Why So Afraid of Death

[Diana]

No: HPFGUIDX 134038

Witherwings <flyballcairn at b...> wrote:
> In pondering HBP, I find myself wondering why Voldemort was so 
afraid of dying?  Even as an 11 year old, he seemed to have this 
fear.  Just because his mother died and left him an orphan?  Maybe.  
But it seems like there should be a more deep-seated reason why he 
should so fear death.


Diana replies:

I was thinking about this as well.  Why is Voldemort so afraid of 
death?  I think I may know the answer to this one.  To Voldemort, 
death is a human weakness, meant only for muggles and the weak-
willed, weak-minded and the unworthy.  Only weak, worthless, un-
special people ever die in Voldemort's mind.  He has a very high 
opinion of himself and regards himself as the most powerful, most 
fabulous wizard who ever lived, so if he were to die, then he'd be 
just like everyone else.  Well, Voldemort can't have that!  To die 
is just so common in his opinion.   

That's why Dumbledore was so disdainful of Riddle's door needing 
blood to open, because it's so obvious for anyone who knows 
Voldemort.  Voldemort regards any weakness or injury as beneath him, 
he's just too *special* to ever do something so boringly mugglish 
like die. 

Don't forget that Tom Riddle despised his mother for a long time 
because he thought that she must have been a muggle because she 
succombed to death and left him all alone.  When he found out that 
his dad was the muggle - a muggle who hated magic and abandoned his 
witch mother, well, he probably rappelled lower down the cliffs of 
insanity on which he lives.  This also means that there is no one he 
cares for waiting for him on the other side of the veil, so, unlike 
Harry who would happily see his parents and Sirius again, Voldemort 
sees no reward in death.  

Diana L.