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Leaky Lounge > HP-Related Discussion: Diagon Alley > HP Book Discussion: Flourish and Blotts > Character Analysis: Notable Magical Names of our Time

 
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POLL: A mother's love, or abandonment of a child?, So ... who was in the wrong? Merope ... or Tom?
POLL: A mother's love, or abandonment of a child?
You cannot see the results of the poll until you have voted. Please login and cast your vote to see the results of this poll.
Total Votes: 397
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Narya
post Jun 6 2007, 04:21 PM
Post #21
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Location: The Marauder's Map never lies ...
Time for a new Notable Magical Names poll! thumbup.gif

Many thanks to nympheart, who gave the NMN Mods this idea a while ago in our Welcome thread ... smile.gif

QUOTE
That recent poll about the trio, the fight about Scabbers and Crookshanks and who was to blame is an interesting subject. And it reminded me of a similar dilema that I came across while reading HBP that's been nagging me for awhile now. This sort of ethical problem concerns Tom Riddle and Merope Gaunt and who the one in the wrong in their relationship. Tom left Merope while she was pregnant, but Merope used love potion to get him to marry her in the first place. Another interesting point is opinions on who suffered more for the experience. Is it possible for there to be a poll on this topic at some point in the future? Thanks!

nympheart


So ... we have our topic, and we have nympheart's introduction, setting the poll in context with its central issue of an ethical dilemma. Let's theorise on what this means for the characters at the centre of the question ... type.gif




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Bellona
post Jun 11 2007, 11:55 PM
Post #22
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Okay. This was a fantastic poll, firstly.
Merope should be pitied definitely. She had absolutely no concept of normal human relationships. With no basis for love or family how should she know that drugging someone into marriage was wrong? That time away from her family must have been the best time of her life. And to think she began to truly believe Tom loved her too...
And because of her ignorance I don't think she should be blamed at all. I know that seems shocking. At all? If you were to adopt a dog and beat it, starve, berate it, would you blame it for becoming vicious? I know Merope wasn't a dog, but was she treated much better? More pity. I want to hug her.
Of course she loved baby Voldey. Though maybe the thought of him was making her even more heartbroken...hm...
Tom Jr. would have been half her and half her love. He would bond them together forever, even if Sr. did leave. Plus, that whole mommy thing...natural instinct...I know nothing of it. I can only assume.
And, finally, Tom Sr. should not be blamed. I mean, he was kind of a jerk about the whole thing, but how would he know Merope would die and leave Jr parentless? I know it's still wrong to abandon a baby, but, really, that would be too much to wrap one's brain around. Witch? Love potion? WHO ARE YOU?!?! BABY!?!?!
Dude, I'd so be out of there.
I wonder what would have happened if Merope was able to hold on long enough for the orphanage ladies to give her a bit of care and compassion. ponder.gif

