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Death Eaters and the KKK?
http://arwen-undomiel.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=11791		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  Aredhel Ar-Feiniel [ October 19th, 2006, 7:16 am ]
Post subject:  Death Eaters and the KKK?
Has anyone ever thought that the whole concept of "Death Eaters" in Harry Potter is very very very similar to the Ku Klux Klan? The Death eaters are obsessed with destroyed muggles because they think that muggles are scum and are unworthy of err.. being .. NOT destroyed. and they think that magical people are better. and ... yeah you know the KKK history so yeah... it's kind of... related...

and in the movies, the Deatheaters wore nearly the exact same thing as the KKK members except they were clad in black instead of white... and their hoods were pointed as well...
Author:  Nauriel Rochnur [ October 19th, 2006, 7:29 pm ]
Post subject: 
My friends and I went to see the fourth movie together. When the Death Eaters came on, we turned toeachother at the same exact time and exclaimed! "KKK!" We started giggling because we have a joke about them (don't ask. You really don;t want to know....) The resemblance is remarkable. I wonder if Rowling ment for it to be that way. I bet she did.
Author:  *Eowyn* [ October 20th, 2006, 6:40 am ]
Post subject: 
But they also remind me of the Nazgul... :P
Author:  Aredhel Ar-Feiniel [ October 20th, 2006, 7:03 am ]
Post subject: 
But the Nazgûl are different.. they were killing people because they were searching for something, which was the Ring. And it was different because the Nazgûl were pretty much forced to be what they were, and they were slaves. So.. a bit different :P
Author:  *Eowyn* [ October 20th, 2006, 7:31 am ]
Post subject: 
That's true, from that point of view they are rather different. It's just the whole black cloak thing that does it. Speaking of black cloaks...

What's even closer to the Nazgul are the dementors... the whole "you feel every happy thought drain out of you" really reminds me of a certain LOTR moment... :P
Author:  Aredhel Ar-Feiniel [ October 20th, 2006, 11:03 am ]
Post subject: 
Yeah the dementors were pretty much based on the Nazgûl IMO ... it's kind of repetitive to read LotR then to read HP after it and then you realise, "Errr Dementors? Aren't they the Nazgûl??" but yeah... the Death Eaters are exactly like the KKK, so Nauriel's probably right when she said that Rowling did that purposely...
Author:  BlackRose_Valentine [ October 21st, 2006, 6:45 am ]
Post subject: 
They both radiate evilness! I really hate the KKK! And I hate the DE, so yeah, MAJOR resemblance!
Author:  tindomerel [ October 21st, 2006, 4:55 pm ]
Post subject: 
The DE were evilly prejudiced, no doubt...as were/are other groups still today, which is horrid and sad. At least in HP it shows how wrong that attitude is and the way people work together to fight it. I can't wait til the final installment to see how they are dealt with in the end...grins wickedly...whistles.

(also be careful not to bring the KKK up in this thread, politically as it were, please and thank you so very much.)
Author:  Caunion cyn Britannia [ October 21st, 2006, 5:23 pm ]
Post subject: 
I think J.K. Rowling used the analogy between Death Eaters and racial surpremacist groups today delibrately. And actually Rowling didn't plan on the Death Eaters wearing that costume. I think the filmmakers did it but the metaphor is still the same.
Author:  Bellethiel [ October 21st, 2006, 11:31 pm ]
Post subject: 
I think this analogy was entirely intentional, by both JKR and the filmmakers, as Caunion said. And I don't think the metaphor is limited to the KKK, but to all racial supremist groups, or just racial supremists in general throughout the history of the world.
Author:  Jo [ October 22nd, 2006, 1:52 am ]
Post subject: 
t is a ery pouar theme. When hasnt a minority been exploited or hunted down at one time r another The same goes for the Harry potter Series. In their reality its like the wizards are supreme an just becuse muggles have no power they cannot be casses as superior.
Its much like the caste system in India, where your not allowed to rise above your 'rank' in society
Author:  BlackRose_Valentine [ October 22nd, 2006, 4:31 am ]
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I was reading an article about racially-driven groups and about how they do realte to book characters.

I also studied this in R.S and there was A LOT to do with every person.

The KKK, for example just show people belief. The DE also just do this.

I don't think its our place to look down on these, even tho hey may be wrong!
Author:  mephiston, lord of death [ October 23rd, 2006, 6:14 pm ]
Post subject: 
I think the black capes and cloaks that the death eaters wear, apart form making them look more evil could be likened to the cloaks of darkness that Racial supremist groups try to weave about their activities in order no to be destroyed by the law. Under the cloaks the death eaters seem like shadows, able to fade away into darkness at will, avoiding the gaze of others.
Also, if you started giggling randomly and talkin in some of the cinemas round my neighborhood you would either be thretened to be kicked out or kicked out altogether lol. 8)
Author:  Bellethiel [ October 23rd, 2006, 10:52 pm ]
Post subject: 
Scarlett Storm wrote:
The KKK, for example just show people belief. The DE also just do this.

I don't think its our place to look down on these, even tho hey may be wrong!


I disagree that the KKK "just show people belief"... they show hatred--yes, hatred--toward specific groups of people. I don't think we can excuse what they do as being okay just because "its what they believe." That's like saying that rape is okay depending on what you believe.

The same goes for the Death Eaters. JKR makes it very clear that this kind of hatred and violence---founded or unfounded---is despicable and should not be tolerated or encouraged.
Author:  mephiston, lord of death [ October 24th, 2006, 5:46 pm ]
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Also, generally the average Joe doesnt feel that strongly about other races.Most people dont condone hatred towards others as it is not right just to hate people just bacuse theyre black or something of that nature lol.
Author:  Nienor [ October 25th, 2006, 7:43 pm ]
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Just a comment- doesn't hating the KKK make us as low as them? In a sense? Feel free to disagree.

There are definitely similarities, though as people have pointed out, the hatred and segregation theme has been a part of history since the beginning.
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