Free Elves Unite?/Harry as Saviour

[talondg]

No: HPFGUIDX 37095

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., ladjables <ladjables at y...> wrote:

> It seems to me JKR grasps the concept of mental
> bondage very well with the House-Elfs, so that even
> though we don't have a precise historical context, the
> point is driven home that the the plight of the
> House-Elfs mirrors the effects of colonial slavery. 

Well, maybe.

Or maybe the House-Elves have a distinct (if somewhat alien) culture 
that simply doesn't map into the Western sensibilities of Hermonie, 
and Hermonie's efforts to force her interpretation of their "plight" 
onto the Hogwarts House-Elves instead mirrors Western intrusions into 
other cultures?

Perhaps Dobby really _is_ a degenerate from a House-Elf point of 
view. Certainly all the HEs at Hogwarts view him this way. And while 
a HE in the employ of a DE is likely to be poorly treated, I don't 
think the Hogwarts' elves are. Hogwarts seems to be House-Elf heaven.

DG