House elves

[sevenhundredandthirteen]

No: HPFGUIDX 82421

Meshelle wrote:

> Obviously these creatures [House-Elves] are very very Powerful ( 
and Helpful) So how did they became enslaved by wizards??? 


That's a good question! 

Perhaps it's the same as with the Centaurs. Centaurs are highly 
intelligent creatures, yet they let Wizards assume superiority over 
them. They request that Wizards classify them as 'beasts' and live in 
iscolated forests. Centaurs have never challenged Wizards for power 
because they don't want it. Perhaps it's the same with the House-
Elves. They have immense power, but don't want to use it. They have 
amazing abilities but really only want a peaceful life. Whether you 
believe that House-Elves would really like freedom or not, it seems 
apparent that they like living in peace. Even Dobby, after being set 
free just wants work and to settle down and help the people for whom 
he feels gratitude towards (Harry, Dumbledore). So, perhaps the House-
Elves are pacifists who accept their enslavement merely because 
resisting it would cause pain and violence.

Or, perhaps they allowed their own "enslavement" and wizards just 
took credit for it. By that I mean, let's say House-Elves are 
innately generous and kind creatures- they offer to do work for 
Wizards refuse any money out of the kindness of their hearts. After 
many generations of this kind of service Wizards say that they have 
enslaved them, when really their 'captives' were hardly putting up 
any resistence.

Any other ideas?

~<(Laurasia)>~