I think Voldemort used his father's bone because it was part of the ritual. I don't think he devised it himself; I doubt he'd find there to be any power in his father's remains.
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Posts in this topic
- Narya   POLL: A mother's love, or abandonment of a child?   Jun 6 2007, 04:21 PM
- - Smullyan_for_DD   QUOTE(nympheart @ Jun 9 2007, 12:39 PM) 1...   Jun 9 2007, 01:04 PM
- - PAM2002   OK-Definitely Merope started it, so much of the bl...   Jun 9 2007, 08:51 PM
- - sn63   QUOTEDo you think Merope loved her baby, or not? I...   Jun 10 2007, 12:27 PM
- - Smullyan_for_DD   QUOTE(sn63 @ Jun 10 2007, 01:27 PM) 12493...   Jun 10 2007, 01:32 PM
- - BettyB   To me Merope was a very traumatized girl who tried...   Jun 11 2007, 01:19 PM
- - Fuzzy Leprechaun   Merope was probably not very bright. Her Father be...   Jun 13 2007, 06:20 PM
- - Overcast   There was really no relationship between them. It ...   Jun 16 2007, 12:02 AM
- - Mary Wanguard   This is a great poll! And yet very... tricky (...   Jun 21 2007, 01:08 PM
- - harrycrazed   well that was a good quiz. very intresting questio...   Jun 22 2007, 07:06 PM
|- - harry'sonlywife   QUOTE(harrycrazed @ Jun 22 2007, 08:06 PM...   Aug 24 2007, 12:26 PM
- - red pen   First of all, Merope Gaunt should not have used a ...   Jun 23 2007, 09:13 AM
- - oneforhufflepuff   I guess I look at it this way- two wrongs don...   Jun 24 2007, 11:59 PM
|- - Chocolatl   QUOTE(oneforhufflepuff @ Jun 24 2007, 11...   Jun 28 2007, 04:56 PM
- - SilentlySpellbound   I think Merope was wrong, I dont think she really ...   Jun 25 2007, 07:24 AM
- - harrycrazed   i think they were both in the wrong and that they ...   Jun 25 2007, 08:23 AM
- - RAVENKLAW   I think that Tom Riddle Sr. should not have left M...   Jun 29 2007, 10:09 AM
- - hpfangirl208   I think that they were almost doomed from the star...   Jun 30 2007, 01:17 PM
- - Magical_Hippy   Good poll... You can't blame Tom Riddle Sr. fo...   Jul 6 2007, 07:51 PM
- - unicorn_lover   I don't blame Merope too much because it's...   Jul 7 2007, 02:14 AM
- - iswearimawitch   great poll, im not sure what to think there are wr...   Jul 12 2007, 08:44 AM
- - Iamtall89   Merope was in the wrong for giving the love potion...   Jul 13 2007, 06:54 PM
- - Domoor   Using love potions is to love what EPO is to profe...   Jul 14 2007, 03:14 AM
|- - Chocolatl   QUOTE(Domoor @ Jul 14 2007, 03:14 AM) 130...   Jul 15 2007, 04:04 PM
|- - Domoor   QUOTE(Chocolatl @ Jul 15 2007, 11:04 PM) ...   Jul 16 2007, 01:42 PM
|- - Chocolatl   QUOTE(Domoor @ Jul 16 2007, 01:42 PM) 131...   Jul 17 2007, 07:02 PM
|- - Domoor   QUOTE(Chocolatl @ Jul 18 2007, 02:02 AM) ...   Jul 19 2007, 01:45 PM
- - mrscole   Marope was wrong in using a love potion only I thi...   Jul 15 2007, 02:15 PM
- - zoedoll   I'm inclined to blame Marvolo Gaunt for making...   Jul 17 2007, 05:31 AM
- - luna_sparkle   Like iswearimawitch said, there's right and wr...   Jul 17 2007, 07:17 AM
- - mad_nose_moody90   1. Merope was wrong to use a love potion on Tom Ri...   Jul 17 2007, 08:36 AM
- - starry-eyedd   I don't think the fact is that Merope did not ...   Jul 17 2007, 04:20 PM
- - Mary Wanguard   QUOTE(Chocolatl @ Jul 17 2007, 07:02 PM) ...   Jul 18 2007, 04:16 AM
- - Pleione   I agree with Mary Wanguard. Tom Sr. was robbed of ...   Jul 18 2007, 11:04 AM
- - matilda   Also have to agree with Pleione and Mary Wanguard-...   Jul 19 2007, 11:34 AM
- - Mellynnf   I think Merope was not mentally stable. She was s...   Jul 19 2007, 06:19 PM
- - Mary Wanguard   QUOTE(Mellynnf @ Jul 19 2007, 06:19 PM) 1...   Jul 20 2007, 05:38 AM
- - Amanita   I voted, but it's not an either/or situation. ...   Jul 29 2007, 07:52 AM
- - Pleione   JKR was asked during her webchat about about LV be...   Jul 30 2007, 09:16 AM
|- - morgiana   QUOTE(Pleione @ Jul 30 2007, 07:16 AM) JK...   Sep 15 2007, 06:23 PM
- - 2GoldenWings   Bad situation for all concerned. Merope was abuse...   Aug 8 2007, 11:09 PM
- - beatlette   I think Merope is to blame for the relationship, w...   Aug 19 2007, 02:24 PM
|- - medianoche   QUOTE(beatlette @ Aug 19 2007, 03:24 PM) ...   Aug 19 2007, 05:26 PM
|- - beatlette   QUOTE(medianoche @ Aug 19 2007, 06:26 PM)...   Aug 19 2007, 08:26 PM
- - AzraelSmurfCatcher   Good questions! I think Merope is at fault be...   Aug 19 2007, 08:55 PM
