her girlish voice, her toad-like face, and her clawing, stubby fingers, is the best fictional villain character since Hannibal Lecter. […]
Stephen King to Entertainment Weekly
Why does he find her so good? Umbridge does not exert the brutal and open violence like the highly intelligent serial killer Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs
, but King finds her outstanding for other aspects.
Because the horror legend finds Dolores Umbridge so impressive because she embodies the archetype of the terrifying teacher
that many would know from their own school days. According to him, this teacher figure is so threatening that one fears the morning school journey
.
While reading, one hopes on one hand that she receives her just punishment
, but at the same time fears her next actions. A teacher who would exclude Harry Potter from playing Quidditch is capable of anything.
Even in the films, Umbridge’s portrayal by Imelda Staunton is remarkable. Umbridge is often polite at first and appears outwardly harmless. She wears pink, decorates her office with cat accessories, and uses a soft voice. However, this subtle facade conceals her brutal and sadistic nature.
In interviews (including with Entertainment Weekly), Imelda Staunton referred to the character Dolores Umbridge as a damned monster
and called her a completely deluded woman
. Apparently, she despises the character just as much as the fans, even though she perfectly portrayed the role. For her role as Dolores Umbridge, she received a lot of praise from critics. By the way, we ranked the Hogwarts professors, and Umbridge is also included. MyMMO author Linda Baumgartl is a huge fan of Harry Potter and reveals who she finds the most powerful: Harry Potter: Hogwarts Professors in Power Ranking – Which teacher is the most powerful?
