Hermionie and house elves

[Paula Gaon]

No: HPFGUIDX 83196


20October2003

Laura wrote:

"...I think that it is arrogant of Hermione to assume that she is the 
master of any house - elf, and has the right to assume such power 
over any sentient being. Although she is really the only character 
to be seen standing up for the elves, she is, in her own way, almost 
as bad as Lucius Malfoy, who thinks that Dobby has no mind of his own."


Grey Wolf wrote:

"...I certainly won't join the side of the first campaigner that comes by claiming that 
everyone must stop smoking and drinking for their own good. Hermione is 
doing precisly that, in the kitchen scene, with her half-cooked ideas....


HedwigsTalons wrote:

Hermione is 14 in GOF, at 14 many children are idealists and "have 
all the answers to the world's problems She thinks her knitted items will free the elves, 
but in reality they only offend the elves, ...Hermione, who is usually so well-read on subjects, needs to find out 
EXACTLY how the giving of freedom to house elves works... Why in OOP is she no longer campaigning for S.P.E.W.?

Now Paula:

Thanks HedwigsTalons!  Hermione is a kid and althought inately very intelligent, still sees the world through her own simple vision. What else can she do?  How much life experience do most 15 year olds have?  IMHO, she is only guilty of youthful enthusiasm, and drive  which have overshadowed the need to" find out 
EXACTLY how the giving of freedom to house elves works."  I totally disagree that "she is, in her own way, almost as bad as Lucius Malfoy..."  There is ABSOLUTELY NO COMPARISON between Lucius (or Draco for that matter).  The Malfoys are the arrogant ones, thinking that their pure blood and money give them complete license to do and say as they wish.   Hermione's probably not campaigning for SPEW in OOP for a few reasons: 1) Youthful enthusiam can fade as quickly as it came.  2)  The turmoil caused by Umbridge has distracted everyone. 3) Hermione, true to form, is all consumed with revising for OWLS.  In all honesty, I'd give anything if I could relly feel the ethusiasm and drive of youth again about anything instead of the discouragement and cynicism of middle age.  Like Mark Twain said:''Too bad youth's wasted on the young."   Seems like when wisdom and experience enter, enthusiasm goes out the door.  So please, please,  no more Hermione bashing!

Paula "Griff" Gaon





          "...Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning."


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