House Elves & Slavery

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 126625


A_svirn wrote:
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It seems highly unlikely though that they
have "evolved" to their slavery all by themselves. I for one think
that their "nature and attitude" has been ruthlessly tampered with.


Ffred: 
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Elves aren't human and they don't have human nature.
 
Their nature is to do housework.
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Closest example in our own world (which doesn't have any other 
sapientspecies any more) is that some humans mistreat their pets, 
and that somefarmers mistreat their stock. That doesn't change the 
nature of the cats,dogs, or chickens, it's just a practice which 
most of us find repugnant.
 
If I was to end the "slavery" of my old dog, she'd die a miserable 
death on the streets. I think it's equally cruel to try to force 
elves to be what? Proletarians? when they just don't want to be.


Alla:

I tend to agree with A_svirn. Personally I would like to see MUCH 
more evidence before I agree that slaves nature is to do housework 
and housework only. The beings with such powerful magic as Dobby has 
seem to me to be suited to do more advanced things than just to 
serve wizards.

I also disagree with comparison of Elves and pets. Elves have the 
intellect of the same strength as wizards do, IMO, even if they 
employ it differently. Also IMO, pets don't ( I am not saying that 
cats and dogs are stupid, of course not).

I will be the first one to say that Hermione needs to adjust her 
methods and figure out what Elves REALLY want, but I don't think 
that we know for sure that that is ALL they want.

Just my opinion of course,

Alla