As readers who have been following the long 17-year journey of Harry Potter, it would seem ideal to finish the seventh book and sigh with relief. This incredible series is now over. But as true readers, we must delve back into the Wizarding World and discuss the hundreds, maybe thousands, of brilliant ideas J.K. Rowling tries to convey to her audience. One of the most beautiful ideas I’ve ever read about must be discussed: feeling sympathy for the notorious Lord Voldemort.
Voldemort has many identities. To some, he is He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. To others, he is referred to as You-Know-Who or the Dark Lord. These names are dark and show people’s fear of him. Why is Voldemort feared? Why is he malicious and sadistic? But the most important question is: Why did he become evil?
As we read in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Voldemort had an unfortunate life. He lived in an orphanage for all of his childhood. His parents had abandoned him and left him with nothing. With no guidance or family support, he felt resentful and unloved.
Once he started going to Hogwarts, he made something of himself. He was the smartest student in the grade and had a brilliant mind. He won multiple awards and was well known by teachers and students. Life was turning around for him. But he still struggled with hiding his identity. He was secretive and obsessed with his parentage. When he finally realized his father was a Muggle, he assumed the name of Lord Voldemort. This decision was made purely because of resentment and frustration. He no longer wanted to be associated with his father—Tom Riddle Senior, who he was named after. It’s as if he wanted to get rid of all the connections between them. It is sad to see how feeling unloved can affect a person negatively.
It may seem crazy or unimaginable to feel empathy towards Voldemort. He has always been portrayed as evil and torturous. I am not justifying his despicable actions, but merely having some compassion for him, just as Dumbledore had. He chose to put himself in Voldemort’s shoes and tried to see things from his perspective.
“Do not pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living, and, above all, those who live without love.” (pg. 722- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows).
This is an insightful and beautiful thing to say. Not only does Voldemort feel unloved, he no longer believes in love. One without love will never prosper.
“‘Is it love again?’ said Voldemort, his snake’s face jeering. “Dumbledore’s favorite solution, love, which he claimed conquered death, though love did not stop him falling from the tower and breaking like an old waxwork. Love, which did not prevent me stamping out your Mudblood mother like a cockroach, Potter- and nobody seems to love you enough to run forward this time and take my curse.’” (pg.741-Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows).
No one ever made a sacrifice for Voldemort out of love. His father didn’t care about him or his mother. His mother died on the streets out of grief. He was alone. The only other option for Voldemort—or so he thought—was to become powerful and have everyone under his control. Maybe then he’d feel better about himself if he gained some “respect” from others.
Voldemort has proven to be one of the most complicated characters in the series. He is like the tyrannical, school bully—someone everyone hates and fears; someone who is insecure and insensitive. But before you judge a bully, or Voldemort, try to think about why they are the way they are. Everyone has a motive. Everyone has a reason. Everyone has a story. No one is ever born angry.
Just because he had hard beginnings does not mean that he had to go out and kill a bunch of people. While your blog post did actually make me feel bad that he was never able to exerience love, In some ways I feel that that was his on fault.
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