The Dark Path to Ugliness: How Voldemort’s Choices Eroded His Humanity

The transformation of Tom Marvolo Riddle, also known as Lord Voldemort, from a handsome and charismatic young man to a grotesque and monstrous figure is a complex narrative deeply rooted in the choices he made and the dark magic he embraced. This transformation reflects not only his physical deterioration but also the profound moral decay that followed his pursuit of immortality and power.

Horcrux Creation: Splitting the Soul

One of the key factors in Voldemort's transformation was his quest for immortality through the creation of Horcruxes. Horcruxes are dark artifacts that contain a piece of a person's soul, intended to allow for the creator to achieve immortality by splitting their soul and storing it in multiple objects. Each time Voldemort created a Horcrux, a piece of his soul was removed from his body, leading to a profound loss of his humanity and physical appearance. This act of dark magic fundamentally altered him, accelerating his descent into inhumanity.

Dark Magic's Toll: The Body Reflected the Soul

The extensive use of dark magic took a significant toll on Voldemort's physical form. As he delved deeper into the dark arts, his body became a reflection of his corrupted soul. The more he engaged with dark forces, the more monstrous he became. The body that once was handsome and controlled by a whole, coherent soul now bore the marks of a corrupted and fractured being.

Rejection of Humanity: Power Over Death

Voldemort's desire for power and his fear of death led him to reject his humanity. This rejection manifested physically, as he distanced himself from any traits of normal human appearance or behavior, emphasizing his inhumanity. His journey from a charismatic and respected figure to a feared and reviled one is a testament to how his choices eroded his human qualities.

Serpent Influence: The Fiendish Legacy

After his resurrection, the influence of the Dark Lord resonated with images and associations of serpents, a symbol of evil and corruption. The serpent symbolizes the venom that permeated his very essence, further contributing to his inhuman appearance and the moral decay of his soul. Each Horcrux he created only deepened this corruption, making his physical form a living testament to the damage he inflicted on himself.

It should be noted that J.K. Rowling, the author of Harry Potter, was clearly drawing on the Dorian Gray character trope. However, she succumbed to the narrative limitations of this trope, producing a nuanced but ultimately one-dimensional portrayal of Voldemort's descent.

Conclusion: A Hollow Shell

The relentless pursuit of power and immortality through Horcruxes and dark magic led to the near-total loss of Voldemort's humanity. His appearance reflected the profound moral decay, and each Horcrux he created made him more inhuman. By the time he became the Dark Lord, his face and form were stark reminders of the damage he had done to himself and the essence of his being.