House elves

[darrin_burnett]

No: HPFGUIDX 58059

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "manawydan" <manawydan at n...> 
wrote:
> Ersatz Harry wrote:
> 
> >But you do have me wondering about what happens to a house-elf when
> >its master dies.  Given that it's a slave, I suppose it might be
> >inherited if there is someone to inherit it, but what if there isn't?
> 

ffred followed:
> I'm not sure that canon actually establishes that house elves are slaves,
> despite what Hermione might think.


Well... they are servants not being paid and they are forbidden from leaving to 
find a job that does pay. Unlike indentured servants, there appears to be no 
time limit on how long they must serve before being freed.

Granted, we could be discussing a cultural difference, but the sure spells 
slavery to me.

 
> My own feeling is that they are attached to the _house_ rather than the
> family - it's just that because prestigious houses (such as Malfoy Manor)
> tend to remain in the hands of one family, the distinction is confused.

Then why do they continually talk about family? My family needs me.  And if 
Lucius and Crouch can throw them out, than indicates the owner is more 
important than the dwelling.

Darrin
-- Lucius and Crouch. The next Simon and Garfunkel