Potter as a Social Commentary?

[Scott]

No: HPFGUIDX 14702

meboriqua at a... wrote:
"I've spoken to people who really don't like JKR getting into the 
whole racism thing, and that she is treading on thin ice there.  I'm 
notsure I agree - I kind of like how she approached the topic of 
racismand in justice.  We all want Dobby and other elves to be free 
and well treated, and we as adults realize the connection between 
slaves andelves, but children may not.  It is a nice introduction for 
childrento start to think about how unfairly some people are treated 
in our world.  I'm very curious, though to see where JKR will take 
the idea -the elves we've seen generally do NOT want freedom.  Should 
they be convinced?  Or are they really creatures who, in the magical 
world,relish being owned and serving their masters?"

--I don't think that she's 'treading on thin ice'. There is a 
positive message about the injustices of prejudice and racism in the 
books. After all we can easily see the faults of Draco's attitude and 
the whole "pureblood" issue (except for when he's wearing leather 
pants in which case some on this list...but I digress).  

Maragret (sp?) wrote:
"I think she's handling it beautifully, myself, and hope that she
keeps up with the complexity, which is what makes it so
fascinating."

--Right! I thought the House Elves sub-plot in GoF was very nice and 
developed Hermione's character beautifully. Recognizing a problem is 
the first step to changing it. Of course it doesn't help that they 
don't want to be helped. 

"The main question about the house-elves (in my mind, at least) is
how close their nature is to human nature.  Hermione's reaction
to their enslavement is what most of us would consider "right" --
for humans.  And if they are "human" (or maybe I should say
"beings"!) in their nature, then =their= reaction to =her= (apart
from Dobby) is presumably due to cultural conditioning and only
needs education to be ironed out."

--I wonder too if it is ignorance or nature talking when they say 
they don't want to be freed. Either way. I can relate to Hermione 
wanting to help them despite. She's got good morals and a good heart, 
and sometimes that can be a blinder. Totally different situation, but 
it struck me recently that material possesions don't matter that much 
when you don't have them and never have. The house-elves don't need 
to get money and glory and all the things humans 'need' because 
they've learned to get along without it. Maybe they're better off... 

Scott