Voldemort's name

[Martha]

No: HPFGUIDX 82054

Geoff:

> > Is Dumbledore more likely to want to make LV feel small or to try 
> to 
> > reach something reachable? I shall duck, don a tin hat, duck 
behind 
> > the battlements and wait for the theories to fly over me.

Jen:

<snip, snip, the scissors go>
> So in this interaction, I believe Dumbledore is working on two 
> levels: 1) To remind Voldemort he is no longer immortal, and that 
> Dumbledore knows this and 2) to appeal to any tiny *sliver* of 
> humanity that may exist in that "old body" i.e. some echo of a 
memory 
> of Tom Riddle.

And now Martha:

A few people I have spoken to about this have commented that when 
they read it, they thought of the scene in "Return of the Jedi" when 
Luke addresses Darth Vader as "Anakin". IMO, it seems that the idea 
of appealing to the last remaining shred of humanity is valid in Star 
Wars, where the idea the Anakin Skywalker was a good man and Darth 
Vader is a bad man is a major part of the story. I don't think it 
applies so much in OoP. Here's the thing: when I consider DD calling 
LV "Tom", it puts me more in mind of Agent Smith in The Matrix 
calling Neo "Mr Anderson". IMO the point to it is the power struggle 
involved. 

In renaming himself Lord Voldemort - and renouncing his real name - 
Tom Riddle is seizing power for himself. Nobody makes him a Lord - he 
just takes the title for himself. "Voldemort" sounds scary. (If he'd 
called himself "Mr Bunny" I doubt he would have had half the impact 
as an Evil Overlord.) Over the years the power of that name increases 
(and I do apologise for referring to yet another non-HP-canon here, 
please consider that it is 1am and I should be asleep - like when 
Westley in "The Princess Bride" attacks another ship, introduces 
himself as Westley, and everyone laughs - he has to call himself The 
Dread Pirate Roberts to have any effect). By calling LV "Tom", then, 
DD is taking all his power away from him, or at least threatening it.

Also, I think it's worth remembering that Tom Riddle is LV's 
childhood name - by using it, as well as with his reactions, DD 
belittles Voldie completely. LV shouts and is angry and throws curses 
around like a three-year-old. DD strolls about the place, calmly 
deflecting curses as if LV was throwing toy cars at him. Once again, 
it's about power. It's like DD is saying "Right, that's enough now, 
Tommy, time to stop playing, or no sweeties for you". Following on 
from this point, by using the name "Tom", DD invalidates Tom Riddle's 
claim that he is this big scary evil guy - it's an accusation of 
pretence.

One last point, then. From UK edition, page718:

" 'You do not seek to kill me, Dumbledore?' called Voldemort, his 
scarlet eyes narrowed over the top of the shield. 'Above such 
brutality, are you?'

'We both know there are other ways of destroying a man, Tom,' 
Dumbledore said calmly [...] 'Merely taking your life would not 
satisfy me, I admit -' "

IMO, these are not the words of someone who wants to try and redeem 
their opponent. They are the words of someone who wants to prove 
their power. DD's saying that killing LV isn't the worst thing he 
could do - and that whatever _is_ the worst thing, he is capable of 
doing and would be perfectly happy to do. This might not even be 
true - maybe DD has no plan whatsoever - but he's the most powerful 
one in the situation. 

It's all about power, I tell you.

Just a thought. ;-)

~ Martha, who wants to be an Evil Overlord when she grows up