What are the perks of being a death eater?

[L Sanford]

No: HPFGUIDX 125801


	Something has been tickling the back of my brain ever since I have
been thoroughly enjoying (and re-enjoying) this series of books.  What
exactly are the perks of being a death eater?  On the surface, one would
presume it to be a promise of power in some form or another and advancement
of a pureblood theology.  But what are they Really getting out of the deal?

	Here we have an *entity* (for lack of a better term) who has
throughout the series been obsessed with achieving his OWN immortality.
Nowhere in canon do I recall his intention, spoken or otherwise, to share
his discoveries with his followers so that they might also become immortal.
(Note: nowhere does it say that he *won't*.  I'm making an assumption here
with full awareness of what can happen when you ASSUME.)  There is the
initial burn in the arm, subsequent burnings when he wants to call everyone
together, crucios to the unlucky who make a mistake or when things just
don't go as planned and the expectation of absolute obedience, absolute
loyalty and absolute faith in him as LV.

	In return, they are feared (admittedly a form of power over others),
loathed, and considered by the rest of the WW as people to be shunned at
best and utterly destroyed at worst.  Wizards are willing to die in their
fight against them and should they die, they become martyrs rejuvenating and
inspiring the other fighters of DEs to similar efforts and sacrifices.
(Remember the Longbottoms?)  There is nothing really concrete for them to
gain by being what they are unless LV obliterates his opposition.  A mere
defeat won't accomplish his victory - anyone who live to fight another day
becomes another hero or martyr, spurring on another war . . .it potentially
never ends.  Is this how one wants to spend their immortality? ;-)

	Honestly, the only death eater to have gained anything from their
association with LV is Peter Pettigrew.  (The silver hand, which is
*presumably* superior to the one he used to have.)  Ironically, he is the
most loathsome, cowardly unstable death eater of them all.  If I were a
death eater, just being in the same room with him would make me ill.  So
what gives?  What are they really getting out of all this?

Molley - who was up all night taking care of sick puppy dogs and thus is
rambling this morning