Different Paths a Person Can Take in Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

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There are always different paths that a person can take, some too many to count and other just two choices. These paths decide and make us into who we are and who we will become. This difference is used in many works of art to express a meaning or a point. One of the best examples would the the Harry Potter novel series by J. K. Rowling. The Hero, Harry potter himself, and the Shadow or villain, Voldemort or Tom Riddle. They are similar by their blood statue, and treatment at the hands of muggles, and how people are drawn to them. But they differ by their morals and view towards muggles, and have a difference of people close to them.
The two of them were both used as polar opposites, led of the same start. They are born from different types of parents, but both are half-bloods. Harry was born from a muggle-born and a pureblood, and Tom on the other hand was born of a pureblood witch and a muggle. This similarity had emphasis put on it when they ‘shared’ the reason for Voldemort going after Harry instead of Neville Longbottom. It is never really said word for word, or explained by Voldemort himself, so it is just speculation at this point. But is is plausible that because Tom himself could get to be so powerful that a halfblood like himself could have the power to defeat him, as Neville was just another pureblood.
Though they have common backgrounds they have very opposing morals and outlooks on life. Voldemort believes that knowledge is power and that power is what allows you to control everything. He had become the number one student with some of the highest grades because he wanted to gain power not only in magic, but with his peers as well. Harry on the other hand is an average student, being mostly because he doesn't study ...

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...ircle are made up of those most loyal, but the strongest positive thing he can feel for them would be amusement. Severus was rewarded with a favor due to his good work, like he was a dog, not as a gift from a leader. Lucius was punished because he disobeyed, like a dog, not as a subordinate.
The layout of these characters are too symbolic and mirrored to be unintentional. It is a prime example of what fate and our choices can do and where they can lead us. Both with making our own path or a predestined course, which ever outlook you have it can apply. It is also a great way to insert cosmic irony and provide wonderful conflict in a tale. As they did in Harry Potter where Harry had a dilemma with how much he and Tom were alike. So if ever you are having trouble with a character development, nothing is better then the mirror paradox of the Hero and Shadow in the tale.

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