Ron, Hermione &the Elves - Everything you ever wanted to know...

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 92482

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "pippin_999" <foxmoth at q...> wrote:
>
> ...edited...
> 
> The House Elves, IMO, are *enchanted* into 
> happiness with their dependent state. Hermione thinks that if 
> they could only understand or  experience the rewards of 
> freedom they would enjoy being free. But if their cravings for 
> dependence are fed by magic, then  rewards conditioning can't 
> cure them any more than it could lift the Imperius curse. 
> 
> Pippin

bboy_mn:

My opinions on House-elves are well documented, so for those who are
interested in those opinions and other long discussions on
house-elves, I submit the following -


Date:  Sat Jul 19, 2003  9:01 pm
Subject:  House-Elves & the Tie That Binds. (long)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/71752
Very indepth analysis of house-elves.

Date:  Wed Jul 30, 2003  1:16 am
Subject:  Re: Goblins and House-Elves? Wild and Domesticated?
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/74080

Date:  Tue Oct 14, 2003  1:11 pm
Subject:  Re: Dumbledore's Army = House Elves
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/82881

Date:  Wed Jan 7, 2004  6:19 pm
Subject:  Re: house elves and laundry (house elves and goblins)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/88208
Another Q & A on Elves.

These cover my opinions on how and why house-elves are bound to there
families, the nature and history of house-elves, their ties to
existing folklore and mythology, the nature of wizard/Elf
relationships, and more.

In pondering the fate and nature of house-elves, ask yourself what a
house-elf would be likely to do if they were freed? In my estimation,
the first thing they would do is look for another family to serve. 

Service or if you will, servitude, is not the problem that needs to be
solved; abuse and mistreatment, and the generally self-serving
attituded of wizards are the real problems. In summary, the elves are
fine, it's the wizards that need to be fixed.

I can't say that my opinion is absolute truth regarding Elves, but I
think it is very reasonable speculation.

For those not inclined to read these somewhat long posts, here is the
summary paragraph from one of the above post.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

What elves want, although they don't know it in an articulate way yet,
and what Hermione should be working toward, is not freeing the elves
from service, but getting the wizard world to recognize elves as
sentient beings with the same rights, priviledges, and protections
under the law that wizards have. She should fight for laws that
protect elves from abuse and mistreatment, and laws that guarantee a
degree of commitment and loyalty from wizards. Commitments and
loyalies in the form of care in their old age, providing for the basic
life necessities of elves, and treating elves with dignity and a sense
of gratitude.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 


Aren't you glad you asked? ;)

bboy_mn