Ron, Hermione and the Elves

[arrowsmithbt]

No: HPFGUIDX 92486

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "nkafkafi" <nkafkafi at y...> wrote:
> I understand that House-elves who can be released from their slavery 
> by presenting them with cloth is not JKR's sole imagination, but a 
> respected tradition/legend/mythology. Perhaps this tradition also 
> tells us about the charm that originated it? Does anybody know 
> anything about House-elves in legend and where can I read about them? 
> In the Web I can't find any non-Potterian house elves.
> 

As I understand it, they are based on the 'Brownie" myth.

These are reputed to be attached to households (the building, not the
persons) and appear at night to do all the chores. In some variants they
can only be seen by children. If offered food or gifts they vanish, never to
return. (This is the Scottish version)

The English variant is Robin Goodfellow and interestingly, Brewers Dict. of
Phrase and Fable states "...he is supposed to busy himself on little jobs for
the family *over which he presides.* (My emphases) He is very definitely 
not a slave, but the master of the house.

Whichever you take, the work done is voluntary and they are not capable of
being coerced, bribed or enslaved. They make their own decisions.

This fits in well with those that have long theorised that House Elves are
not slaves; they're too magical. There is some sort of complex relationship
going on that we have not been told about. But it's significant that neither
Hagrid (old softy for any creature) nor DD (moral rectitude personified) will
back Hermione in her crusade. They know something we don't.

Kneasy