What Drives You Know Who?

[dungrollin]

No: HPFGUIDX 111278

Brenda: 
> I would say his motivation is even more simple - POWER. 

Snip 

> (1) be almighty powerful, so no one will think of desert him like 
his 
> father once did
> (2) eliminate anything/anyone that stands in his path to power
> (3) enjoy the power as long as possible, hence quest for 
immortality

snip

Dungrollin: Absolutely – didn't mention it because I thought
it kind 
of went without saying.

Brenda: 
> Tom Riddle comes to Hogwarts from Orphanage. Soon he realizes he 
has 
> been selected as Heir of Slytherin, by Salazar Slytherin 
> himself, "the greatest of Hogwarts four". He realizes he is much 
more 
> magically powerful and brilliant than most wizards. For an orphan 
boy 
> who has never been properly loved, this is quite an attraction. He 
> realizes he could be very powerful, and gives himself the title of 
> Lord Voldemort (already power-hungry!). 

Snip

Dungrollin:
Why does he choose the name Voldemort while he's still at school?
 
If he has no thoughts of immortality, but is just being the heir of 
Slytherin and hating mudbloods,  then it's a happy coincidence
that 
the name goes so well with his later `goal – to conquer
death.'

> He starts gathering followers in Wizarding World. His catch is the 
> whole "Let's revive the Pure-Bloodism", which majority of 
wizarding 
> community is in favor of. It's flying very well! He is becoming 
more 
> and more popular, lots of wizards and witches are supporting him. 
It 
> is a great propaganda, works very nice for him till he shows his 
true 
> color. After gathering enough followers, he starts the massive 
> massacre.

Snip 

Sure, but if he's getting people onside by reviving
Pure-Bloodism, 
why name the group `Death Eaters'?  Why not something more in-
keeping with the purity-of-blood-obsessed followers of the Heir of 
Slytherin?

I suspect that the immortality-quest is a much greater part of the 
story than we have so far seen, and plus JKR's hint that we
should 
be wondering what he did to make sure he didn't die adds up
to

Yet another speculative theory probably involving Snape.
Dungrollin.x