Circle Arguments, Ego-Maniacs, and Manipulators

[bugaloo37]

No: HPFGUIDX 45459

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Melody" <Malady579 at h...> wrote:
> 
> Do you really find him to be an ego-maniac?  While I do see him
> running away in his own brilliance, I do not see how this has 
consumed  him.  <snip> 
> I do see how Voldemort is suffering from over-confidence in himself.
> That is what got him stripped of his body.  He relied too much on 
his own knowledge and power, but he seems to be more careful in his 
steps now.  <snip>
>So confident, yes.  Bit careless with his emotions, no.
> 
> 
Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary gives the following definitions:  
1) Egomaniac-one characterized by egomania; 2) Egomania- the quality 
or state of being extremely egocentric; 3)Egocentric- self-centered, 
selfish, limited in outlook or concern to one's own activities and 
needs.  Nowhere in these definitions is lack of emotional control 
mentioned as a prerequesite for egomania.  IMO, as I look back on 
definition number 3, I feel that Voldemort fits it to the letter.  He 
is certainly self-centered and selfish.  His outlook is most decidely 
limited to what concern's himself-his needs.  You also stated that 
since the time he was stripped of his body, he had grown more 
careful.  IMO, I do not agree.  If he had been more careful, he would 
have known about the wand problem-Dumbledore did.  But, IMO, given 
the fact Voldemort has a hard time believing that anything that he 
comes up with will fail, he is doomed to fail.  Over-confidence is 
the main characteristic of egomania.  Some of historys most famous 
egomaniacs have been individuals with detailed agendas on how their 
diabolical schemes would unfold.  And whereas these egomaniacs would 
experience "temper tantrums" and throw fits as it were, most of the 
time they were quite lucid and were able to think out and bring about 
some of the most devastating periods in world history.  In a JKR 
interview, she stated point-blank that Voldemort could be compared 
with Hitler.  IMO, no more evil individual ever walked the earth than 
Hitler- and also, IMO, no more clearcut example of an egomaniac has 
ever existed.

bugaloo37