Death Eaters

[Marvin Long, Jr.]

No: HPFGUIDX 13451

Catlady <catlady at wicca.net> said:

>Marvin wrote:
>> After all, the only reason to follow Voldemort is because he
>> offers a quick avenue to power, and V's supporters are too
>> shrewd not to understand that V considers them his tools.
>> To keep their pride they regard V as their tool in turn and,
>> I'm sure, all would be happy to betray V for the sake of
>> their own advancement,

> That describes Lucius Malfoy and perhaps Nott Sr who spoke in such a
> manipulative voice, but isn't it more likely that the reason Crabbe Sr
> and Goyle Sr joined the Death Eaters is because Lucius told them to, and
> that what they enjoy about it is not power, but simply the opportunity
> to hurt/kill people?
>
> Mrs  Lestrange, Crouch Jr, and perhaps others in Azkaban or who died
> resisting arrest are passionately loyal to Voldemort, perhaps because
> they expect him to give them something 'better' than power (perhaps
> immortality for themselves).
> Probably some people joined the Death Eaters out of sincere
> anti-Mudblood feelings.

Ok, I'll rescind my earlier generalization and say that yes, people would
have joined Voldemort's gang for a variety of motives--avenue to power,
Voldemort as Messiah, chances to kill people, fear the mudbloods are
lowering property values, etc.

But I want to ask another question:  what are the motives of the people
who return to Voldemort's side in GoF?  One gets the feeling that
Karkaroff and Snape are the only holdouts, and everybody else is
demonstrably someone more interested in saving his own skin than in
making a statement on Voldy's behalf by going to prison.

Fear and curiosity are part of it, I'm sure.  Possibly Crabbe Sr. & Goyle
Sr. are as easily led as their sons and do whatever Malfoy tells them so
long as it involves blood.  But I cannot believe, at this point, that any
of them can be as sincere as they were 15 years ago or so.  In the
intervening time they must have enjoyed a chance to say to themselves,
"Thank [whoever] that's over; I nearly got myself sent to (*$&*! Azkaban!"

On the other hand, perhaps some will be so impressed by Voldy's
resurrection that their faith will be redoubled.  Well, except for Harry
out-dueling him, of course.  So what kind of conversations will the Death
Eaters have amongst themselves...

"I *knew* this day would come, I knew it!  Now all mudbloods will perish
in agony!"

"Are you nuts?  Lord Voldemort just got his butt handed to him by a little
kid!  Something is not right with this picture."

"Coward?  Pay you no heed to the stars?  They fortell war and suffering
and a change in the nature of things."

"So?  How do you know that's not us suffering and getting our souls sucked
out by dementors after we lose the war because Voldemort's been a nutjob
all along?"

(A high, shrill, sinister voice pierces the air.)

"That's LORD Nutjob to you, Goyle."  KA-zam!


Marvin Long
Austin, Texas