[HPforGrownups] What did Voldemort do that was so great?

[Leon Adato]

No: HPFGUIDX 41693

Cathubodva wrote:
> On the whole, although I think we mean different things by it, I
> agree with Jenny that Voldemort isn't great.

And Richelle replied:
I don't know about Ollivander--I think there's something more to him than
meets the eye.  <snip> I think he'll come back into the picture in the
future.  But how?  Is he a secret DE?  Is there a lower status of Voldemort
supporters, not quite DE's, but supporters none the less?
*********************

I have to disagree. First, I believe that given Olivander's age and use of
language, "great" is not "way cool, dude". It means big, affecting many
people. He even qualifies it by saying (IIRC) "terrible, yes, but great".
Voldemort had everyone running. He was THE news item. People dreaded coming
home to find the dark mark floating above their houses. Everyone knew (and
refused to speak) his name. If that's not great (in Ollivander's use of the
word) then I don't know what is.

Second, it is interesting the way Ollivander is protrayed in the spoken
version of the books (at least my US copy) - with the same voice I would
give a European tailor. In my mind (granted, social and cultural bias
showing here) I imagined one of those old Jewish "schneiders" my
grandparents and even parents went to. Given that mental image, I could see
a wizened old man, a contemporary (if not survivor) of the Holocaust (sorry,
Mods!) who has been able to retain an analytical view of the times saying
the same thing of Hitler.

$.02 happily debited.

Leon Adato
-----------------------------------
If you wish to make an apple pie truly from scratch,
you must first invent the universe.
      -Carl Sagan, astronomer and writer (1934-1996)