Voldemort and Sexuality

[Eric Oppen]

No: HPFGUIDX 40229

Myself, I think that the big V-man's sexuality, insofar as he can still be
said to have any such thing, is pure-quill sadism and sociopathy---he'd not
be interested in Harry in a "normal" (well, for a man lusting after a
15-year-old-or-so boy, anyway) sexual way.  Nor Hermione.  Nor anybody or
anything else.  He would only be interested in them as _objects_ to be
manipulated or destroyed, as suits his goals.  Very like a chess-player in
some ways---the chess metaphor from the first book may come back to greet us
again.  Keep in mind all the dangerous and unusual magical transformations
that he went through to go from the handsome, appealing Thomas Riddle to the
horrifying, hairless (at least when we see him) Voldemort.  I don't think
that anything resembling a "normal" sex drive could have survived those
changes.  He's cut himself off from normal humanity.  He literally does not
want the normal human lot, which includes death---he wants to be immortal.
Even Nicholas Flamel wasn't immortal, just very long-lived thanks to the
Philosopher's Stone...and when it was time for that to be destroyed, we are
told that he went willingly into that good night.  Voldemort doesn't wanna
go, and if he ever goes, it'll probably be kicking and screaming and clawing
every inch of the way.

His caressing of his wand, after _thirteen years_ without it---without the
main emblem and tool of a wizard, without which a wizard is no wizard---put
me very much in mind of the scene in Sondheim's _Sweeney Todd_ when Sweeney,
after his imprisonment and escape, is re-united with his case of very
high-quality razors.  I could just about see Voldemort, standing there
starkers (YUCK!)  raising his wand to the heavens, and roaring Sweeney
Todd's line:  "At last, my arm is complete again!"