[HPforGrownups] Re: Voldemort--speak not the name myth

[Lady Macbeth]

No: HPFGUIDX 71726

vampire Said:
>>> Arya wrote:
> There was a post on here a month or so back that mentioned a
myth/lengend/ reference to a evil entity/essence that could be
summoned up by a person to possess them and to transform the
person from a human, mortal man into a creature with the makings
to be immortal.  The secret to defeating/dispelling this essence
from the possessed one was to know was once the name of the
> man--saying it and making the person recognize himself made him
mortal again.
>
> Obviously, this sounds a little like Tom Riddle/ Voldemort.  I
have been searching the net for a refernce to this myth or legend
(I think it was norse/ germanic/or celtic in origin).
>
> Does anyone recall it or have any info to what I am referring?? >>>


This is a very interesting idea. Didn't Dumbledore called Voldemort
Tom several times when they were duelling in MoM near the golden
statues? I thought he was just trying to tell him "Look, to me you're
just that student I used to teach in Hogwarts". But upon seeing your
post I realized that maybe JKR read the same legend you were
referring here.<<<

Lady Macbeth:
I'm not certain about the myth/legend being referenced - I've heard some
such, but I can't recall offhand what it is.

However, I *do* know that in magical teaching, a given name has the most
power over someone - that's why many witches/wizards/magicians take a
"magical" name that they are known by, and never use their given name in
their magical practices, especially ones involving other magicians or
otherworldly beings.  Dumbledore may understand this and be using it to his
advantage.

This also plays into the idea of "fear of a name only promotes fear of the
thing itself".  Dumbledore does not demonstrate fear around Voldemort.
Voldemort KNOWS that his taken name designates such fear that even his Death
Eaters prefer to call him "Lord" or "Dark Lord" when speaking of him.  It
undermines that sense of power to be addressed by his given name.  "Tom
Riddle" held little power other than that wielded by a respected schoolboy.
"Lord Voldemort" on the other hand, commands power and authority even in the
fear given his name, without having to demonstrate an iota of magic.  I'm
not saying that Dumbledore doesn't have at least a measured amount of fear
of Voldemort's abilities, but he (as a knowledgeable wizard would) refuses
to let on to Voldemort that he has any such fears.  In addressing him as
"Tom" Dumbledore is saying in one word that he respects Voldemort as a
person but will not back down from him and expects that he has just as much
or more power than Voldemort has.

-Lady Macbeth




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