House-Elfs and Slavery Again

[nuriaobradors]

No: HPFGUIDX 38196

Jacey wrote:

> One more point I need to mention is tradition. Supposing house 
elf's enjoy 
> work, and even servitude, by nature. House elves seem to think of 
their 
> positions, serving their masters, as honorable and not liking their 
master, 
> or wanting to be freed, is shameful. This way of thinking might 
have come 
> about with the help of wizards who encouraged it, to their obvious 
benefits. 
> It seems reasonable that elves could enjoy servitude by nature, but 
not 
> necessarily the way of thinking that doing anything else is 
shameful. To me, 
> this seems to be a sign that house elves are really not in healthy 
positions. 

You've got a point here. It's obvious to me that house-elves DO LIKE 
serving, and being freed is shameful because it means they'll no 
longer SERVE, that's what they live for. With this in mind, 
Hermione's S.P.E.W. would be nonsense. But this brings us to the 
second fact, that is, the elves' shame and even flagellation when 
they disagree with their masters. And yes, it's insane. Someone 
commented in this list that the elves' real bond was the place they 
served in rather than the people they served and I think it's a very 
interesting theory. As shown in canon, they live in manors and 
mansions, i.e., certain places, and generations of elves serve in the 
same place. In this sense, being freed would be the same as being 
banished. (it would also explain faithful attitude towards nasty 
masters like Crouch Jr.). 

 
> They may be a different species, but they are sentient, and thus 
deserving of 
> the same rights as any other sentient creatures, true? For muggles 
yes, but 
> in the magical world, perhaps not. 

Probably many elves have nice masters. Obviously Hogwarts elves are 
not mistreated. (Dumbledore must probably know the names of them all!)
 
> Hermione will be unsuccessful in convincing house elf's they 
>deserve freedom. 
> I think that they will have to discover this on their own (still 
>supposing 
> that is best). Perhaps something very big will make the hose elf's 
>doubt 
> their set-in-stone beliefs. 

Might be. IMHO, What house-elves need to be talked about is not right-
away freedom but the right to stand up to their masters if they feel 
mistreated - Be able to go to the Department for the Regulation and 
Control of Magical Creatures and ask to be relocated because master 
is bad to poor elf. This would also give people whose homes haven't 
got elves to get one (Molly Weasley would probably make tea to her 
elf if she had one!)

Summarizing: Elves are OK, but something should be done to ensure 
they're treated well, despite not being human.

CHeers, 

Nuri