House Elves/Harry & Jealousy/LOLLIPOPS

[b.jebenstreit at biologie.uni-bielefeld.de]

No: HPFGUIDX 26772

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., blpurdom at y... wrote:
> I've been unable to read posts since Monday, but I'm caught up now.  
> Gracious, I didn't know what I was starting with the post about 
> wizarding caste system.  I must disagree, however, with the response 
> that said the theory wasn't valid because house-elves aren't human.  
> Has everyone read Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them?  Many 
non-
> human magical creatures are said to participate with wizards in 
> working out who has what status in the magical world.  Perhaps in 
> addition to the canon books, we should start doing 
> summaries/questions/discussions based on the school books as well 
(FB 
> and Quidditch Through the Ages).
> 
> Since the caste/slavery/housewives thread began with a defense of 
> Hermione, I would like to bring it full circle and suggest that 
> although she would still make a lousy anthropologist, Hermione's 
> heart is in the right place and her attitude toward the house elves 
> is another way for JKR to illustrate her basically liberal 
attitudes; 

Okay, I am new - so if I rehash anything old please forgive me...

I have moved this to a separate thread, because this is a fine bridge 
to a personal pet theory of mine and I´d like your feedback on it.

First, I´d like to point out, that I agree with Hermione. The way the 
house elves live, is slavery. They recieve no pay (house servants that 
are not slaves do), have neither health insurance nor are they granted 
security in age, they are not free to go where they like (Dobby sneaks 
away) which will affect their social system. The house elves in 
Hogwarts might be treated well, but that certainly is not the case for 
others elsewhere. Dobby selfinflicted hurts *are* hurts. He might 
behave this way because he was taught, or because he was under a 
magical compulsion - but he was hurt.
There have been many systems in history that did not obviously look 
like slavery - feudal systems for example. In other systems, slaves 
were treated with respect and as a part of the family - Greek tutors 
in ancient Rome for example. That does not change however, that if you 
are forced to stay - you are essiantially a slave. And that, in my 
very humble opinion - is wrong.

Second: Hermione´s plight has not been welcomed by the elves or the 
wizards/witches. I have read an interview in which JKR pointed out, 
that - even if we would like human nature to be different - oppressed 
people usually *don´t* stick together. People try to arrange with the 
authorities and are glad they don´t belong to those that are better 
off.  For example: from what I know of my history class, so called 
"house servants" in the pre-civil US south regarded themeselves as 
better off as the "field slaves". In such a mental climate, it is 
difficult for thoughts of freedom find a place for holding. When Dobby 
holds his "speaches" the other elves don´t ridicule him. They fall 
silent and send Harry, Ron and Hermione off. They are afraid.

Third: for a freedom movement to develop, something must happen. For 
example, the conditions - acceptable if barely so - turn worse. If 
your life is threatened, you act because punishment won´t hurt you if 
you are dead. Another example is the age old tradition of a martyr 
whose dead rattles those who remain.
Which makes me wander, if the "special fan" who is supposed to die in 
OoP will be Dobby. Because:
1) "Special fan" is a fine way to describe him.
2) He is the kind of loyal kick off who would jump between the bullet 
and its intended target.
3) It is the death of a character, that is closer to the core 
characters (unlike Cedric) without killing one of these. From the 
writer´s point of view: it rattles us more.
4) It allows to continue Hermione´s S.P.E.W. project and ties it in 
with the rest of the story. House elves are often underestimated. They 
make fine allies: they are loyal, helpful, clever, tiny (get by 
without being noticed), are magical (at least in a small scope, 
possible more) - and they are everywhere! Even in the houses of 
deatheaters - surely neither Lucius nor Narcissa Malfoy clean the 
house him/herself? In Hogwarts. If the elves do not feel bound to obey 
their master no matter what they could be powerful allies indeed. At 
least as powerful and useful as the giants - possibly more. 
Even Winky might be propelled to take up Dobby´s fight if he cannot do 
so anymore.
So, what do you think? Will the elves turn out to be allies? And will 
Dobby have to die for it - or will Hermione mangage it without that?
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