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September 11, 2026Short & citedBlog
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Screen & Stage • Literature

Lord Voldemort

Lord Voldemort is a fictional character in J.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

Lord Voldemort is the principal antagonist of J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, a dark wizard born Tom Marvolo Riddle. He appears first in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and leads the Death Eaters in pursuit of immortality and magical supremacy.

What it is

Voldemort serves as the central villain across the Harry Potter books and films. His character embodies the dark side of the wizarding world, opposing Harry Potter and everything he stands for. Voldemort is a powerful dark wizard obsessed with blood purity, and his presence drives the entire series' conflict.

Key details

Born Tom Marvolo Riddle, he is a direct descendant of Salazar Slytherin via his mother's family. During his school years at Hogwarts, he began his transformation into Lord Voldemort, creating Horcruxes to achieve immortality. He rose to power as leader of the Death Eaters and was finally defeated in the Battle of Hogwarts.

Why it matters

Voldemort represents themes of fear, prejudice, and the corrupting pursuit of power. His character allows Rowling to explore how a person can choose evil and the cost of rejecting compassion. The series has been widely read and viewed in Canada, making Voldemort one of the most recognizable literary villains among Canadian audiences.

In short

  • Voldemort is the main villain of the Harry Potter series.
  • His birth name is Tom Marvolo Riddle.
  • He is a descendant of Salazar Slytherin and leader of the Death Eaters.
  • He is known for dark magic, Horcruxes, and his obsession with immortality.
Canadian angle

The Harry Potter books and films have been widely read and viewed in Canada, and Voldemort is one of the franchise's most recognizable literary villains among Canadian audiences.

Quick questions

Who is Lord Voldemort?
He is the main antagonist of the Harry Potter series, a dark wizard originally named Tom Marvolo Riddle.
What is Voldemort's real name?
His birth name is Tom Marvolo Riddle.
What group did Voldemort lead?
He led the Death Eaters, a group devoted to his rule and ideology.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voldemort
    Supports: Voldemort's identity, role, first appearance, lineage, and characterization.
  2. Wikipedia — https://gl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Voldemort
    Supports: Principal antagonist role, first appearance, and blood-purity goals.
  3. Harry Potter Wiki — https://harrypotter.fandom.com/it/wiki/Tom_Riddle
    Supports: Birth name, dates, aliases, and final defeat.
  4. Wikiquote — https://it.wikiquote.org/wiki/Lord_Voldemort
    Supports: Creator attribution to J. K. Rowling.