[HPforGrownups] Re: Rowling and Philosophy

[Sherri]

No: HPFGUIDX 53630

dimercury7 said:
>There is soooo much to go in to, such as whether or
>not V is the ultimate evil in the world, or is he
>just a representation of the ultimate failings of
>mortals (ala Plato)

to which "psychodudeneo" responded: 
>It's driven into our heads again and again that
>Voldemort isn't human.
<snip>
>With that in mind, I think it's unlikely that
>Voldemort is a representation of anything in mortal
>man, or how they would act.

I have to disagree with this.  Lord Voldemort I think
is the perfect representation of mortal man.  Because
he is the epitome of all things that can go wrong in
the human condition.  Tom Riddle was a perfectly
ordinary person (even if he wasn't a very nice one),
who through his own weaknesses and desires became
something entirely inhuman.  So, as far as that is
concerned, I'd definitely have to go with Plato. 
Without getting into religious philosophy too much
(which happens to be *my* major) I see Voldemort as
being akin to the first Man.  He was a normal person,
who moved beyond his original state in a search for
knowledge and the fulfillment of his desires.  

But, what's always intrigued me about Rowling is her
views on the nature of evil (that's still philosophy,
yes?).  Because, she seems to me to be trying to
change the older established form of 'knight in
shining armour' vs. 'evil black sorcerer'.  Her
'knight' (who I'm saying is Harry) is not the perfect
child.  He goofs off, he has disrespect for the rules,
he isn't the sort of Rainbow Brite 'love everyone'
type good guy that one is used to in these sorts of
stories.  He's human.  He has human faults.  Which is
why I have wondered many times why she seems to go out
of her way to make Voldemort so painfully inhuman.  It
has always struck me that Harry is allowed to play
'knight' and yet get away with the things he's done
which are wrong (true, they weren't evil, but they
*were* wrong) and yet Voldemort isn't allowed to keep
a single shred of his humanity.  It is easier to hate
a villain if said villain isn't human, but it isn't
easily believable.  

Rowling tries very hard to show the yin and yang of
everyone.  All of her good guys have faults, and most
of her bad guys have some redeeming qualities.  Except
Voldemort.  I keep waiting for her to show us the
'soft' side of LV.  I don't think he will be
redeemable, but I would like to see him be human.

-Sherri-neko =^.^=

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