Death Eaters

[msl at fc.net]

No: HPFGUIDX 13524

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., naama_gat at h... wrote:
> After 
> all, if a person supports total evil, how can we say of her that 
> she is sincere? For one, we can't understand it (I hope), and 
> secondly, sincerity is a good quality so an evil person can't be 
> sincere. I don't think we should disbelieve the Death Eaters' 
> sincerity in their support of Voldemort (obviously some may have 
> ulterior motives too). 

But I think we need to consider *which* Death Eaters and *when.*  
Crouch Jr. is an excellent example of a virtuous follower of a wicked 
path, and I'm sure that many who died or went to Azkaban also fit the 
bill.  For the remaining Death Eaters, I think they've proven that 
they feel discretion is the better part of valour.

I think that the fact that the remaining DEs felt safe to "play" with 
muggles at the World Cup implies that for the most part they like 
Voldy's anti-muggle, anti-mudblood ideology but feel happier not 
having to deal with the danger of following Voldemort personally.    
A good analogy might be serving as an Imperial officer in the Star 
Wars universe:  you might approve of a fascist, human-only 
government, but god help you if you're obliged to work with Darth 
Vader or the Emperor directly.

(Which is not to say that these remaining DEs are incapable of 
courage or loyalty; just that they're the types who are calculating 
enough to prefer other people to take the kinds of risks which demand 
the exercise of those virtues.)

> I personally prefer (in fiction!) the darker and more 
> incomprehensible motivation - attraction to evil. People who are 
> not strong enough to be evil by themselves join Voldemort because 
> he makes it possible for them (because he is powerful). 

Not just Death Eaters, but Death Groupies, eh?  :-)  That's a really 
interesting point.  Maybe even the attraction to evil as such isn't 
required, just the desire to be Great, or to be associated with the 
Great, regardless of morals.  (Seems to describe Pettigrew, anyway.)

Marvin Long
Austin, Texas