Resolving (?) the Riddle

[Renee]

No: HPFGUIDX 125001


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "naamagatus" <naama_gat at h...> 
wrote:

Naama: 
> Since reading OoP, I've come to (slowly) realize that the main
> questions in HP revolve, not Harry Potter, but Voldemort. Aftera 
all,
> JKR often signals the reader via names (Sirius Black, Remus Lupin,
> Dolores Umbridge, etc.) - surely "Riddle" must be significant?!

> we *know* that Voldemort is a being
> that is "divided in essence" - part human, part snake.
> 
> Thinking of Voldemort in this way - one person, two essences, it
> struck me quite forcefully how similar it is to the orthdox creed
> regarding Christ - that he is one person, but two natures - human 
and
> divine.
 

Renee:
<sorry to snip so much of this fascinating post>
I've got very little to add to this. But assuming that Riddle's 
first name, Tom, is indeed short for Thomas, it is another reference 
to the character's dual nature. IIRC, Thomas means "twin" in Aramaic 
(or Hebrew). So this would reinforce your analysis.   

Naama: 
 
> The theory of Voldemort was meant to be a "theory of everything". 
But
> while this prespective does reveal a coherent structure, I am still
> very unclear as to it's final significance:
> What does it *mean* that Voldemort is a dark Christ figure - when 
> the narrative is clearly about Harry?

Renee:
If you replace 'dark Christ' by anti-Christ, we would have a 
reference to the Apocalyps - another indication that the HP series 
is meant to be a piece of Christian literature about the ultimate 
battle between Good&Evil and Light&Darkness, and that Harry is a 
Christ figure. (I'm sure his family name, Potter, has come along 
repeatedly as a reference to God.) The old cosmic drama disguised as 
a book about a magical schoolboy.

Renee