Voldemort as Christ figure

[davewitley]

No: HPFGUIDX 37057

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Amy Z" <aiz24 at h...> wrote:

>And what about Voldemort--is *he* a Christ figure?  He has the 
resurrection if not the self-sacrifice.

At last! Someone has said the thing I thought on my first reading of 
GOF, but have never dared raise (tho' I have hinted on occasion).

As well as the resurrection (in a graveyard, of course), he has the 
disciples, he insists on the exclusive adoration and fidelity, he 
promises great rewards for his followers, including immortality.  He 
is called 'Lord' by his people.  He has been known to live inside his 
followers.  He comes alive in a book.  He is represented by a snake 
lifted up (see John 3: 'As Moses lifted up the serpent in the 
desert...').  He values useless gestures of loyalty more than 
practical help.  He calls on his followers from afar.

I assume the religious right were so turned off by the 'witchcraft' 
that they have never quite got to this particular bomb waiting to go 
off - but you'd think *someone* would have twigged.

To be fair, most of this could also be used to make him out as an 
anti-Christ, too, who is depicted in Revelation as having a fake 
resurrection.  Voldemort was not strictly dead and, indeed, refers to 
rebirthing rather than resurrection.  The DEs have their version of 
the mark of the beast.

But I do wonder if JKR is in fact saying something about religion, or 
at least religious sects.

David