[HPforGrownups] Re: House Elves, Hermione And Freedom

[caesian]

No: HPFGUIDX 109897

> 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.

Caesian objects:

Well, that is true (and perhaps that is a message about House-elf 
owners, rather than House elfs).  But what about Hogwarts, where the 
largest number of elves of any dwelling in Britain work, according to 
Nick?  Are the elves at Hogwarts bad? (and if so - Harry and Ron will 
have to be on their guard against super-hot bed-warming pans!)

>  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). <snipped by 
> Caesian>
>  Thanks for spending time reading my post!
>  pentzouli
>
> Caesian responds:
My pleasure pentzouli :-).  Let's say my point is in the school of 
Dumbledore's approach vs. that of - say - Barty Crouch Sr.  When things 
are most dangerous - that is the worst possible time to start making 
arguments about restricting basic civil liberties.  For example, the 
right to a trial, or to defend oneself in court (cough * Sirius * 
cough).  Do you agree that in the WW, these same arguments have 
probably been made against Muggleborns? - "how do we know we can trust 
them?" or, "maybe we'll let them be full members of our community when 
things seem safer, but not now".

I'm not saying that these issues are the same as the reason the elves 
are enslaved - we agree we don't know why. (Wouldn't it be nice if our 
brainiac Hermione could bother to update us on that topic before 
rushing off to the library sans explanation again - I'm feeling like 
Ron here.)

Cheers,
Caesian - who apologizes for being a bit touchy about this topic at the 
moment (cough * American politics suck * cough)



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