Comparisons & contrasts re: DD, Snape and LV

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 179131

> zgirnius:
> Well, the revelations about Dumbledore certainly did show some 
> commonality with Tom Riddle, in terms of secrecy, some common 
> interests, and asking a lot of their followers. On the other hand,
> the big difference I always suspected, is still there. Dumbledore's
> understanding of those followers is light-years beyond Voldemort's,
> and it is because of his ability to empathize and his understanding
> of 'the power of love'. Dumbledorealso, IMO, does have genuine 
> affection for other people, something of which Riddle is incapable.

Jen: I agree with all the differences you mention. I meant more that 
the differences between the two were highlighted for 6 books, then 
the big 'aha' moment was about the similarities they had.  Personally 
I didn't suspect DD & LV would have much in common by the end of DH, 
that instead new information would solidify DD in his role of the 
Good one instead of him taking a walk on the dark side in DH. Or that 
he would be revealed as *gasp* Machievellian (I'm still recovering 
from that announcement by JKR).  I realize others read that coming a 
mile away, but I didn't believe DD would be called a puppetmaster in 
the final analysis.

Zara: 
> There has also been, though you did not mention it, a 
> comparison/contrast of Snape to Voldemort, made most explicit at
> the end of HBP when Harry comments on the similarities between 
> their chosen names. Of the four central half-blood characters, they
> are the two with Muggle fathers and witch mothers, both sets
> unhappily married. (Harry and Dumbledore, also half-bloods, are
> both children of Muggleborn mothers). The DH revelations prove (to 
> me anyway) that these two characters were always more different
> than similar. <snip>


Jen: Come to think of it, the paragraph you're talking about in HBP 
might be interesting to look at in light of DH.  I'm thinking of this 
section: 'Yeah that fits,' said Harry. 'He'd played up the pure-blood 
side so he could get in with Lucius Malfoy and the rest of 
them...he's just like Voldemort.  Pure-blood mother, Muggle 
father...ashamed of his parentage, trying to make himself feared 
using the Dark Arts, gave himself an impressive new name - *Lord* 
Voldemort - the Half-Blood *Prince* - how could Dumbledore have 
missed -? ' (chap. 30, p. 594, UK ed.)

There's not much in DH for why Snape was accepted in Slytherin and 
became part of the DE crowd as a half-blood.  Maybe it was only the 
dark arts connection as mentioned in Prince's Tale, but the Half-
blood Prince moniker says there was something going on for Snape re: 
his heritage.  Was the Half-Blood Prince name meant to be Snape 
playing up his pure-blood side?  Was he indeed 'ashamed' of his 
parentage?  Now I'm wondering just how much of Harry's analysis above 
is accurate for Snape's story since there wasn't much in DH to 
explain the time between Lucius patting him on the back when he's 
sorted, and Snape later becoming part of the young DEs with 
Mulciber/Avery.  
  
Jen