An Observational Study of the Boy Next Door
What is Tom Riddle?
1. Tom Riddle is the rich manor-owner's son, educated at all of the best schools in Europe, and he has more than his fair share of pretensions (that why she loves him).
2. Tom Riddle is the beau of Cecilia, the damsel with sprightly blond curls who rides on a dapple-gray horse (she has almost as many pretensions as he does).
3. Tom Riddle is the handsome and dark-haired man every girl dreams of meeting on a dank city corner, comforting and urbane, perpetually ready to offer a hand (or a coat, if it is windy, cold, or both).
4. Tom Riddle is the blind man, blind to the cross-eyed girl staring at him when he takes his daily walks (in other ways, his vision is perfect).
5. Tom Riddle is the target (this is really an elaboration of point 4 rather than a complete idea unto itself).
What is Tom Riddle to Merope Gaunt?
1. Tom Riddle is Merope's eye candy (gorgeous men were created by to swooned over, and he is very, very gorgeous).
2. Tom Riddle is Merope's escape, the face she affixes to her vision when Father spanks her, reprimanding her for sneaking glances at the Muggle town (he lives there).
3. Tom Riddle is Merope's antithesis because he is everything she is not (see points 1 and 4, "Who is Tom Riddle?" and point 1, "What is Tom Riddle to Merope Gaunt?").
4. Tom Riddle is Merope's proof that her Slytherin veins are deserved, through and through (an account of the history of the Houses of Slytherin and Gaunt is detailed elsewhere).
5. Tom Riddle is Merope's victory against impossibility (this alternative has also been suggested: Tom Riddle is Merope's defeat by impossibility).