The Elf Problem (OoP)

[Patricia Vepari]

No: HPFGUIDX 68464

> > Don't know if anybody here knows Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar 
books. 
> > Well, she has these lizard people called hertasi, and their 
> > absolutely happiness comes from cleaning, cooking, washing, 
making 
> > clothes...looking out for their humans (or Tayledras, 
Gryphons...) 
> > And they don't get paid either. In fact it has been mentioned 
that 
> > serving is their purpose
> > 
> 
> Hmn...Yes, but the Hertasi also get shelter and the mages (there 
has only 
> been ONE mention of a hertasi mage in the entire 15+ book serries) 
make them 
> places where they will be safe and warm.  Hertasi are cold blooded 
and not very 
> good fighters unless they are in the water.
> 
> And I believe that the exact phrase used was "treating their human 
charges 
> like life sized dolls"
> 
> > Anyways, this remineded me of the house elves, how they don't 
get 
> > paid and so far as we have seen (with the exception of Dobby 
> > possibly) seem to enjoy their status.
> > 
> 
> Another difference, the Hertasi can get in your face if they want 
to, they 
> can argue with you, etc.  And they can refuse to do things.  Also 
there /has/ 
> been mention of them getting paid.  And they have their own homes.
> 
> They get a fair trade, they do things they like to do, make things 
plus some 
> other things, like cleaning up after humans, and in return they 
get to use the 
> human's falculties, and security, and a magically warmed place.
> 
> > Patricia
> 

hm, true they do get security and all that and are definetly unable 
to stay alive in this rather hostile environment on their own. 
Though I don't recall them actually getting paid (could you point to 
where that was said?) But you are right hertasi and Tayledras is 
much more of a partnership than the servant-master relationship of 
the house elves and the wizards.
But then again, we don't know whether the treatment of Dobby is 
typical for a house elf. Could just be evil Lucius Malfoy being 
himself. We have every indication that the Hogwarts elves are quite 
happy and content (more hertasi like maybe?) On the other hand, it 
was mentioned somewhere (don't recall where, I believe Ron said it) 
that house elves only come with old Manors and castles. Which then 
would most likely be owned by the old, pure-blood families. And from 
what we have seen so far, they all seem to be like the Malfoys (hate 
Muggles and so on)So I doubt they would treat their house elves any 
better than the Malfoy's did. 

Patricia