I agree with ewbrownv’s theory in most particulars except for the part where Voldemort experiences a shift in personality post-Harry Potter. I think it more accurate to say that for a very long time it has been his goal to unite Magical Britain/Humanity under one leader who was capable of dealing with the threat posed by Muggles and Science. He initially tried to united them by force and fear, but has come to think that it would be easier/better to united them behind the much beloved Harry Potter, who he thinks he can control.
He initially tried to united them by force and fear, but has come to think that it would be easier/better to united them behind the much beloved Harry Potter,
This is the natural next step—he wants to become the éminence grise. I don’t like this either. It’s not faster. I don’t see any plausible way of Harry leading and unifying magical Britain within less than 5 years, and the world would take longer, and humanity even longer. So Quirrelmort loses a good 10 years or so (and remember, he’s already lost 11 years just to Harry growing old enough to enter Hogwarts). It may not be easier, since Quirrelmort has to expend a tremendous amount of effort to hide himself and plot circles around everyone. And better? He will forever be at Harry’s whims, which undoes a lot of Harry’s value as figurehead.
who he thinks he can control.
Indeed? I would hope that Quirrel by this point has been disabused of any notions that Harry is easy to control. I certainly have.
I don’t think he necessarily has to spend all 11 of those years just waiting, there’s plenty of other things for a plotter of his caliber to do in that time to advance their plans.
This probably mirrors Eliezer’s life too much, but he could have put world domination on hold while he learns more foolproof (or less destructive) methods of world domination.
I think there was a personality shift along with the change in strategy. Voldemort was too arrogant and power-hungry to be anything but the leader—he needed to learn to lose before he could be content to pursue his goals in this subtler way.
I agree with ewbrownv’s theory in most particulars except for the part where Voldemort experiences a shift in personality post-Harry Potter. I think it more accurate to say that for a very long time it has been his goal to unite Magical Britain/Humanity under one leader who was capable of dealing with the threat posed by Muggles and Science. He initially tried to united them by force and fear, but has come to think that it would be easier/better to united them behind the much beloved Harry Potter, who he thinks he can control.
This is the natural next step—he wants to become the éminence grise. I don’t like this either. It’s not faster. I don’t see any plausible way of Harry leading and unifying magical Britain within less than 5 years, and the world would take longer, and humanity even longer. So Quirrelmort loses a good 10 years or so (and remember, he’s already lost 11 years just to Harry growing old enough to enter Hogwarts). It may not be easier, since Quirrelmort has to expend a tremendous amount of effort to hide himself and plot circles around everyone. And better? He will forever be at Harry’s whims, which undoes a lot of Harry’s value as figurehead.
Indeed? I would hope that Quirrel by this point has been disabused of any notions that Harry is easy to control. I certainly have.
I don’t think he necessarily has to spend all 11 of those years just waiting, there’s plenty of other things for a plotter of his caliber to do in that time to advance their plans.
This probably mirrors Eliezer’s life too much, but he could have put world domination on hold while he learns more foolproof (or less destructive) methods of world domination.
I think there was a personality shift along with the change in strategy. Voldemort was too arrogant and power-hungry to be anything but the leader—he needed to learn to lose before he could be content to pursue his goals in this subtler way.