The Classic Mistakes of an Evil Overlord

[Finnegan]

AKA Is it just me or is Voldemort just INCREDIBLY STUPID?

No, really - he is! So incredibly stupid! The trophy thing, right? You'd think that someone with half a good brain would figure out that you shouldn't hide bits of your soul as Really Significant Objects. People are bound to find them that way. And, if they are so inclined, destroy them. No, bits of your soul should be hidden as really insignificant objects. But instead Voldemort goes and gives in to his weakness and makes them Really Significant And Easy To Find. Personally, I think it's all the inbreeding taking its toll on poor Tom's brain.

My point is - is there such a point where the Evil Overlord just makes too many of the classic Evil Overlord mistakes? A point where it just gets too obvious, and you start wondering how he got to be the Evil Overlord in the first place, when he's that stupid? Because in my opinion, Voldemort's been making a lot of them lately - but what do you think?

[Nimue]

No, I totally agree. Its the whole megalomaniac thing. They become completely about themselves and their own importance and so don't realize their own stupidity.

That would be why bad guys always get their comupance in the end. Old moldy voldy is going to get beaten by a HS kid. How pathetic is that. :D

[Tonks]

Pretty Pathetic - LOL..

Dumbledore actually thought along the same lines. He said that if Voldemort had ignored the prophecy and was not so obsessed with hunting Harry, he never would have marked him as his equal and none of it would ever have came true. I believe he said something about how he created his own worst enemy too..

Talk about way too obsessed with power..

The funniest thing is that you know he won't stop hunting Harry and as such it will be impossible for Harry to escape the prophecy while Voldemort sets so much by it.. :rolleyes: Stupid power hungry lords..

[anthony]

for some reason i dont agree. as i see it locket or tin can it will be found.
especialy that if you did have half a brain you would have enchantments up the wazzo keeping it safe and as dumbledore said magic leaves traces

keeping that in mind dumbledore and harry still had to do a ton of leg work getting memories ect. just to peace togather his true intentions had they not don an obscene ammount of work they would not be close to victory at all

[Snuffles]

LMAO. The way you put it into your words.. it's so funny!! :D
I agree with Tonks that Dumbledore sort of said the same stuffs when he was talking with Harry. The evil ones bring, even make, their own dooms.

As much as it is funny when it is put in your words, I kind of have to agree with Voldemort that I wouldn't really want to hide my bit of soul (yes, soul!) into a piece of... cardboard or something. I wouldn't want people to notice it, but I wouldn't want to have it in a shabby place. And we all know how stuckup Tom Riddle was! What if it was put into a piece of tin can, like Anthony says over there, and sombody kicks it down the hill, and is crushed by a car or something? see? LOL.

[Alz]

LOL - Finny you certainly have a way with words ... and to be honest I have to totally agree ..

It seems very unlike JKR to be so obvious - but Riddle/Voldemort does seem to follow the path that seems to personify an 'evil' character ..
I think if he had a moustache you would see a scene where he was twisting it ...
And yah - agreed once again, you have these classic moments where he just does the stereotypical 'evil genius' moments ...
Like when he had Harry in GoF - instead of AK and be done with him - he swans around talking to the DE's and Harry.. kinda makes you scream 'just kill him and be done with it!'
It reminds me of US horror - screams coming from a house - what do you do - get in your car and don't look back - or feel the strange compulsion to go see what it was :rolleyes:
I suppose in essence these are kids books and so you have to accept some parts are going to be painfully obvious and stereotypical ... the rest seems to make up for it ...

[Boing]

Agreed with Nimue - megalomaniac. Very narcissistic character. As are all evil overlords. Your post made me think of the movie, The Incredibles, where the little evil guy is talking to Mr. Incredible, discussing all his plans, and he says, "oh man! I can't believe you got me monologuing!" Typical evil overlord stuff.

But, as was said, he is so incredibly stuck on himself and his abilities that he thinks that only these "special objects" will suffice. A fitting tribute. Nothing else will do to showcase how special he is. And talking in front of the DEs - how could he resist? All of his efforts pre-AK paid off. He triumphed over death. He had to talk about it - had to brag.

It's not just stereotypical fiction, however. It also reminds me of real-life serial killers who send clues to the police. They can't help showing off how intelligent they are and how they can elude the detectives. Of course, it usually leads to their downfall, but they truly cannot help it.

[Piper]

That Ego will get you everytime.