Freeing House-Elves against their will (was: Re: CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Chapter 13)

[nkafkafi]

No: HPFGUIDX 91909

> Neri wrote: <snip>
> I think most of us agree that the house elves can't be 
> freed against their own will (that would be an internal 
> contradiction), though I suspect Ron's objection is at 
> least in part just plain wizarding conservatism. 
> 
> 
> Elihu's answer:
> 
> What about Winky (for her, "That means clothes" was a threat)? She 
> was freed against her will.

Neri clarifies:
I was being philosophical, not technical. What I meant to say was, if 
one is forced to do something against his will, then one is not 
really free. OTOH if one chooses of his own free will to be a slave, 
then one is actually free. Am I making sense?

Technically, I guess Winky was freed the same way Dobby was, by 
presenting her with clothes. But unlike Dobby it was against her 
will, so in truth she was not freed. She was sacked. In fact, Winky's 
condotion is the strongest indication that the Hogwart's house-elves 
should not be "freed" against their will.

Neri