Pity for Voldemort

[delwynmarch]

No: HPFGUIDX 104742

Alla wrote :
> I am wondering what would make me pity Tom. Because right now I 
> cannot think of him as anybody else, but very pathetic maniacal 
> murderer.
> 
> I suppose I have to see him doing some good, noble deeds. Ha! No, 
> talking more about his bad childhood is not enough for me.

Del replies :
It almost is for me.

First he's an orphan who was raised in an orphanage.

Second, he discovers (how ?) that his father denied his mother and let
her to die and their kid to rot, just because she was different.

Third, all the time he spends looking for the CoS makes me feel that
he was craving a feeling of *belonging*, of *family*. His own family
ceased to exist before he was even born, but Slytherin is willing to
take him on as his Heir.

Fourth, anger and hate often spring from pain and fear. How much pain
and fear did Tom have in his heart to be able to carry out his plan to
kill his father ? Most people just fantasize about killing someone
they hate, even Harry does. But it takes something more to actually go
and do it. Especially when it's a teenage boy going to kill his own
father that he's never met before.

So yes I pity Tom Riddle. I am aware that he was an arrogant prat, but
as many of us keep repeating about one or the other characters, he was
just a kid !

Del