- - Siriusly Snape Obsession   In the relationship between Tom Riddle Snr. and Me...   Aug 26 2007, 04:05 PM
- - S¡r¡us   As to how the relationship between Merope and Tom ...   Aug 27 2007, 08:01 PM
- - lupinwandcaster   The last question didn't make sense, it was as...   Aug 31 2007, 09:44 PM
- - luvsNMsYomi182   I believe just because Merope used a love potion.....   Sep 1 2007, 11:50 AM
- - Bradley   Merope was int he wrong for making Tom Riddle Sr. ...   Sep 5 2007, 06:48 PM
- - snowowl68   1.Merope was wrong to use love potion and deserves...   Sep 6 2007, 01:31 PM
- - _pureblood_   1: Merope was in the wrong, but what she did is un...   Sep 15 2007, 06:38 PM
|- - tinagin   QUOTE(_pureblood_ @ Sep 15 2007, 07:38 PM...   Oct 22 2007, 06:57 PM
- - fred93   so that's how I voted and why 1- I voted for o...   Sep 15 2007, 09:13 PM
- - harrmione55   Merope was in the wrong. No one can force someone ...   Sep 15 2007, 10:14 PM
- - Alraune   I feel a bit uncomfortable in saying that Merope...   Oct 21 2007, 12:03 PM
- - tonksgirl   this is how i voted, and the reasons why (plz be a...   Oct 21 2007, 12:24 PM
- - Puzzlepiece   I think it was the fault of both and had a hard ti...   Oct 21 2007, 04:57 PM
- - SortingHat47   Hello. I'm new to the Leaky Cauldron, but I...   Oct 22 2007, 04:18 PM
- - thewomanwithparasol   I think Merope was strongly in the wrong. But I st...   Oct 23 2007, 01:45 PM
- - Love4Fawkes   1. Merope tricked Tom Riddle Sr. into falling in ...   Oct 23 2007, 08:33 PM
|- - script_ed   QUOTE(Love4Fawkes @ Oct 23 2007, 08:33 PM...   Oct 28 2007, 12:41 AM
- - hagridlurveshappyhour   Merope was 100% in the wrong. Reverse the position...   Oct 24 2007, 06:22 AM
- - Thegoodwitch   Merope should have never gave Tom love potion... a...   Oct 24 2007, 10:43 AM
- - 2tal   Merope was the girl child in an abusive patriarcha...   Oct 24 2007, 02:56 PM
- - Rosetart   Merope was wrong to trick Tom Riddle with a potion...   Oct 26 2007, 07:03 AM
- - huebbe   Hi! *Wanders in from Lily and Stag* Funny, I...   Oct 26 2007, 12:57 PM
|- - Pleione   QUOTE(huebbe @ Oct 26 2007, 01:57 PM) Mer...   Oct 26 2007, 02:04 PM
- - huebbe   QUOTE(Pleione @ Oct 26 2007, 12:04 PM) I ...   Oct 26 2007, 09:16 PM
- - adsjv1   Merope is a tragic figure. Her behavior is clearl...   Oct 27 2007, 11:46 PM
- - TalyaJ   A Mother's love or Abandonement of a child? W...   Oct 31 2007, 08:23 PM
- - ickle_snuffles23   This is just my opinion: I think Merope was wrong ...   Nov 27 2007, 09:48 PM
- - KrystalL   Well my opinions are this: Who's fault was it...   Dec 7 2007, 09:33 PM
- - The Round-Faced Boy   I'll just answer the questions in order. 1. I...   Dec 30 2007, 01:51 AM
- - Nath3   First I think, we are wrong if we say that Voldemo...   Jan 3 2008, 05:05 AM
- - patricia.potter19   I voted: Merope, Not sure, No, Pitied, Yes.   Feb 13 2008, 06:22 PM
- - kreachers army   Wow i find it hard to comprehend why people think ...   Feb 13 2008, 06:30 PM
|- - Pleione   QUOTE(kreachers army @ Feb 13 2008, 06:30...   Feb 14 2008, 04:24 PM
|- - harrydavid   QUOTE(Pleione @ Feb 14 2008, 05:24 PM) I...   Feb 14 2008, 06:29 PM
- - priestess101   I think that merope was in the wrong she enslaved ...   Feb 14 2008, 04:01 PM
- - Antonija   For first thing Merope like her baby very much. If...   Feb 14 2008, 05:02 PM
- - KerriB   Merope could've bought some potions to make he...   Feb 14 2008, 06:47 PM
- - midzy   here are my answers: 1.) In the relationship betw...   Sep 5 2009, 01:17 AM
- - wickedboy   1. In the relationship between Tom Riddle Snr. an...   Sep 5 2009, 01:39 AM
- - _amanda_   1) Merope. Tom Riddle never intended to be in a r...   Sep 5 2009, 05:30 AM
- - violetpotter   I think Merope is to blame for their failed relati...   Oct 1 2009, 05:39 PM
- - GaryPotter   Lets spin the situation around 180 degrees. Lets ...   Oct 2 2009, 12:00 PM
|- - midzy   QUOTE(GaryPotter @ Oct 3 2009, 01:00 AM) ...   Oct 2 2009, 10:56 PM
- - Silvia_CMC   With the focus of discussion being how "Riddl...   Oct 2 2009, 11:30 PM
- - wickedboy   Why would Tom Sr. help raise the child? Many wome...   Oct 22 2009, 09:40 PM
|- - fidelia   QUOTE(wickedboy @ Oct 22 2009, 10:40 PM) ...   Oct 22 2009, 10:00 PM
- - GaryPotter   My mind is foggy and grey (it’s time for a re-read...   Oct 23 2009, 12:33 PM
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