#does this count as a meta? really it's just degenerate rambling but

[allthepeculiarthings]

the cave was the grave and tribute voldemort created for his mother.

the very thing the cave represents - tom marvolo riddle's cruelty as a child. the cruelty he inherited from his mother, because he is after all a Gaunt man.

the blood you have to sacrifice to enter, symbolises the blood, the injury, and the death she sacrificed for him, and in turn he is sacrificing his own for her.

the army of inferi, it's sole purpose is to protect her, because no one ever protected her in life. not even herself. the boat too, of course the entire lake represents the river styx. the boat is there for her safe passage into the afterlife.

the potion, forcing others into misery. just like merope lived in misery for almost her entire life. just like voldemort likely did himself as well.

and finally the locket. slytherin's locket, bestowed upon her by her father. the locket she sold, representing her devotion to her son and her desperation for him to live. perhaps also representing her desire for a better life after death? she sold it so she'd have a penny for the ferryman? regardless the locket is symbolic of her, this is what voldemort buries and protects to remember her.

im not even gonna go into the fact that its his horcrux. that's some freudian shit.