[HPforGrownups] Dobby

[manawydan]

No: HPFGUIDX 53782

Steve wrote:

>> Very nice. You suggest that we take Dobby at face
>> value. He's the house elf equivalent of a misfit
>> social visionary. O.K.
>> This still bothers me, though, because this makes him
>> such a behavioral mutant. ...edited...
>> ~SeventhSqueal

>What makes Dobby such a misfit social visionary; such a behavioral mutant?
>
>House-elves want to DO, Dobby wants to BE.
>
>Yes, I think we do take Dobby at face value, BUT just like Neville, I
>think there is A WHOLE LOT MORE to the face of Dobby than we currently
>see.
>
>House-elves are happy when there is work to be done and Masters to
>serve. And Dobby too, is happy to be doing his work and to be serving
>his masters, but it's not enough. More than wanting to be doing his
>work, he wants to be; to be Dobby. As with all great men, mediocrity

I tend to see house elves' minds as being hard wired a particular way: as
you rightly say, to be working and serving.

Just possibly, they also have some sort of collective "hive mind" which
explains how Dobby and Winky are aware of each other and what's going on. It
would also explain why they are so self effacing, don't step out of line,
etc, and even why Winky was so devastated when she was cut off from her true
nature as house elf to the Crouches.

But Dobby is very different. Although he still tends to refer to himself in
the third person, he has individuality and independence of thought. It's
hardly surprising that he found refuge at Hogwarts, where misfits seem to
find a place.

I agree that we will see him again, and that he has much more to do before
the end...

Cheers

Ffred

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