Voldemort’s distinctive, almost snake-like appearance is described as a consequence of his deeply corrupted soul and his heavy use of dark magic, especially his creation of Horcruxes. As his soul became more fractured, his body reflected that corruption, turning increasingly inhuman over time. The change is not just cosmetic; it symbolizes his moral decay and ruthless nature. Key points about why his look changes:
- Horcruxes and soul separation: Each Horcrux splits the soul further, which hardens his humanity and manifests as physical deformity. This is emphasized in the books as his appearance becomes more monstrous the more horcruxes he creates.
- Dark magic’s effects: Extreme and prolonged use of dark arts is described as warping the body, aligning with his transformation into a more reptilian, skeletal form.
- Symbolic ties to snakes: Voldemort’s affinity with snakes ( Parseltongue, snake imagery, Slytherin lineage) reinforces the serpent-like features that appear as he regains a body and grows more dangerous.
If you’d like, I can pull exact quotes from the books or summarize each film’s depiction to show how the description evolves across the series.
