Free Elves Unite

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 37167

> --- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Amanda" <editor at t...> wrote:
> > In new positions. House-elves, from the sample we've seen, 
do NOT  like to be free and unattached. I presume they are taken 
care of by the House-Elf Relocation Office, which is mentioned in 
"About the Author" on page vi of "Fantastic Beasts and Where to 
Find Them." It's just a guess, but I'd imagine that Office matches 
up freed elves with appropriate 
> locations to be bound to.
> 
Marina:
> Hmm.  That raises another question for me: if house-elves 
>don't get paid, then how come only rich people have them? 

In the real world, domestic slaves, as opposed to slaves 
employed in productive work like mining and agriculture, have 
always been a luxury item...more expensive than hiring paid 
labor, which is generally  available at *less* than a living wage. 
(You want fries with that?)  Slaves  have to be fed, housed and 
supervised. Skilled slaves need to be trained. House Elf 
offspring must be supported also. I wonder how quickly Elves 
multiply and what is done if there are more offspring than the 
owner family can support. House Elves could be the magical 
equivalent of a white elephant. Hmm...perhaps Malfoy could ruin 
the Weasleys by giving them a pair of breeding Elves. 

Marina:
 Are they purchased?  If so, then where, and from whom?  
People who own house-
> elves don't seem to show much interest in selling them -- if 
they  want to get rid of an elf, they just sack him or her.  So if you 
win  a bunch of galleons in the lottery and decide to get an elf for 
your  home, where would you pick one up?<

>From what Dobby says, unattached Elves go looking for new 
positions. Perhaps there is a list at the House Elf relocation 
office, or perhaps there are help wanted ads for Elves in the 
Prophet (though it's my theory that Elves can't read.) 	If they were 
being sold openly, there'd be markets in Hogsmeade and 
Diagon Alley, so it's my guess they aren't. Perhaps it's  
disgraceful to sell an Elf, a bit like pawning the family silver.

 What is topsy turvy about the Potterverse is that the Elves regard 
freedom as a social disgrace. That, I think, is unknown in human 
society. Slaves are always lowest on the social totem pole. That 
argues that Elf psychology is significantly different from  that of 
human beings. Perhaps they imprint on their masters like birds, 
or have evolved or been magicked so that they bond to wizards 
the way dogs do to their owners.

I've only done a little research on slavery for this post, so if 
somebody knows more I'd like to hear from them. 

Pippin