Why SPEW will never work

[Karen]

No: HPFGUIDX 90242

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Erika L." <erikal at m...> wrote:
> Tigerqueen wrote: 
> 
> >With Dobby's example this becomes a bit >more clear in my mind. 
Dobby 
> >wanted freedom from the Malfoys which >he could only get by 
getting 
> >his freedom.
> 
> <snip>
> 
> >I'm not condoning slavery in any way, >but I think that it will 
never 
> >happen as long as the house-elf >themselves are not demanding 
their 
> >own freedom. Hermione would be better off helping goblins or 
> >werewolves gain more rights because at least they show some 
desire to 
> >gain more freedoms.
> 
> Now me (Erika Wolfraven):
> 
>
<snip>

 I realize of course that the Rowling's house-elves are likely 
derived from "brownies", benevolent elves who do housework, and that 
one can argue that it's in the house-elves' very nature to be 
servile. However, as I understand brownies, the difference once 
again is that they can leave a household if they choose to. So once 
again it comes down to the simple matter of choices. Do the house-
elves have any? No. Therefore they are slaves not servants. Again, I 
agree that Hermione is proceeding the wrong way. In forcibly trying 
to free them, she, too, is depriving them of choice. What she does 
not seem to recognise is that it's the ingrained mind set of the 
house-elves that is the problem and that she is doing them a 
disservice by trying to force freedom upon them. The problem is the 
societal system which creates and perpetuates their servility.


Now me, Karen:

I agree with you, Wolfraven! Hermione's got the right idea... the 
name of her organization is Society for the Promotion of Elvish 
Welfare. This is a cause many wizards and house elves could probably 
identify with. This simply states that the organization wants to 
help them have better lives. Who could argue? However, they are not 
yet ready for "accidental freedom", which could leave them in much 
worse shape in their minds. However, it is totally erroneous to 
assume that they are better off in virtual slavery, however well 
they are being treated. We often say, "better the devil you know 
than the one you don't know". That is not necessarily true, it just 
means that we fear the unknown.

House elves are a prime example of the over-arching theme running 
through the entire series; that of inequality and prejudice. Muggles 
vs. Wizards, Non-human magical beings vs. Wizards, Muggle-born 
vs. "Pure blood wizards", Centaurs vs. Wizards... the list keeps 
growing. If you read "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" 
carefully you'll get a real clue about the attitudes of the wizards 
to anyone who they consider inferior, which, of course, is everyone 
but themselves. They have the same attitude toward other magical 
beings that the Centaurs have toward wizards. House elves are simply 
the lowest intelligent beings on the totem pole. As with almost any 
enslaved population, after a while, it seems to be the normal way of 
things, even to the slaves. 

Hermione is smart enough that she may figure out that she needs to 
change her tactics. If she works to better the lives of house elves, 
whether they stay attached to their houses or not, she can 
eventually make a difference, but she has to educate both house 
elves and wizards to be able to "set them free". 

I think that this seemingly less significant part of the story is 
going to become the basis for a lot of important stuff that happens 
later.

Karen