[HPforGrownups] Re: The Elf Problem (OoP)

[EnsTren at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 68472

In a message dated 7/8/2003 5:40:32 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
treevepari at hotmail.com writes:


> hm, true they do get security and all that and are definetly unable 
> to stay alive in this rather hostile environment on their own. 

They are capable of surviving on their own, but why not partner with the 
humans and let them do it so they can spend their time making beautiful things?

> Though I don't recall them actually getting paid (could you point to 
> where that was said?)

Gesten, from The Black Gryphon trilogy was paid by both Skandranon /and/ 
Amberdrake.  He only worked for them, and occasionally helped out in other places 
as well.  Anyone else with a personal Hertasi would have paid too.  Also in 
the "Owl" serries, the hertasi mentioned "charging" for embroderie pieces for 
those who were not of the community.

 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.

Gesten reguarally called Amberdrake/Skan an idiot if I recall correctly.  Not 
even Dobby would dream of that.

> 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?)

I think so.  They get thanked, they have students sneaking down to ask them 
/personally/ for food.

Hmn...Hermione want the Elves to be freed and get paid.  Equel rights and all 
that.

But what do the House elves consider to be 'pay'?  What has worth to them?  I 
remember one of Asop's fables about a cock finding a jewel in the dirt and 
saying that he "knew it was a very precious thing but would trade it for but one 
grain of sweet barley," or something.

So, the well treated house elves might be "getting paid" already, because 
they are praised and thanked etc.  Besides, what can Dobby do with money anyways?

 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. 
> 

A very good point.  Perhaps, the treatment of house-elves, changed, just as 
the perception of Salazar's philosophy changed?

> Patricia


Nemi
       --Black Dragon
       --Slasher and Yaoist
       --Utterly Psycotic


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