Levels and contradictions in JKR's writing ( was Re: It's over, Snape is evil )

[Rachel Ellington]

No: HPFGUIDX 138387

Deb wrote: 
No matter how emotionally abusive and 
physically neglectful they were, growing up in a family setting  was a darn sight more that what TR got at the orphanage.


I have to disagree with you on this one Deb.  I think it is far worse to be emotionally abused by your family, people who SHOULD love you, but don't.  We are agreeing that "stock" is an important part of the outcome of Harry and LV's lives. But JKR is providing us with foils in Harry and LV who have similar beginnings.  If genetics/bad blood were the only reason for Riddle's demise, then why doesn't the same argument hold for Sirius Black?  He was raised by a "dark" family-yet he turns out different.  Maybe is is a simple matter of some people are good, some are not, regardless of familial or genetic influence.  At this point, the picutre of LV is incomplete (for me).  A man driven by fear of death becomes the most powerful dark wizard...

Of course, the beauty of life is we all bring our backgrounds and ideas to form our opinions...

Rachel