Voldemort's Quest for Immortality (What Drives You Know Who)

[Brenda M.]

No: HPFGUIDX 111306

>>> Me before: I would say his motivation is even more simple: POWER 
> (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
>
>>> Dungrollin replied: Absolutely – didn't mention it because I 
thought it kind of went without saying. <<<


Bren now:

Well, yes of course. But my point was that Voldemort's greatest 
ambition was POWER and everything else (purity of blood, Harry, 
immortality...) came from it. IMO those are merely different means to 
achieve power, not necessarily his motivations.


>>> 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.'


Brenda:

Well I have no idea how he chose his 'screen name', but it could have 
been as *simple* as this:

Tom Marvolo Riddle: 'OK, so I want a new terrifying name. Will 
include "Lord" 'cause I wanna be almighty powerful.'

     LORD ... [t,m,m,a,v,o,o,r,i,d,l,e]

After many tries to arrange the leftovers, he says: 'How about "I am 
Lord..." ??'

     I AM LORD ... [t,m,v,o,o,r,d,l,e]

I won't be surprised if he searched for cool and frightening sounds 
in the library. Heck, if I wanted a new name for my future Evil 
Overlord regime I would! <g>

I have no clue whether he chose Voldemort for its meaning, or he just 
thought it sounded foreign and scary. Maybe he taught himself French 
from the library, maybe not. Who knows. Hermione is familiar with 
French but she also went to France for vacation. Tom Riddle didn't 
have that money...


> 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



Hmm, that is a good point. There's also that "Morsmordre" for casting 
Dark Mark onto sky, which roughly means 'Death to bite/eat' according 
to Lexicon. Why "Death Eaters" indeed. Why not "Blood Purifiers" 
or "Mud Purgers"?? <giggles>

Voldemort is afraid of death, everyone knows that. Perhaps this is 
the unresolved trauma as a result of his mother's death? He wouldn't 
have been at the orphanage if she was alive (or so he/we assume). 
Also it could be that he viewed immortality as the symbol of greatest 
power. After all, who is more powerful than someone who can dodge 
bullets... I mean Avada Kedavra? You will never lose in a battle.

Or here is an out-there thought that features coward!Voldy... Perhaps 
Voldy is afraid of what comes after death. The "next great adventure 
for those who are ready"... it could be something utterly frightening 
and destructive for Voldemort. Thus he desperately attempts to never 
arrive there.

Just my two cents.


Brenda