house elves

[quigonginger]

No: HPFGUIDX 102431

June wrote:
> That's all very well, Hermione's good intentions to help with the 
house 
> elf situation, but what if Ron has a point?  Maybe he's being way 
too
> complacent, but what if there is something to what he says?  
Remember, 
> house elves do have their own brand of magic, and, I suppose when 
push 
> comes to shove, they know how to use it.  What if they do live to 
serve?  
> Now, poor Winky has really been abused most horribly, and she can't 
be 
> the only case, but what if Ron's just a little bit right?  How do 
you 
> work it so both elves and wizards have a win-win situation?  

Ginger wonders:

June, I am so glad you asked.  You may kick yourself for this later, 
but you have given me the foot in the door for my theory. 

We know that the elves are enslaved.  This goes against our *human* 
view of rights, as it should.  Slavery within the human world ought 
to be reviled for the evil it is.  Slavery designed by race or gender 
is a double abomination.

However, we are talking about elves here.  I personally don't know 
any, nor do I expect to meet one.  The closest thing I have come in 
real life to understanding their devotion is that of nuns or monks 
who bind themselves to service.  Were I in the shoes of the trio, I 
would have sat Dobby down and asked for a detailed explanation.  
Until then, the only fair question is "what do the elves want?"

In my almost-a-year-old post, I proclaimed that I was of the opinion 
that elves are praise-junkies.  (Thank you, Hunter Green for the 
first response to, of even mention of, that post!)  

To answer your question, June, of how can there be a win-win 
situation:  Give them the choice.  Let's go back to the nuns.  Not 
being Catholic, I do not know the correct terminology.  Has everyone 
seen the Sound of Music?  Ok, let's go from there.  Maria enters the 
abbey, during a training stage.  She hasn't made her vows yet, so is 
free, but can choose to serve if that is her decision.  Then the Top 
Nun, encouraging her to "climb every mountain", sends her off to Casa 
von Trapp (by bus, so much for the climbing).  She is now able to see 
both sides of the world.  She is free to choose.  She then makes her 
choice.  She could have gone the other way. 

So let's have that be the elfin way.  

Have a training period, and then let them choose between slavery or 
servitude (or, what the heck, let them be game show hosts).  I'd put 
10 sickles and 3 knuts up that they choose slavery.  I'd put more 
than that up that if the Hogwarts elves went to Dumbledore and asked 
for wages that he'd give them to them.  

Should the elves want to be free, then that should be their right, 
but if they prefer enslavement, for reasons we humans can't 
understand, then who are we to judge?  As things stand in the WW, we 
don't know.  We only see Dobby, who is unhappy being enslaved, but 
wants to serve; Winky, who is unhappy being freed, and is now too 
unhappy to do much of anything; and Kreacher, who wants to be 
enslaved, but not to the person to whom he is enslaved.  We also see 
the Hogwarts elves at a glance.  They seem happy.  They may well be.  
Who knows?

We need more information, and I think the WW does too.  If it is not 
settled in the next two books, I vote for the "training with choice" 
program. 

Ginger, who has a gut feeling that those elves at Hogwarts are pretty 
darn happy.  And that elves are praise-junkies;-)