[HPforGrownups] Re: House elves and holidays

[Amanda Lewanski]

No: HPFGUIDX 16845

Morag Traynor wrote:

> You're quite right in what you say (apart from its being just you, of
> course :) ) but I don't recall Harry even making the kind of feeble
> excuses we all make in such situations.  My considered opinion is, he
> pays more attention to whether the house-elves he meets are happy,
> than to abstract arguments about rights and justice - and, with the
> obvious exception of Winky, for quite different reasons, they do seem
> happy at Hogwarts.  I just don't think he's making the connection at
> this stage.

I don't think I am either. I think this is a relationship which is
mutually beneficial. I think there is that in the house-elves' nature
that makes them truly enjoy doing what they do. That we perceive what
they do as "serving" is our problem. They have a fulfilled, purposeful
existence, untroubled by our definitions of what they do.

House-elves are not little homo sapiens. They are a *different species.*
Our definitions don't necessarily apply. And even in our own species,
the idea of what constitutes one's rights or justice varies considerably
from culture to culture. I posted eons ago my belief that simply
imposing our values on another culture, without fully understanding its
inherent intricacies and balances, can cause tremendous damage to that
culture. I think Hermione's intentions are laudable, but she doesn't
know the entire story. She's operating on appearances. Whenever
reformation slides into "whether you want it or not" I start to be
hesitant.

--Amanda


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