Understanding Grindelwald's Impersonation of Percival Graves

Did Grindelwald have faithful followers? Yes, he did. However, his methods often involved strategically impersonating figures to further his dark agenda. In the Fantastic Beasts series, particularly in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, we see that many wizards and witches were drawn to his ideology of wizarding supremacy. Grindelwald impersonated Percival Graves for several strategic reasons, including disguise, resource access, and direct control over key individuals.

Disguise and Deception: Operating Under the Radar

One primary reason for Grindelwald to impersonate Graves was to remain under the radar and avoid detection. Graves was a prominent figure in the magical community and a member of the Magic Committee of the United States MACUSA. By adopting Graves' identity, Grindelwald could manipulate events and people without revealing his true identity. Given his notorious reputation, remaining hidden was crucial for his plans to unfold without opposition.

Access to Resources and Manipulation

Impersonating Graves provided Grindelwald with access to invaluable resources. He could control and manipulate investigations into his activities and use his position to gather followers and allies. This level of control gave him the means to advance his schemes and maintain a strategic advantage over his adversaries.

Direct Line to Credence Barebone

Impersonating Graves also gave Grindelwald a direct line to Credence Barebone, a pivotal character in the story. By posing as someone Credence trusted, Grindelwald could attempt to influence him and harness the power of Credence's Obscurus. Credence, a powerful and mysterious witch, held a key to Grindelwald's ultimate goal, and his direct intervention was necessary to achieve this.

Grindelwald’s Superiority and Trust Issues

About Grindelwald’s preference to personally handle the infiltration: While he indeed had loyal followers, he may have lacked trust in them to execute such a complex and dangerous task. Grindelwald was not only one of the most powerful wizards of his time but also a Seer. He recognized the importance of dealing directly with Credence and handling the Obscurus due to its terrifying nature and his own advanced magical abilities.

Eleftherios Tserkezis pointed out the complexity of the infiltration. Grindelwald had to pose as a MACUSA Auror, a role that was entirely foreign to him. The Ministry had its unique way of doing things, and every aspect from accents to spells was different. This level of immersion required someone with extraordinary talent, such as Grindelwald, who understood the nuances of the magical world.

Moreover, the Obscurus, a source of untamed magical energy, was something not every wizard could control. Grindelwald knew that dealing with an Obscurus required a level of expertise and power that only he possessed. This was particularly true for Credence's Obscurus, which was stronger than others. Thus, it made perfect sense for Grindelwald to handle this mission personally to ensure its success.

Summary

In conclusion, Grindelwald’s decision to impersonate Percival Graves was a strategic move rooted in his need to operate covertly, access resources, and directly influence key players. His personal involvement was due to his unmatched magical abilities and the unique challenges of dealing with the Obscurus. His followers played a crucial role in his plans, but he knew that some tasks required his specific talents and experience.

Keywords: Grindelwald, Percival Graves, Obscurus, Fantastic Beasts, Crimes of Grindelwald, MACUSA, Auror