House Elves and Slavery (Nel Question ## 1 & 2)

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 126421



Debbie:
2. If the HP novels endorse subjugation of the house elves, do they 
endorse enslavement? Or should we instead see Rowling as recognizing 
the limitations of social reform? Are we supposed to be outraged or 
sympathetic to George Weasley's statement that the house elves are 
happy (GoF, pg 211)? A related point: Hermione says that the house 
elves have been brainwashed into accepting their jobs. Should we 
agree with her? Do we see the means through which the elves are 
brainwashed?
 
Alla:

I am copying the answer to this question by Dave Witley in the 
message 39137, because I would like to get some clarification either 
from him or anybody else. :o)

Davewitley wrote in message 39137:

I will only address the question of brainwashing. I have mentioned
before that there is a sharp distinction between the Dobby of COS and
the elves, including Winky, of GOF. The latter *do* seem
brainwashed. Dobby most definitely does not. If freedom is
essentially an inner state of mind then Dobby is most definitely free
right from the beginning of COS. He is carrying out acts in direct
opposition to his master's plan. He knows what his masters are. He
is able to choose what side he is on. He is able to express his
gratitude to Harry for something that he has not, in fact, benefited
from. He is able to use his powerful magic in furtherance of his
ends. How is he not free?

Furthermore, he describes the condition of house-elves in a way that
leads the reader to believe that all are like him. In particular, he
mentions that the owners of elves *in general* are very careful not
to give clothes to their elves. The implication of this is that the
magical element is sufficiently important that both sides must obey
it. The natural reading of his words is that if, say Mr Crouch had
inadvertently given Winky a sock to hold, the would *both* have had
to accept that she was now free, *whether they liked it or not*.

I think probably the explanation is that (as somebody pointed out in
connection with Neville's memory) a magical condition, as described
by Dobby, is being used as a metaphor for a psychological one, as
observed by the trio in GOF. With JKR we seem to get both the symbol
and the thing symbolised together, sometimes to our slight confusion
as we are left with two valid explanations occupying the same
intellectual space."


Alla:

I would like to know what Dave meant  when he said  that " a magical 
condition, as described by Dobby is being used as a metaphor fora  
psychological one, as observed by Trio in GoF." I often feel that 
symbols in HP series are not that simple as they may seem and since 
my thinking of House Elves is quite simple, I would love to 
understand the details of more sophisticated interpretations. Thanks!


Debby:

And the follow-up questions:
 
A.    Are the house-elves meant to be taken as literal beings, or 
are they meant to represent a metaphor for something? And if they 
are metaphoric, then what exactly is the message Rowling is trying 
to send through them?  On the other hand, are we reading too much 
into the house elves?  Could they be just another borrowing from 
folklore?

Alla:

See, here I go again. I confess that I had been thinking about this 
question earlier and I still don't know how we can think of house -
elves as a metaphor for something ( except as metaphor for slavery, 
of course), but it just seems to be such on the surface 
interpretation. 


Debby:  
B.    Does the depiction of the treacherous Kreacher add an 
additional dimension to our understanding of house elves and their 
narrative function?  Kreacher's description (as well as that of his 
sleeping quarters), which emphasizes his filthiness rather than the 
doll-like description of Dobby?  What about his apparent endorsement 
of the racist views of the Black family?

Alla:

Well, to me Kreacher represents the idea, which I am not sure JKR 
intended to. I think that House Elves should be treated as 
individuals  and even though their plight as general SHOULD be 
abolished ( IMO of course), we are not obligated to feel sympathy 
for House Elves simply because they are enchanted ( enslaved, 
brainwashed, whatever).

I like Dobby, I pity Winky, I hate Kreacher.


Just my opinion of course,

Alla