House Elves' enslavement

[Hannah]

No: HPFGUIDX 114048

>Susana wrote:
<massive snip> 
> 4 - Dobby took action against the will of a person he regarded, 
but acting - he thought - in that person's best interest. Dobby 
punished himself (ironed his hands!) for acting - he thought - in 
that person's best interest.
> 
> This is the most interesting point. Kretcher felt no need to 
punish him for lying to Harry, yet Dobby ironed his hands for 
harming Harry. There could be several reasons for Dobby's behaviour:
> 
> a) He could be punishing himself for acting against his official 
master's interest. But it doesn't sound at all like that if we 
follow the sequence of the conversation: he *had* to iron his hands 
after he blocked the barrier but he *didn't mind* because he thought 
*Harry* was safe.
> 
> b) He could be acting on account of the magic binding his species: 
there could be some clause about not being allowed to cause physical 
harm to wizards. But I'd find it strange, given point 5 below.
> 
> c) He could have punished himself out of ethics. If an elf can 
judge its master it has a set of values from which he can tell right 
from wrong. Dobby could have considered he was doing wrong, no 
matter whose interests were in stake.
> 
> d) Dobby might consider Harry the 'master in his hart' (as oppose 
to 'official master'). Dobby remembers when 'house elves were 
treated like animals'. Harry changed that, even if not for Dobby, 
thus winning Dobby's hart. That is consistent with Dobby going out 
of his way to 'serve' Harry (warnings, bludgers) and punish himself 
when he fails.
> 
<another huge snip>

Hannah now: I really like your analysis Susana, great post!  The 
elves certainly do seem to have a certain degree of autonomy - it 
proabably varies from elf to elf, as they seem to have distinct 
personalities.

I was interested in your analysis of Dobby ironing his hands.  I 
don't think that b) can apply, because Harry wasn't really harmed by 
this incident, more inconvenienced (I'm sure if he and Ron had had 
the sense to owl the school, or just wait a few minutes for the 
Weasleys, then they could have got to school some other way, such as 
the knight bus).  Dobby's bludger, however, is another matter since 
this actually breaks Harry's arm, and could have done a lot worse.

I don't think c) would work either, since ethically Dobby believes 
he *is* doing the right thing.  I think his belief that protecting 
Harry Potter is *right*, despite the endoctrination of his species 
to obey and serve their 'family', is what keeps him going.

I think the reason that Dobby irons his hands is a).  He ought to 
act in Malfoy's interest, and also is presumably neglecting his 
duties at Malfoy Manor in order to be at Kings Cross closing the 
barrier.  He has to punish himself even for agreeing that he hasn't 
met many decent wizards, for example.  I think the fact he *had* to 
iron his hands is because he acted against his 'family,' meaning he 
had done wrong, so *had* (by a house elves thinking) to punish 
himself.  Although this was painful, he didn't mind because he 
thought that Harry was safe - it was worth the self punishment for 
disobeying his masters because he cared about Harry.

I like the thought of Harry being 'master of Dobby's heart.'  I 
suppose he is, in a way.  But Dobby doesn't really want *anyone* to 
be his master.  He helps Harry out of love for him and what he 
stands for as the Boy Who Lived.  But he doesn't want even Harry to 
order him about.  If Harry asks him to do something, then he will, 
in the same way I would do something a friend asked me to.  But when 
Harry orders him to tell him things, give him his letters, etc.  
Dobby has no problem disobeying, and doesn't punish himself for that.

I hope that makes sense!  It does in my head, but it's much harder 
to put into words!
Hannah