What did Voldemort do that was so great?

[cathubodva_raven]

No: HPFGUIDX 41721

Leon wrote:
>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. 

Whoops, I thought I'd made that clear by saying that Hitler did great 
things.  For the sake of clarification, I do not think that Hitler 
was "cool".  But so as to avoid misunderstanding, I'll capitalize 
the 'big achievement' Great.

Then Gretchen wrote:
>If you use the simplistic definition of a great leader as one that 
>gets people to follow him/her and do what he/she wants, then 
>Voldermort was a great leader (as was Hitler).

If you want to use that definition, then it would have to apply to 
most of our politicians - that's charisma, not Greatness.  (Sub-
question - is Voldemort charismatic?)  

But Fyre Wood disagreed:
>Think about it: Voldy was able to come up with ways to defy death, 
>he influenced people to share his beliefs, he had wizards performing 
>spells that were at one time almost impossible. THe amount of 
>distruction he created was probably a lot (too hard to describe). So 
>yes, this was a great accomplishment, just not "great" as in 
>stupendious or excellent. 

I completely agree that Voldemort is not a guy to be adored and 
admired.  But my problem with him - particularly in light of 
Ollivander's comment - is that he isn't Great enough.

Things Voldemort has done:

1. >come up with ways to defy death
Well, kind of.  Maybe.  True, he's not dead.  But he spent many years 
in a state far short of living, so I wouldn't say he's "Achieved 
Immortality".  I'm going to give him a D- in Immortality Studies.

2. >he influenced people to share his beliefs
The only people who seem to share his beliefs are the DEs, and by all 
accounts they're only a very small percentage of the wizarding 
population. (Even then, their loyalty is a bit suspect)  The majority 
of the WW seems to emphatically reject him and his beliefs, and as 
just about everyone wants him dead, I'm giving him an F in Charisma.

3. >he had wizards performing spells that were at one time almost 
>impossible
I'd like to see some canon for this.  I remember Moody saying (I'll 
paraphrase because my GoF is at home) something along the lines 
of "You could AK me and I doubt I'd get a nose-bleed", but wasn't 
that because none of them had been taught the curse?

4.>THe amount of distruction he created was probably a lot
A hurricane is destructive.  A tsunami is destructive.  A 14-year old 
in a stolen V8 is destructive.  I don't think that just being 
destructive is enough to qualify for Greatness.  

4a. The Reign of Terror
He does earn some points there, but if it was a battle, he was 
certainly the loser.  I can't give it anything over a D+.

There are only two positive indicators of Voldemort's greatness.  
Firstly, that Ollivander point-blank says so, and secondly the 
Wizarding World's fear of him.  But so far, I haven't seen or heard 
anything to make me believe that their fear of him is justified.  
Peter Pettigrew killed twelve people with a single curse.  Fair 
enough.  What did Voldemort do?  Did he wipe out an entire stadium of 
Quidditch fans?  Did anyone who said the word "Voldemort" immediately 
drop dead?  Or disappear? Or...or...or...  That would make me happy 
(er - not *happy*, but it would satisfy my doubts), I'd bestow the 
Greatness award upon him and leave it at that.

But I'm not taking Ollivander's word for it.  I want proof.

Cathubodva
- "I plan to live forever.  So far, so good."