House Elves, Hermione And Freedom

[pentzouli]

No: HPFGUIDX 109890

caesian wrote:
> Welcome (back) pentzouli ;-).  Not to put too fine a point on it, 
> but that is the nature of being free.  Wizards are free to choose 
> whether they will serve a particular master.  Some of them choose 
> to serve evil.  Would you suggest we enslave the wizards?
> 
> I'm not trying to take sides on the house-elf freedom issue.  We 
> do not know the history and nature of their enslavement, or the 
> reason.  Perhaps there is more that could be understood about the 
> potential consequences of freeing the house elves (or the 
> consequences of keeping them bound into servitude.)


pentzouli :

Of course I don't wish to take sides, either, I wouldn't know the 
most appropriate action... But the fact that the author does not 
present elves in families that we know are with the "good" side in 
this upcoming war strikes me as suspicious. 
The issue of their freedom wouldn't be disturbing to my eyes if the 
circumstances were more appropriate (and by this I mean that now the 
good guys have far more dangerous things to consider). But the thing 
is that it is not at all clear if all wizarding families have elves, 
or only the wealthy ones (and that strikes me as odd too, if they 
are not paid to offer their services, why the distinction?), and I 
agree with you in your saying that we do not know the reason for 
their enslavement... I, for one, would really like to know...

Thanks for spending time reading my post!
pentzouli