Wizarding Caste System [was: In Defense of Hermione]

[magpie1112 at yahoo.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 26738

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., borg3892000 at y... wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at y..., foxmoth at q... wrote:
> > --- In HPforGrownups at y..., Rowena Grunnion-Ffitch 
> > <rowena_grunnion_ffitch at y...> wrote:
> > 
> > 	That's my point.  Winky's case clearly shows that House Elves 
> > also  form emotional and spiritual bonds with their wizard 
> > families which are very important to them.  Putting things on a 
> > cash basis will disrupt that, just as it would in marriage.
> > 	  It  wasn't too long ago that wives  were considered chattel 
> also:
> > vowed to obey, disenfranchised, forbidden to inherit property or 
> > dispose of it without their husbands' permission,and "clothes", I 
> > mean divorce, was regarded as the ultimate disgrace. Those 
> > were legal and social practices not in some reactionary 
> > dictatorship  but in the USA and the British Isles. Things have 
> > changed.
> > 	Perhaps  the House Elf/wizard relationship will evolve in a 
> > similar direction, one in which the partnership becomes more 
> > equal, without  putting it on an employee/employer basis?
> > 		
*large snip* 
> 
> Even more to the point, in my master/pet relationship with my cat, 
> which am I?  The master or the pet?  No true cat owner has ever 
been able to answer that.

I believe that JKR will have wizards and house elves develop a 
relationship of equals as the books continue.  The house elves will 
have to overcome their "natural predisposition" to subservience and 
learn to enjoy their status as beings rather than creatures 
(developing a sense of self, perhaps?)  I'd like to know how the 
wizard/house elf master/servant relationship started.  Then perhaps 
we would have a better idea of how (or if) it would end.

In reference to cats, I believe that we have a symbiotic 
relationship.  At least that's what my cats tell me, and I belive 
them.


> 
> ** wondering how powerful a borg wizard would be **

Depends upon the size and knowledge of the Collective.... ;)


- Denise (who *has* to feed her cats now - or is that *chooses* to 
feed her cats now...?)