The tutor opens a discussion about Tom Riddle and Voldemort.

As I mentioned in my Jan 19, 2015 post, I’ve read the Harry Potter series to my children twice. We’re on our third time, midway through The Half-Blood Prince. We are about to embark on a memory of Tom Riddle.

Tom Riddle is a favourite character of mine from the Harry Potter series. Of course, he becomes the antagonist, Voldemort. We are led to believe that, by age eleven, soon to enter Hogwarts, Tom is already paranoid and predatory.

What makes Tom Riddle intriguing to me is his single-mindedness, as well as his charisma. Dumbledore admits that most of Tom’s activities at Hogwarts, while almost certainly ambitious, go undetected – even in spite of Tom’s popularity.

Perhaps, like with so many people, Tom’s best years are at school. After Hogwarts, he fades into the background, metamorphosing into Voldemort.

While even Voldemort has his moments, he’s not so attractive (to me) as Tom Riddle. Sitting here, sipping my coffee, I’ve finally wrestled with why. The answer is that Tom Riddle’s focus is personal development, while Voldemort’s is controlling others. An academic always appreciates personal development, but doesn’t have much taste for power. Controlling others, after all, doesn’t lead to self improvement.

I’ll be talking more about characters from the Harry Potter series in future posts:)

Source:

Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. London: Bloomsbury, 2005.

Jack of Oracle Tutoring by Jack and Diane, Campbell River, BC.