Understanding why Tom is afraid of Dumbledore
I am currently interested in why Tom was afraid of Dumbledore after him leaving Hogwarts?
There is indeed practical reason; the possession of the Deathly Hollows, knowing about the Horcruxes, and knowing each of his next step (maybe through magical means)
But I think there is also more symbolical reason in the subtext of Harry Potter :
- First, Dumbledore is symbollicaly Death in Harry Potter I feel, so Voldemort fearing Death makes sense because as the first brother of the myth of the Deathly Hallows he is trying to overpass it.
- Second is more psychological, I think Dumbledore is not afraid of death at all. Since the death of Ariana I feel like Dumbledore actually want to be dead himself out culpability. It makes a strict imbalance in a possible duel, Dumbledore has nothing to loose, Voldemort does. And I can interpret his philosophy of the greater good through this lense. He can sacrifies pawns because he doesnt see his life as valuable himself. Compared to Harry who values each life as his own. Harry is morally different from Dumbledore precisely because Harry keeps individual attachment alive. Harry refuses to reduce people to strategy. That’s why Harry ultimately surpasses both Dumbledore and Voldemort.
What do you think?