I don’t think it happens a lot, because I don’t think such ironic offers are made very often. The reason for Voldemort to say what he said was to be prideful and cruel, to make Lily feel how futile her sacrifice would be. In the heat of the moment, in his cruelty, he might not have thought of the magical significance of verbally accepting such a bargain. If indeed this theory is correct, his first fall was a result of his hubris, which fits his character well; and it also fits his character well for him to have learned from it and to not make the same mistake again in the future.
I’m not married to this theory. I’d put it at maybe 50% or 55% confidence? But it seems clear to me that Voldemort made some large mistake that night, because no explanation I’ve seen for Voldemort willingly stopping his war in 1981 holds any water at all.
But it seems clear to me that Voldemort made some large mistake that night, because no explanation I’ve seen for Voldemort willingly stopping his war in 1981 holds any water at all.
Still… one of the very first lessons of Quirrel was about pretending to lose when that gained you more than fighting would.
Granted that Voldemort back then was seen to be winning. But he was winning a war we still don’t know his motivations for starting in the first place...
because no explanation I’ve seen for Voldemort willingly stopping his war in 1981 holds any water at all.
True, no explanation offered so far explains it convincingly, but I don’t see the idea that an Avada Kedavra bounced off a baby holding any water either.
I don’t think it happens a lot, because I don’t think such ironic offers are made very often. The reason for Voldemort to say what he said was to be prideful and cruel, to make Lily feel how futile her sacrifice would be. In the heat of the moment, in his cruelty, he might not have thought of the magical significance of verbally accepting such a bargain. If indeed this theory is correct, his first fall was a result of his hubris, which fits his character well; and it also fits his character well for him to have learned from it and to not make the same mistake again in the future.
I’m not married to this theory. I’d put it at maybe 50% or 55% confidence? But it seems clear to me that Voldemort made some large mistake that night, because no explanation I’ve seen for Voldemort willingly stopping his war in 1981 holds any water at all.
Still… one of the very first lessons of Quirrel was about pretending to lose when that gained you more than fighting would.
Granted that Voldemort back then was seen to be winning. But he was winning a war we still don’t know his motivations for starting in the first place...
True, no explanation offered so far explains it convincingly, but I don’t see the idea that an Avada Kedavra bounced off a baby holding any water either.