Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Characters/Tom Riddle Sr.
| Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter - Character | |
| Tom Riddle | |
|---|---|
| Gender | Male |
| Hair color | Unknown |
| Eye color | Unknown |
| Related Family | Tom Marvolo Riddle |
| Loyalty | Riddle Manor |
Overview
[edit | edit source]Tom Riddle is a Muggle and heir to the Manor House in the town of Little Hangleton. He is the husband of Merope Gaunt and father to Tom Marvolo Riddle, who later becomes Lord Voldemort.
Role in the Books
[edit | edit source]We find that Voldemort's real name is Tom Marvolo Riddle, and that he hates the fact that he is the son of the Muggle Tom Riddle. Young Riddle refers to the elder Riddle as "my filthy Muggle father".
In a flashback, we learn that Tom Riddle and his Muggle parents - Voldemort's grandparents - had died mysteriously some fifty years earlier. The gardener, Frank Bryce, had been suspected at the time, but had been released without charge. The old Riddle Manor had been not much tenanted since. We learn that Voldemort, and his assistant Wormtail, have taken up residence in the house.
Some of Tom Riddle's bone is extracted from his grave in Little Hangleton as part of the spell and potion that re-embody Lord Voldemort. Harry sees that his headstone simply reads TOM RIDDLE.
In memories which Albus Dumbledore shows Harry, we discover that some sixty years before, Merope Gaunt had been infatuated with Tom Riddle, who spent most of his time riding around the estate with his love interest Cecilia.
When her brother and father were imprisoned in Azkaban, Merope, apparently used a love potion to ensnare Tom Riddle, take him to London, and convince him to marry her. She then somehow lost (or more likely relinquished) control over him, upon which he left her, returning to Little Hangleton.
Merope died bearing his son, whom she left at an orphanage, naming him Tom Marvolo Riddle for his Muggle father and Wizard grandfather.
Strengths
[edit | edit source]As the heir to a local estate, Riddle led a fairly comfortable life with plenty of money and home comforts. It was mentioned at one point that his family owned most of the land around Little Hangleton. He is also shown to have been an accomplished horse rider.
Whether or not this is a strength is a point for discussion, but Riddle is mentioned as being exceptionally handsome and attractive. He passes these good looks on to his son.
Weaknesses
[edit | edit source]Riddle was, overall, not a very nice man. It is mentioned in the text that many residents of Little Hangleton are not fond of him or his family. His disdain for others is shown by having him had leave his wife Merope, despite her pregnancy, and returning to his old life. He could be scornful, as shown when he laughed at Bob Ogden.
He was concerned with keeping up appearances and claimed to have been hoodwinked by Merope as opposed to having eloped with her (which he actually did). This is a preoccupation shown in other unpleasant characters such as Aunt Petunia and her family.
He was, of course, killed by his son, but as the younger Riddle had powerful magic, this cannot be seen as a weakness. He would have never really had much of a chance.
Relationships with Other Characters
[edit | edit source]Riddle was a member of the Riddle family and heir to the family estate through his Muggle parents. He showed little affection for anyone, with the exception of his girlfriend Cecilia.
He was, for a time, married to Merope, who had fallen in love with him. Together they are the parents of Tom Jr.
Analysis
[edit | edit source]Tom Riddle Sr. is introduced to us as a kind of Chekhov's gun - he is first mentioned in Chamber of Secrets and yet we do not see him until Half-Blood Prince. Even then, due to his death decades earlier, all we get are small snatches of memory.
He plays a relatively small part in the saga but nevertheless an important one. Hoodwinked or not, it was his actions which precipitated the death of Merope, and the young Riddle having been raised in an orphanage. His son is the main villain and primary antagonist.
It is interesting to consider why Tom Jr. killed Riddle, and his Muggle grandparents, when he was much more lenient with his wizarding uncle Morfin, Stunning him and implanting false memories but never actually killing him. Nevertheless, he killed the Riddle family remorselessly, partially in revenge, and partially to create his first Horcrux, using the Peverell ring, which he got from Morfin.
Questions
[edit | edit source]
- Where do you think Riddle and Merope went when they eloped? Why not stay in Little Hangleton?
- Why did Riddle leave Merope, even when she was pregnant with his child?
- Imagine a future where Tom Jr. had been raised by his father in Little Hangleton. Would he have still become Voldemort? Why or why not?
Greater Picture
[edit | edit source]We will note that, despite the fact that Lord Voldemort hates Muggles and everything to do with them - including his own Muggle father - and would do everything to distance himself from the Riddle family, there are still some similarities in character between him and his father Tom Riddle.
They are both unpleasant, they are both disdainful to those whom they consider beneath them (the poor, in Riddle's case; Muggles, in Voldemort's), they are both concerned with race, with Riddle being heir to a vast estate. They both have a slightly over-confident opinion of themselves, and neither is shown to be particularly popular or have friends.
While not particularly important, we will make one final noteː the local landowner in rural England is often known as the lord, whether or not they actually have a title or peerage. Riddle may have considered himself as such, and his son certainly does - he is Lord Voldemort.