house elves

[Brenda]

No: HPFGUIDX 102332

>>> Sherry G: The whole idea of house elves has bothered me ever 
since the first introduction in COS.  It got even worse in GoF.  
Lines like Ron's saying that house elves are happy .... the whole 
attitude toward them has really bugged me.  It seems so reminiscent 
of the slave masters in the South, who always said that the slaves 
were "happy" in there slavery.  There were times in GoF that I could 
hardly stand to read Winky's parts, because of her attitude of 
sickening loyalty to a man who had owned her and treated her 
cruelly.  I hope that JKR is going to take this further and have a 
major house elf revolt or something.  In general, they are kind of 
obnoxious.  I suppose that's not fair, because Dobby is sort of cute, 
and you can't really compare Winky and kreacher to him.  But they 
seem to be another part of the running theme of certain types being 
oppressed or looked down on by wizards. <<<

Bren now:

Err, the whole issue of house elf is an iffy subject I think.  AFter 
all, we really don't know whether house elves have been created to 
serve wizards or just brainwashed.  Dobby bothered me a little in the 
beginning of CoS when he got Harry in trouble.  Dobby absolutely 
adores HArry yet he kept making loud noises even if Harry asked him 
not to.  Does he *not* know what is appropriate and inapporiate in 
certain curcumstances?  I like Dobby now of course; I think he is 
setting a great example for other house elves (and more of them will 
follow Dobby's footsteps if they had been brainwashed indeed.)  
Except for his foot fetish, haha <grin>.

Now Winky is a different story.  I really can't sympathize with her.  
Yes, her intention is honourable and she is extremely faithful, but 
she pretty much helped Voldemort come back!  Her blinded loyalty to 
Barty Croush Jr was just too sickening.  She had to know what her 
master's ultimate plan was.  Did she not know that she was assisting 
in Voldemort's reign of horror?  From Dobby in CoS, house elves were 
afraid of VM as well.  She couldn't think for herself like Dobby, and 
that really upsets me.

And as for Kreacher... I wonder where he is now?  Still at Grimmauld 
Place or perhaps at Narcissa's?  I wonder how much information 
regarding the Order he has divulged?  Why didn't Sirius just get rid 
of him in the first place?  Questions, questions, questions...

>>> Sherry G: Anyway, I was just curious if anyone had as visceral a 
reaction to the whole story line of house elves as I do. <<<

Bren: Hehehe, for starter, Hermione does :)