Re: An Exercise in Sugarcoating Voldy’s Blunderings

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 126984


John wrote:
<snip>
We're most of us pretty scornful of Voldy's efforts so far. Four 
times, now, he's allowed a teenage boy to escape his slippery 
coils and, basically, lost all credibility where it comes to this 
evil overlord caper. 
 
So can one put forth a defense of him, capable of standing up to 
the rigorous scrutiny of the HPFGU council of elders (and anyone 
else whose interested)?
<snip>

Hannah:  Well done on a great post!  It's nice to see there are ways 
of making LV's 'CartoonOverlord' blunders seem a bit more 
believable.

Alla:

I agree. Great post, John. Unfortunately I stay not very convinced 
of Voldy's believability. It is probably not even Voldy's actions, 
because those ARE actions of evil ... person ( or not even person 
now, somebody). I think it is simply the way Voldy is written.
The way he talks, the way he indeed wants to show off in Graveyard 
that he is stronger than Harry.

When I read about Voldy, I have to forcefully remind myself every 
time  that I am reading about Evil with the capital "E". I need to 
feel the character and I definitely don't FEEL Voldy's evil. I have 
to admit Tom's speech to Harry was a little chilling, but that is 
about it.

It had been said that Voldy's great asset was to make people to turn 
against each other like Sirius and Remus did for example. I want to 
know MORE about it, I want to know HOW Voldy achieved of all that. I 
want to see him as great manipulator of  good guys,when he gets his 
hold on them.

I want to be scared of Voldy. So far, I am definitely not. I know 
what he did, murders he committed, but that is as if his actions and 
the character itself, the emotional impact  from the character exist 
separately in my mind.

 

Hanna:
I think his main problem is constant underestimation of Harry.  The 
first time, at Godric's Hollow, he can be forgiven.  He 
went in, blasted his way through, and (assuming it was an AK he used 
on Harry) got caught out when an unblockable, irreversible spell 
rebounded on him.
 
I think his worst error is really the graveyard.  
 <SNIP>

Alla:

I am really of two minds as to Graveyard scene. On one hand - Harry 
suffers for real here and he suffers with Voldie being present on 
the scene, so I can empathise.  I can also buy Voldie not knowing 
about Priori and the appearance of the ghosts. All together - not 
too bad.

What I find incredibly stupid is Voldie desire to duel with Harry, 
just as John said. One Avada - and that is it - no Harry, no problem 
for Voldy. Especially in light of Prophecy and Voldy knowing only 
first part of it.

I also wish JKR would change his speech patterns. :)


Just my opinion of course,

Alla