[HPforGrownups] Re: My shocking idea

[Scott Santangelo]

No: HPFGUIDX 73787



sofdog_2000 <sofdog_2000 at yahoo.com> wrote:
sofdog_2000 wrote:
what drove Tom Riddle to evil and his pursuit of power ...Who said anything 'drove' him to evil?  As Dumbledore said, one's choices define one.  Riddle chose the path he took.  To say that he was driven to evil implies that he has free will and no responsibility for his actions.

Sof:

This seems like a semantical argument. When I say 'drove' I mean what was Riddles motivation. Harry's motivation to do good is simple. He doesn't want to be a bad person, and he wants to be worthy of his mother's sacrifice. Harry's choices are guided or 'driven' by these influences. So, what influences guided Tom Riddle to choose evil?

Of course, my question assumes that everyone starts out on an even playing field, and that no one is inherently evil. Voldemort does clearly state that he thinks there is no good or evil, only power. 

So, then my question really is 'what drove young Tom Riddle to an amoral quest power through that included murder by the age of 16?'

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This seems a mystery that JKR has explained. V's mom was rejected/abandoned by her Muggle husband when he finds out she's a witch. I was looking for the canon that says she dies giving birth, but couldn't find it. V does say his dad "abandoned me even before I was born." He gets stuck in muggle orphanage. He somehow knows/believes his heritage links him to Salazar Slytherin. His mission in life is clear, and stronger promptings could not be found to motivate his resentment, hatred and anger. This all goes to reinforce the odd contrast between himself and Harry, who have so many things in common ("both half-bloods, orphans, raised by Muggles" It is indeed their choices that make them who they are and set them on different life paths.

owlery2003



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