What is the purpose of the Deatheaters in Harry Potter?

Question

I've seen all four movies, but I've never read the books. I am wondering what the Deatheaters do, and what their purpose is. The movies have never really explained it. I know the Deatheaters follow Voldemort, but lots of people did, and they weren't Deatheaters. What is the special thing about them? Thanks.

Answer 1

I believe they are called death eaters because they practice the three forbidden forms of curses to control, torture, and kill other wizards.

See the following site to learn more:

http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/death_eaters.html

Answer 2

They have actually taken life of others for Voldemort. Killers or "Deatheaters" as they are called in the books/movies. That is my understanding anyway. I'm eager to see Order of the Pheonix which comes out in July 07. It should be good.

Answer 3

The Death Eaters are Voldemort's followers. You say you've seen a lot of characters following Voldemort without being Death Eaters, but that's not true. All of the characters that did something concrete to help Voldemort are Death Eaters.

Now I'm trying to guess which characters you might be referring to. Well, Quirell (the Defence Against Dark Arts Professor in the first movie) was a Death Eater. So was Igor Karkaroff, so is Lucius Malfoy, so is Barty Crouch Junior, so is Peter Pettigrew.

If you have any more doubts, here's a list of all Death Eaters: http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/death_eaters.html

Check it and see if you've missed anyone! :)

Answer 4

The Deatheaters are the faithful ones. They are the ones that were suposed to carry on his work against Muggles and others while he was gone. They werr also supposed to help return the Dark Lord back to his human form but alot of them got scared and claimed they were forced or under a spell while serving him.

Read the books they are really good.

Answer 5

I thought that the deatheaters were a rip off of the witch kings from the lord of the rings series.

Answer 6

Its very hard to watch the movies and understand without reading the books, thats why i always read the books first. But deatheaters are followers who came on their own....wizards or witches who claim to be pureblood(there isnt alot left anymore)...Voldemort had to manipulte floweres but not the death eaters. check these sites out

http://www.harrypotterfrenzy.com
http://www.dumbledoreisnotdead.com

Answer 7

Death eaters follow voldemort and are loyal to him in everyway. They come right away when Voldemort calls for them and carry out "mischief" for him. Like killing certain people who are unfaithful to the dark lord and things like that. Deatheaters wear the dark mark on their left arm and it starts moving when voldemort wants them and comes back to life(the skull looking thing).

Answer 8

The deatheaters are loyal followers of Voldemort. like, they are in Voldemort's inner circle so to speak

Answer 9

they're voldemort's closest and most loyal folowers.. they're all powerful wizards and they all have connections that are helpful to voldemort [ie. quirrel worked in hogwarts, malfoy works for the ministry, etc]

and i think someone above me was confused bc deatheaters aren't the ones that suck the happiness out of you
those are the dementors that guard Azkaban

Answer 10

the difference is that the death eaters swore their life to voldermort and took life whereas others that follow him follow him out of fear of death. deatheaters will do anythin for voldermort even time in azkaban. besides most of those who follow voldermort and arnt death eaters are either under the imperius curse or the cruciatus curse